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: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,250
Likes: 136
From: Nomad
I'm just at that stage of making personal inventories, admitting to others the exact nature of my wrongs and attempting to make amends wherever possible, so consider this my message to you.
More power feels great but it is actually a drug addiction. Unfortunately, these days it only increasingly means that you get to the next traffic jam or lights sooner.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
Do you have data to support the assertion that resale value is lower with the S&S motor than the custom built motor? I would be interested in that data, although I really don't see me selling this bike once I do this work to it.
The quote to rebuild it is right where I would be with the S&S. Definitely could save money with a takeoff engine.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 130
From: Now Western TN
Quite the opposite, it's just that I'm on the 12 Step Program for Power Junkies. It got so bad I was wearing out front tires as quickly as rear ones in single figure thousand miles durations, at which point, I realized I was powerless needed divine assistance with my right wrist.
I'm just at that stage of making personal inventories, admitting to others the exact nature of my wrongs and attempting to make amends wherever possible, so consider this my message to you.
More power feels great but it is actually a drug addiction. Unfortunately, these days it only increasingly means that you get to the next traffic jam or lights sooner.
I'm just at that stage of making personal inventories, admitting to others the exact nature of my wrongs and attempting to make amends wherever possible, so consider this my message to you.
More power feels great but it is actually a drug addiction. Unfortunately, these days it only increasingly means that you get to the next traffic jam or lights sooner.
My addiction is Bowhunting, I can't tell you how much I end up spending on this sport. Luckily I haven't started a 12 step program cause I am enjoying it too much!!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,920
Likes: 264
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
If it was my bike, I would pull the spark plug on the offending cylinder to see if the noise goes away. That would indicate a broken wrist pin. That can be replaced without removing the motor, just the cylinder. If that wasn't the cause, a used Ebay motor might be the next option. I've seen then for between $1600-$2500. Drop that one in and go. It also depends on how much and how far you really ride. Would you really need a $6500 motor installed for short Sunday cruises?. Only you can decide that.,,,
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
If it was my bike, I would pull the spark plug on the offending cylinder to see if the noise goes away. That would indicate a broken wrist pin. That can be replaced without removing the motor, just the cylinder. If that wasn't the cause, a used Ebay motor might be the next option. I've seen then for between $1600-$2500. Drop that one in and go. It also depends on how much and how far you really ride. Would you really need a $6500 motor installed for short Sunday cruises?. Only you can decide that.,,,
If it was your bike (an '05) I would have been able to replace the wrist pin and bushing w/o tearing down the bottom end. In '07 the MoCo went to tapered connecting rods which, so they tell me, makes that wrist pin repair a little bit of impossible. One could conceivably go to the expense of replacing the connecting rod without upgrading the bottom end but . . ..
I like Sunday cruises as much as the next guy, but this is what I want my bike to be up for:
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,920
Likes: 264
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
A broken wrist pin hopefully would not score the cylinder making the replacement kinda easy, if that is the problem. I can't see how they could tell the bushing is wallowed out, without disassembly and measuring it. How many miles are on the motor?.,,
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
Your observation is correct -- that they couldn't know what was going on in there without taking a look. It was just their best guess based on previous observations.
A little over 75,000 miles on the motor.
A little over 75,000 miles on the motor.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
Well, I dove in yesterday. I'm not experienced, so I'm going slow. Spent a LOT of time trying to get the right muffler off. No luck. I'll start another post for tips on that. 
The debris that fell out of the front head pipe are undoubtedly an omen of what I can expect to find once I get inside.
Thank you all for your input. I just read a really nice review of Fuel Moto's Outlaw 126 Crate motor. There's gotta be a tipping point someplace though, and for me the $2,000 difference between the Fuel Moto and the rebuild/S&S options is probably it. Sounds lie a pretty nice build though.
The debris that fell out of the front head pipe are undoubtedly an omen of what I can expect to find once I get inside.Thank you all for your input. I just read a really nice review of Fuel Moto's Outlaw 126 Crate motor. There's gotta be a tipping point someplace though, and for me the $2,000 difference between the Fuel Moto and the rebuild/S&S options is probably it. Sounds lie a pretty nice build though.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 565
From: Utah
Good luck brother. The exhaust removal is the hardest part (as far as you know). I don't know exactly where you live at, but I'm in the Tooele-ish area, and can provide moral support (and drinks) if you need it.