I have up grade question!
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
From: St Joseph, Michigan
I have up grade question!
Ok guys I have a honest question, please give me your honest opinion! Not some stupid jack *** wise crack, please.
I have a 04 Road King two tone blue, lots of extras on it, it has 43000 miles on it and runs fantastic and I bought it new. I have been playing around with the Idea of going into the motor and doing some mods, heads cylinders, cams, heavy duty clutch, all work going to be done at Flora Racing Engines in South Bend, looking at around 5 grand for all of it. Here are my concerns:
1, Should I worry about taxing the parts of the engine, like crank, rods ect, so you think its to late with 43000 miles on it.
2, Am I putting to much money in this, even if I get a new one I plan on keeping this bike, I love this bike.
Thanks for the input!
Joe
I have a 04 Road King two tone blue, lots of extras on it, it has 43000 miles on it and runs fantastic and I bought it new. I have been playing around with the Idea of going into the motor and doing some mods, heads cylinders, cams, heavy duty clutch, all work going to be done at Flora Racing Engines in South Bend, looking at around 5 grand for all of it. Here are my concerns:
1, Should I worry about taxing the parts of the engine, like crank, rods ect, so you think its to late with 43000 miles on it.
2, Am I putting to much money in this, even if I get a new one I plan on keeping this bike, I love this bike.
Thanks for the input!
Joe
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 226
If your going to put that much money into it to build the top end and you want to keep the bike for a long time, I'd go all the way and get the bottom end built as well. Left side timken bearing, rebuild the flywheels, balanced, plugged / welded and geared cams. Once the foundation is done, then build the top end and the rest of the drivetrain to handle it.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 12
From: NoVA
Not the answer you want but as long as you love the bike and want to keep it long term, consider this. Up-grade the suspension and blueprint the engine. This way the bike will handle a lot better and the engine will have just a little more power but be smoother and run forever.
Anyone known for high end blueprinting will advise you on bearings, rods, pistons, cams, seals, etc. Look for low to middle torque not high end horsepower.
Anyone known for high end blueprinting will advise you on bearings, rods, pistons, cams, seals, etc. Look for low to middle torque not high end horsepower.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
My 01 Road King has just shy of 90K and about a year ago I had installed Andrews 57 cams and really woke the bike up. It is your bike and if you want to do all that work to it by all means do so but you might consider taking baby steps. Regarding the clutch I replaced mine with a Barnett Scorpion a few months ago. Pretty pricey but should outlast my bike for as much as I ride, which is year round.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,736
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
Kinda what 89FLHT said...
With those miles, consider the lifters are done if you do anything with a set of cams. Also, look into tack-welding the flywheels...they are prone to scissoring with the added stresses of modification. Not sure what's involved with the rest of the $5K, but after that, your weak link may be the clutch. Upgrade the belt to a stronger Kevlar type.
With those miles, consider the lifters are done if you do anything with a set of cams. Also, look into tack-welding the flywheels...they are prone to scissoring with the added stresses of modification. Not sure what's involved with the rest of the $5K, but after that, your weak link may be the clutch. Upgrade the belt to a stronger Kevlar type.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: n
Honestly, I wouldn't do it at all. I say this because I had 3 stock Harleys and just had to get the 4th one built up and made to go strong. The last time I had it in for the install of compression releases so that it would start reliably, the guy told me the more you mess with them the more you have to mess with them. I love the way it runs, but I go thru tires, batteries, gas much more quickly. I don't see it living for 100K without going into the bottom end.
You really need to ask yourself what do you want to get out of it? You can also cost it out incrementally by figuring out the $ cost per horsepower increase, ie 2K for a set of cams gets you 15 hp/15 torque increase, but to squeeze 5 hps/torque more it might double your cost and lead bottom end work you weren't planning on, etc. But since you have to have it done, I would ask those very questions to your builder. Ask what it is going to take to make the motor bulletproof and go another 100K miles. Since your gonna be in for $5K, don't cheap out if another $1-2K will make it bulletproof. Good luck and may it scream when you are done and last 200K miles.
You really need to ask yourself what do you want to get out of it? You can also cost it out incrementally by figuring out the $ cost per horsepower increase, ie 2K for a set of cams gets you 15 hp/15 torque increase, but to squeeze 5 hps/torque more it might double your cost and lead bottom end work you weren't planning on, etc. But since you have to have it done, I would ask those very questions to your builder. Ask what it is going to take to make the motor bulletproof and go another 100K miles. Since your gonna be in for $5K, don't cheap out if another $1-2K will make it bulletproof. Good luck and may it scream when you are done and last 200K miles.
