Used Fat Boy questions
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: Trumbull, CT
Used Fat Boy questions
Howdy all,
I'm looking at used Fat Boys and found one locally. It's a 2009 with 29k miles - what should I look at specifically on this bike? Far as I can tell from the photos it's all stock. I had a '97 FXDL years ago but am not familiar with Fat Boys.
Thanks in advance.
I'm looking at used Fat Boys and found one locally. It's a 2009 with 29k miles - what should I look at specifically on this bike? Far as I can tell from the photos it's all stock. I had a '97 FXDL years ago but am not familiar with Fat Boys.
Thanks in advance.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Howdy all,
I'm looking at used Fat Boys and found one locally. It's a 2009 with 29k miles - what should I look at specifically on this bike? Far as I can tell from the photos it's all stock. I had a '97 FXDL years ago but am not familiar with Fat Boys.
Thanks in advance.
I'm looking at used Fat Boys and found one locally. It's a 2009 with 29k miles - what should I look at specifically on this bike? Far as I can tell from the photos it's all stock. I had a '97 FXDL years ago but am not familiar with Fat Boys.
Thanks in advance.
A few things pop into my mind, I'm sure I'll miss a couple others...
The good:
It has the upgraded cam plate and cam tensioners. It has hydraulic tensioners with roller chains instead of it's predecessor, spring tensioners with link chains... Should be good for well over 50K miles... many hit 100K miles without issues, unlike the spring tensioners
You still have the "B" series Harley lifters which are a far cry better than the "C" lifters which came out in 2010 or 2011.. no need to ever change them out unless they start making noise...
The bad:
You still have the INA Brand cage-style inner cam bearings, but you have the B-168 bearings, which have far fewer reported failures then their predecessor, the B-148 size INA brand bearings. No need for immediate action, but if you are ever inside the cam chest for any reason, like a cam change, most will upgrade those to the Koyo-Torrington captive needle style bearing.
Harley upgraded the compensator in 2007. The first few years there were many failures... If you are all stock or Stage I, you could get many miles from the version you have, but it is a weak link. Should you need to replace it, there is a newer style, I believe they call it the Screamin' Eagle Compensator for those year bikes, that will be better than the OEM part #.
Like any used bike, look it over well, and as long as it's in good shape and has been maintained well.... it should give you good service..
Good luck with your bike search...
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: Trumbull, CT
That should be a solid bike, and you should get many years and miles from it with good maintenance habits...
A few things pop into my mind, I'm sure I'll miss a couple others...
The good:
It has the upgraded cam plate and cam tensioners. It has hydraulic tensioners with roller chains instead of it's predecessor, spring tensioners with link chains... Should be good for well over 50K miles... many hit 100K miles without issues, unlike the spring tensioners
You still have the "B" series Harley lifters which are a far cry better than the "C" lifters which came out in 2010 or 2011.. no need to ever change them out unless they start making noise...
The bad:
You still have the INA Brand cage-style inner cam bearings, but you have the B-168 bearings, which have far fewer reported failures then their predecessor, the B-148 size INA brand bearings. No need for immediate action, but if you are ever inside the cam chest for any reason, like a cam change, most will upgrade those to the Koyo-Torrington captive needle style bearing.
Harley upgraded the compensator in 2007. The first few years there were many failures... If you are all stock or Stage I, you could get many miles from the version you have, but it is a weak link. Should you need to replace it, there is a newer style, I believe they call it the Screamin' Eagle Compensator for those year bikes, that will be better than the OEM part #.
Like any used bike, look it over well, and as long as it's in good shape and has been maintained well.... it should give you good service..
Good luck with your bike search...
A few things pop into my mind, I'm sure I'll miss a couple others...
The good:
It has the upgraded cam plate and cam tensioners. It has hydraulic tensioners with roller chains instead of it's predecessor, spring tensioners with link chains... Should be good for well over 50K miles... many hit 100K miles without issues, unlike the spring tensioners
You still have the "B" series Harley lifters which are a far cry better than the "C" lifters which came out in 2010 or 2011.. no need to ever change them out unless they start making noise...
The bad:
You still have the INA Brand cage-style inner cam bearings, but you have the B-168 bearings, which have far fewer reported failures then their predecessor, the B-148 size INA brand bearings. No need for immediate action, but if you are ever inside the cam chest for any reason, like a cam change, most will upgrade those to the Koyo-Torrington captive needle style bearing.
Harley upgraded the compensator in 2007. The first few years there were many failures... If you are all stock or Stage I, you could get many miles from the version you have, but it is a weak link. Should you need to replace it, there is a newer style, I believe they call it the Screamin' Eagle Compensator for those year bikes, that will be better than the OEM part #.
Like any used bike, look it over well, and as long as it's in good shape and has been maintained well.... it should give you good service..
Good luck with your bike search...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,888
From: Newcastle, OK
That should be a solid bike, and you should get many years and miles from it with good maintenance habits...
A few things pop into my mind, I'm sure I'll miss a couple others...
The good:
It has the upgraded cam plate and cam tensioners. It has hydraulic tensioners with roller chains instead of it's predecessor, spring tensioners with link chains... Should be good for well over 50K miles... many hit 100K miles without issues, unlike the spring tensioners
You still have the "B" series Harley lifters which are a far cry better than the "C" lifters which came out in 2010 or 2011.. no need to ever change them out unless they start making noise...
The bad:
You still have the INA Brand cage-style inner cam bearings, but you have the B-168 bearings, which have far fewer reported failures then their predecessor, the B-148 size INA brand bearings. No need for immediate action, but if you are ever inside the cam chest for any reason, like a cam change, most will upgrade those to the Koyo-Torrington captive needle style bearing.
Harley upgraded the compensator in 2007. The first few years there were many failures... If you are all stock or Stage I, you could get many miles from the version you have, but it is a weak link. Should you need to replace it, there is a newer style, I believe they call it the Screamin' Eagle Compensator for those year bikes, that will be better than the OEM part #.
Like any used bike, look it over well, and as long as it's in good shape and has been maintained well.... it should give you good service..
Good luck with your bike search...
A few things pop into my mind, I'm sure I'll miss a couple others...
The good:
It has the upgraded cam plate and cam tensioners. It has hydraulic tensioners with roller chains instead of it's predecessor, spring tensioners with link chains... Should be good for well over 50K miles... many hit 100K miles without issues, unlike the spring tensioners
You still have the "B" series Harley lifters which are a far cry better than the "C" lifters which came out in 2010 or 2011.. no need to ever change them out unless they start making noise...
The bad:
You still have the INA Brand cage-style inner cam bearings, but you have the B-168 bearings, which have far fewer reported failures then their predecessor, the B-148 size INA brand bearings. No need for immediate action, but if you are ever inside the cam chest for any reason, like a cam change, most will upgrade those to the Koyo-Torrington captive needle style bearing.
Harley upgraded the compensator in 2007. The first few years there were many failures... If you are all stock or Stage I, you could get many miles from the version you have, but it is a weak link. Should you need to replace it, there is a newer style, I believe they call it the Screamin' Eagle Compensator for those year bikes, that will be better than the OEM part #.
Like any used bike, look it over well, and as long as it's in good shape and has been maintained well.... it should give you good service..
Good luck with your bike search...
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