View Poll Results: What next?
Rebuild the motor
125
53.65%
Replace with S&S
65
27.90%
Replace with used Harley motor
38
16.31%
Sell bike in "as is" condition
5
2.15%
Voters: 233. You may not vote on this poll
Engine Blown -- Now What?
Banned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 17,008
Likes: 14,674
From: in a cave at the foothills
If your Indy was worth a flip when he used a stethoscope he would have stopped you where it was and given you options. But maybe I have higher standards as the guy I rely on is fantastic. I would find another Indy and get my options there. I get asking opinions on a forum after such an experience but answers are short minded. If it were me I would build the snot out of it but I have a second bike so my options are more open.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
The basic options are simple:
- sell as is and replace the bike,
- replace the engine with a secondhand one,
- open your wallet, do a proper ground up engine rebuild, or replace with an S&S!
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
Hmmmm....I voted replace with an S&S.
Wonder why I voted for that?
OK, to be serious. I was in the same position last year. Engine went out and I loved the way I had the bike set up so I had 2 options: 1) Rebuild with what I have or 2) Put in a crate S&S 124. I chose #2, but it is really up to you. I will tell you if you are not doing the work yourself, rebuilding or getting the Crate S&S will come out very close in price.
I should have noted: Same price if totally rebuilding the stock engine (Crank work, Cylinders, Pistons, head work, bigger bore, etc...).
Now that I have 5K miles on the 124, I would never go back to something smaller.
Wonder why I voted for that?
OK, to be serious. I was in the same position last year. Engine went out and I loved the way I had the bike set up so I had 2 options: 1) Rebuild with what I have or 2) Put in a crate S&S 124. I chose #2, but it is really up to you. I will tell you if you are not doing the work yourself, rebuilding or getting the Crate S&S will come out very close in price.
I should have noted: Same price if totally rebuilding the stock engine (Crank work, Cylinders, Pistons, head work, bigger bore, etc...).
Now that I have 5K miles on the 124, I would never go back to something smaller.
Last edited by Bowhunter61; Sep 20, 2017 at 07:45 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
Originally Posted by Bowhunter61
I will tell you if you are not doing the work yourself, rebuilding or getting the Crate S&S will come out very close in price.
The advantages of a custom build are that I can build exactly what I want (which really comes down to what the guys at the shop recommend because I don't know enough about engine components to believe that I will put together something better than what S&S is building) and the perceived value of having matching VINs.
Beyond those things it seems to come down to personal preference between a custom built motor and an S&S.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 646
From: Santa Clarita
A thousand bux all in? I don't think so.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
Plus he doesn't even know what all is wrong. If the crank is shot then he will spend more than that just on a new crank.
My opinion, which probably isn't worth much, tear it down, evaluate the damage, then make a decision based on what he finds.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 646
From: Santa Clarita
That's the only way that makes sense...right now OP doesn't know what he's got...
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,377
Likes: 1,774
From: Central Texas
How long are you planing to keep your bike? This is the first question to ask yourself, because you need to build, or buy accordingly. If you answer "forever" then you need to build an engine that will last "forever." If you answer "just another year or two" rebuild it with Craigslist pull offs
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 308
From: coastal sc
That's what my math says too. The advantages I am seeing to the S&S are that it is a job I think I can tackle, I can have confidence that the parts are all designed to work together, it will be done sooner, and the engine will have a warranty for a couple of years.
The advantages of a custom build are that I can build exactly what I want (which really comes down to what the guys at the shop recommend because I don't know enough about engine components to believe that I will put together something better than what S&S is building) and the perceived value of having matching VINs.
Beyond those things it seems to come down to personal preference between a custom built motor and an S&S.
The advantages of a custom build are that I can build exactly what I want (which really comes down to what the guys at the shop recommend because I don't know enough about engine components to believe that I will put together something better than what S&S is building) and the perceived value of having matching VINs.
Beyond those things it seems to come down to personal preference between a custom built motor and an S&S.