Has anyone seen anything like this before?
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 421
Likes: 71
From: Hayward Ca
Has anyone seen anything like this before?
Maybe some of you serious builders will have some input on this (see the attached picture) This is what is left of my buddies rocker arm assembly on his 03 RK. Approx 2000 miles on a new top end build. We were riding last Saturday when he had a sudden loss of power followed by a lot of noise in his top end. We trailered the bike back to my place, tore into the top end and this is what we found.
He is running 590 lift cams with 97" S&S juggs and pistons. All the head work was done by a very reputable shop in the area who has been around for over 30 years. I felt the valve spring set up looked like something out of NASCAR but he says he used what was appropriate for the lift of the cams. We pulled the heads and took them to have them checked out. My initial thought was it might have been some kind of spring binding on that particular valve that caused it to freeze up either that or a lifter froze up but I'm far from any kind of motor guru. The shop who built the heads pulled them apart and everything looked fine. He thinks it must have been a bad casting of the rocker stand. I'm hoping that is the case but have never seen this before.
He is running 590 lift cams with 97" S&S juggs and pistons. All the head work was done by a very reputable shop in the area who has been around for over 30 years. I felt the valve spring set up looked like something out of NASCAR but he says he used what was appropriate for the lift of the cams. We pulled the heads and took them to have them checked out. My initial thought was it might have been some kind of spring binding on that particular valve that caused it to freeze up either that or a lifter froze up but I'm far from any kind of motor guru. The shop who built the heads pulled them apart and everything looked fine. He thinks it must have been a bad casting of the rocker stand. I'm hoping that is the case but have never seen this before.
If a man HiPo's one thing, he shoud HiPo it all.
Build a monster engine, crater the clutch.
Build a monster clutch, crater the trans.
Build a monster trans, trash the belt.
Build an 8000hp top fueler with ALL the best parts, pray it holds together for 1/4 mile.
Build an 800hp Cup car, poray it holds together 500 miles.
That's why I keep a stock + stage 1.
Build a monster engine, crater the clutch.
Build a monster clutch, crater the trans.
Build a monster trans, trash the belt.
Build an 8000hp top fueler with ALL the best parts, pray it holds together for 1/4 mile.
Build an 800hp Cup car, poray it holds together 500 miles.
That's why I keep a stock + stage 1.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
I am no wrench but hate to read this as my bike is having an S&S 97" going on it. Sure hope I am not sorry. I do know that if anything were to happen my Indy would make things right but I better try to think positive.
Trending Topics
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
If a man HiPo's one thing, he shoud HiPo it all.
Build a monster engine, crater the clutch.
Build a monster clutch, crater the trans.
Build a monster trans, trash the belt.
Build an 8000hp top fueler with ALL the best parts, pray it holds together for 1/4 mile.
Build an 800hp Cup car, poray it holds together 500 miles.
That's why I keep a stock + stage 1.
Build a monster engine, crater the clutch.
Build a monster clutch, crater the trans.
Build a monster trans, trash the belt.
Build an 8000hp top fueler with ALL the best parts, pray it holds together for 1/4 mile.
Build an 800hp Cup car, poray it holds together 500 miles.
That's why I keep a stock + stage 1.
Aint that the truth! That's exactly why I think of keeping my 110 a stage 1, but the lil voices I hear say "A little cam wont hurt". lol
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 67
If a man HiPo's one thing, he shoud HiPo it all.
Build a monster engine, crater the clutch.
Build a monster clutch, crater the trans.
Build a monster trans, trash the belt.
Build an 8000hp top fueler with ALL the best parts, pray it holds together for 1/4 mile.
Build an 800hp Cup car, poray it holds together 500 miles.
That's why I keep a stock + stage 1.
Build a monster engine, crater the clutch.
Build a monster clutch, crater the trans.
Build a monster trans, trash the belt.
Build an 8000hp top fueler with ALL the best parts, pray it holds together for 1/4 mile.
Build an 800hp Cup car, poray it holds together 500 miles.
That's why I keep a stock + stage 1.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
I think his point was the more mods made to go faster, the less reliable and less longevity you have.