EVO All Evo Model Discussion

Evo won't turn

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 20, 2013 | 05:16 PM
  #1  
williamf57's Avatar
williamf57
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: kent, OH
Default Evo won't turn

Hello all, I need some ideas on a problem with my 1995 Road King. She has 46000 on her and up to this point has run very well, but now i'm afraid something serious has happened. I had just finished putting a crane 310-2 cam in with new bearing and a metal breather gear also and was out testing her out for about 150 miles the other day. All seamed fine until I got home put it in neutral to open the garage when she just died, I tried to start it but got just a clunk. I will add here that it did seem to run hotter then normal but I was thinking this had to do with the new cam. Anyways I had the battery tested and it was ok, I cleaned the terminals for the starter but still nothing. I then decided to take the starter out and removed the primary cover. I wanted to see if things would move so I rotated the tire backwards in 5th gear, it went fine until I heard a clunk and it stopped dead. I then put the bike in neutral and hit the start button and the starter acted normal, turning the engine over til once again it clunked and stopped dead. To be clear the clunk is coming from the engine.... I did take the cam chest apart to make sure everything there was ok and it looked fine, plus the oil which was new before the test ride has been flowing and has already turned color and the pressure light goes out so I think oil was flowing ok. I get the feeling I'm now gonna learn some more about my Harley, just need some ideas from those who know. Thanks for any help, Bill.
 
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2013 | 05:37 PM
  #2  
miacycles's Avatar
miacycles
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
Default

There are a few things, first a valve hitting a piston which has my vote. Second possibility is the piston hitting the head. Causes of this could be bad bearing, bad wrist pin bushing, but if it was running OK before than this is probably not it. I would still look at it as a valve/piston problem, barring anything wrong in the primary or cam chest.
John
 
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2013 | 05:58 PM
  #3  
NutterFLH's Avatar
NutterFLH
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Poland, EU
Default

Remove primary cover once again, pull the spark plugs out and turn the engine over by hand. You can use compensator sprocket wrench to turn it but dont force it If you`ll feel some resistance.
 
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2013 | 08:59 PM
  #4  
williamf57's Avatar
williamf57
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: kent, OH
Default

Thanks for the replies, I have free handed it and the engine will rotate freely both ways and feels good until a certain spot. I am leaning toward the valve/piston problem also. I will try to see if I can get a feel for which one it is happening in and take it apart tomorrow. Thanks again.
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2013 | 05:18 AM
  #5  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Default

Suggests to me that cam timing is out, for the valves to argue with the pistons, unless one of them has stuck open. However it seems you will need to remove the heads and sort out the poor valves first.
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2013 | 05:22 AM
  #6  
Stiggy's Avatar
Stiggy
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,175
From: Oxford, Nc
Default

Now that it turns freely by hand, I would pull the plugs and spin the motor with the starter. Does the air escaping from the spark plug holes feel the same?
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2013 | 06:41 AM
  #7  
Schex's Avatar
Schex
Club Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,803
Likes: 7,830
From: SE Louisiana
Riders Club Member
Default

Dropped valve guide?
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2013 | 11:06 AM
  #8  
williamf57's Avatar
williamf57
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: kent, OH
Default

It will turn but only for a short time...not even a complete cycle. I am gonna take heads off now so I will let ya know what I find. Thanks again.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 21, 2013 | 01:50 PM
  #9  
williamf57's Avatar
williamf57
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: kent, OH
Default

Ok, well this is just very puzzling to me. I found the problem when I took the rear head off and flipped it over. Couldn't believe my eyes when I see a allen head bolt driven into the lower face of the head. Yes I had the intake and exhaust off but I know I didn't drop anything in ...no way. And it gets better...when I looked in the jug there was another one sitting on top the piston......I have only two thoughts...1. I'm loony or 2. maybe a mouse or chipmunk stashed em there as I must confess I didn't plug the openings the first night. And better still I'm not missing any. IDK Anyway I pulled the other head and since I have it down I will do the top end...anyway thank you all for your help and I will let you know how it goes.
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2013 | 01:58 PM
  #10  
Dan89FLSTC's Avatar
Dan89FLSTC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,143
Likes: 12,707
From: South Carolina
Default

Are all the screws accounted for on the carburetor backing plate?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:37 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE