Bad Day
Sorry to hear, hope the repair list is minimal. I too am on a fixed budget and know how it is when things go boom. Just bought two project trucks right before Thanksgiving and two weeks later had to have oral surgery. Thankfully my Brother loaned me the money for the surgery, I lost all my lower teeth because of it. F N sucks
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 646
From: Santa Clarita
I don't think anyone is taking offense, I'm not. We are just responding to the OP, who has been all over the place with which solution path to take - no offense angryman, I do that too. As things have unfolded, I agree with the quoted synopsis. Money is an issue here, getting the bike back on the street at minimum out-of-pocket is the correct, no-brainer decision. Spending the equivalent of a decent used bike on just the engine doesn't pass the cost/benefit analysis in this case.
That said, they remain the cheapest alternative in this case...
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
Other than buying the takeout used more or less stocker engine from another motorcycle...and going thru the associated DMV paperwork, if necessary...this is really your best alternative. Those who would recommend replacing your engine with a five grand hot rod are pretty much missing the point...no offense...but as I see it, OP, you don't want to spend a bunch of money you don't have. Your goal is to get back on the road using a minimum amount of money, NOT build a hot rod. As I've said before, those lifter bores are eminently repairable, its just a matter of finding a company who can do it, the technology is not particularly difficult for a typical machine shop.
I also didn't find any take off motors available near me. I was thus not able to physically check any out, although there were some good candidates on eBay and Craigslist (in Denver). I preferred paying more to get a warranty on a bigger engine vs. saving thousands on a riskier proposition.
Also, my situation did not lend itself to a feasible repair. I was in a situation where my choices were limited to a complete rebuild or a replacement motor.
My motor blew in a way that left me doubtful as to the integrity of the cases, and the cost of a full rebuild would have been closer to the new S&S than to the take off engine.
The one place that I could have saved money, and was leaning towards for a long time, was getting the T111 instead of the T124. Doing so would have allowed me to keep the stock throttle body and the air cleaner I already had.
I could have also kept the tuner I had and maybe passed on upgrading the clutch. But you're in a better spot than I was on those items.
Good luck with your choices. I would definitely recommend sticking with something you are comfortable paying for. You don't want to push yourself so far that you get strapped for cash and end up needing to sell your bike altogether!
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 284
Likes: 93
From: Wisconsin
The last number of posts are the best in this whole thread. You have an older bike that you are making payments on. As much as it would be exciting to have a new and bigger motor, it doesn't seem wise to me spending that kind of money(that you don't have). Get it running with least possible expense, ride it and get it paid off. If it's repaired properly it will be running long after your ready to move on to a different ride.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 230
Likes: 63
The last number of posts are the best in this whole thread. You have an older bike that you are making payments on. As much as it would be exciting to have a new and bigger motor, it doesn't seem wise to me spending that kind of money(that you don't have). Get it running with least possible expense, ride it and get it paid off. If it's repaired properly it will be running long after your ready to move on to a different ride.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 981
Likes: 182
From: Fairfax County, VA
Yo brother. That's a great looking bike! Real sorry it's out of commission for the moment. I hope you get it resolved without too much cost or time. Good luck.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 230
Likes: 63
Talking with my dad today. I showed him some of these pics and he said it looked to him like I was having an oiling issue. Look like that to anyone else?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 279
From: North Cental Iowa
No, I think you just had a lifter failure, remove the camplate & look at the oil pump & see how much **** went through it, that will tell you a lot to the overall damage done to the rest of the engine. Take some more pics of the pump body & gerotors & post them.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1,122
From: 48.067222,12.863611
Good luck, OP. I have nothing to add of substance, other than I can echo Randy at Hyperformance in Des Moines or BVBob out in Wisconsin- Razorback Performance.
I would echo the cheaper options of a rebuild or a used 103" if saving funds. If you need more power down the road, do the heads, moderate lift, etc. A stout 103" can be had that will run with many 110's.
I would echo the cheaper options of a rebuild or a used 103" if saving funds. If you need more power down the road, do the heads, moderate lift, etc. A stout 103" can be had that will run with many 110's.