89 Softail frame-off resto
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Mount Holly, AR
89 Softail frame-off resto
When the motor on my Softail started knocking this summer and the trans had some bearing noise I decided to do a complete restoration on the bike. Still in the planning stages, but have decided to build the motor with a few performance goodies... big bore kit, ported heads, andrews cam, new carb and since there is silicone squeezed out between the lower cases, I am going to go ahead and do the lower end also.
Being an 89 model it has the normal dents and scratches, so a complete teardown and repaint is in order. I had gathered a few parts for a winter project, handle bars, cables and such, so they will be installed too.
Transmission noise is from a bad bearing on the mainshaft which has damaged the shaft, so undecided whether to do a rebuild or replace it with a 6 speed. It will be in excess of $600 in parts to rebuild.
So far I can see a figure of around $4500 if I do all of the labor myself... does this sound about right?
Being an 89 model it has the normal dents and scratches, so a complete teardown and repaint is in order. I had gathered a few parts for a winter project, handle bars, cables and such, so they will be installed too.
Transmission noise is from a bad bearing on the mainshaft which has damaged the shaft, so undecided whether to do a rebuild or replace it with a 6 speed. It will be in excess of $600 in parts to rebuild.
So far I can see a figure of around $4500 if I do all of the labor myself... does this sound about right?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: USA
I tinker to & I add all my parts I believe I'm gonna need & multiply it by 20% & add that to the total cost, lets me catch my breath & sometimes there's $ left over. $4500 sounds a little lean but good, close, to me. I'd say more around $6K but its your skills & connections & I'm figurin your not lookin to build a $30K bike.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Farmington ,MS
You can still buy 99 EVO crate motors for less than 3k. 89 motors had bad cranks from the factory...probably cheaper to hop up the crate motor than to fix yours. Might as well get a 91 up trans and clutch if you are up grading...much better design. You can burn up $4500 pretty quick...lol
http://www.ebay.com/itm/390363200362...84.m1423.l2649
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From: Mount Holly, AR
Ultimate HDF Member
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Be a little cautious bumping it up especially compression,those yr cases were somewhat notorius for dimpling around the cylinder stud base.Higher compression also caused those same studs to pull out of the cases.Harley replaced a lot of those cases under warranty,aluminum was'nt the best quality and they tended to do some weird stuff.Whoever does your work (if not familiar with those yrs.) have them pay close attention to cases looking for cracks.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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I had an 89, so take it for what it is worth. The 89 cases are not the best. Many did have a tendency for the pressfit race for the crank (stator side) to get loose in the case and then allow oil to seep from the engine to the primary or have primary fluid seep into the bottom end. There are some other minor issues with the cases, but bottom line, they are not the best to run a higher compression setup with.
If you decide to rebuild it - I'd consider some of the following:
1. get new updated cases from HD and rebuild it the way you want
2. get a remanned EVO from HD , swap out the ina cam bearing, put in a cam, carb, ignition and pipes of your choice and run it
3. look at a S&S 96 or other aftermarket motor with a solid rep and dealer network and put it in.
Best of luck and have fun with the rebuild , no matter what you choose to do, it's always good to rebuild old iron and see it get a new life!
If you decide to rebuild it - I'd consider some of the following:
1. get new updated cases from HD and rebuild it the way you want
2. get a remanned EVO from HD , swap out the ina cam bearing, put in a cam, carb, ignition and pipes of your choice and run it
3. look at a S&S 96 or other aftermarket motor with a solid rep and dealer network and put it in.
Best of luck and have fun with the rebuild , no matter what you choose to do, it's always good to rebuild old iron and see it get a new life!
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From: Mount Holly, AR
Wow! That new motor is starting to look even better now, had no idea there were problems with the original cases. The big bore kit I was looking at would bump it to 10.5:1 comp. so that might not be such a good idea.
My cylinders are already bored .010 and after tearing it down I found the top compression rings on both cylinders to be broken and had scarred the cylinders pretty bad, not sure if they would clear even at .040 over.
Not sure but think a timing issue probably caused the ring breakage. I found the timing to be fully retarded when I pulled the cover. I know it shouldn't have ran in this position, but the bike seemed to run out well.
This is my first Harley, I only got to put around 2500 miles on it before the motor went south. Looks like I'll learn a good lesson with this one, but when I get through I'll know exactly what I have.
My cylinders are already bored .010 and after tearing it down I found the top compression rings on both cylinders to be broken and had scarred the cylinders pretty bad, not sure if they would clear even at .040 over.
Not sure but think a timing issue probably caused the ring breakage. I found the timing to be fully retarded when I pulled the cover. I know it shouldn't have ran in this position, but the bike seemed to run out well.
This is my first Harley, I only got to put around 2500 miles on it before the motor went south. Looks like I'll learn a good lesson with this one, but when I get through I'll know exactly what I have.
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From: Farmington ,MS
The first EVOs had shovel bottom ends...then they started "improving" them...lol. All the improvements were to reduce manufacturing costs...which wound up costing them more money in warranties. 86-89 had lots of problems. 91-99 were pretty much bullet proof with exception of the inner cam bearing thing.
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