General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Dead engine after 50K miles

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 07:40 PM
  #11  
mp's Avatar
mp
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 17
From:
Default

With the horribly inadequate main crank bearing and the bits of tensioner continually being circulated in the oil throughout the engine, not to mention the overheating problems, I'm surprised it doesn't happen to a lot more Twin Cam engines.
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 07:42 PM
  #12  
cdale976's Avatar
cdale976
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: pennsylvania
Default

let me guess the casing started leaking on the bottom end on the bottom of the engine.....
either way I'd see the engine come apart and have the paperwork on service handy. Gotta be worth some change
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 07:45 PM
  #13  
KBFXDLI's Avatar
KBFXDLI
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
Default

Call your insurance agent and find out who handles their salvaged motorcycles and see if you can find a 2006 B motor off a wrecked bike.
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 07:48 PM
  #14  
Faast Ed's Avatar
Faast Ed
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,580
Likes: 7
From: The Internet (& Dyer, Indiana)
Default

These tensioners had less than 30 k miles on them.
I'd be curious as to what yours looked like in the failed motor.


 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 07:54 PM
  #15  
BLKBAGGER's Avatar
BLKBAGGER
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,450
Likes: 4
From: El Cajon Ca.
Default

Originally Posted by Faast Ed
Tensioner failure? Clogged the oil lines?

Definately enough miles for that.
That was my first thought too. When the tensioners wear out they can take out the motor real easy. I check mine every 20,000 miles and replace them if they are showing wear. Still just a guess though. It could be the crank or oil pump failed too.
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 07:56 PM
  #16  
leeinmemphis's Avatar
leeinmemphis
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 3
Default

for $4k you can build one heck of a nice aftermarket motor. That would be my choice.
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 08:48 PM
  #17  
babalu's Avatar
babalu
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 5
From: Hudson Valley, NY
Default

i doubt the dealer is trying to sell you on an engien if it didn't need it, a top end rebuild is a big money maker for them. if the bottom end of the engine was good to go they would just sell you the farm in cylinders, heads etc... and make a nice labor charge.
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 08:49 PM
  #18  
KBFXDLI's Avatar
KBFXDLI
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
Default

What was the engine doing to cause you to take it in and for them to disassemble it? I am just curious about a few things:

1. What service did you have done at what intervals?
2. What oil/filter did you use? Who changed the oil?
3. Did you ever inspect and or change the cam tensioner shoes?
4. If they did change the tensioner shoes was the crank runout checked?
5. What internal parts failed?
6. Was it lubrication failure?
7.Was the bike modified from stock?
8. if so, what mods and by who?
9. Did the engine ever consume oil? How much at what mileage?
 
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 2, 2010 | 09:51 PM
  #19  
wescoot2's Avatar
wescoot2
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 6
From: Burb of Chicago
Default

Multiple internal problems.........I wonder how they came to that conclusion before ripping it down.
 
Old Apr 2, 2010 | 10:16 PM
  #20  
IAMSWUTIAMS's Avatar
IAMSWUTIAMS
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 18,664
Likes: 16
From: San Diego, Mexifornia
Default

you used Syn3 didn't you.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:40 AM.

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