Rebuild
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 17
From: N.E. Fl.
Former Harley tech here, my 03 95" FLHTI **** the lower end (left crank bearing) at 65k miles, my brothers 04 95" made it to 68k miles...same issue. wife's 06 with sidecar made it to 88k miles. I elected to convert them to the old opposed Timkin bearings and trued/welded flywheels. My bike has S&S gear drive, other bikes are hyd. tensioners. Over 250,000 trouble free miles before I totaled a new Ram truck with my bike (I'm ok haha)
If your bike runs well, compression good, no big leaks etc... I'd run it till she needs attention. As others mentioned, when the need arises, pull the motor yourself, strip it and send lower end out to a reputable shop. Wish ya a successful journey....
If your bike runs well, compression good, no big leaks etc... I'd run it till she needs attention. As others mentioned, when the need arises, pull the motor yourself, strip it and send lower end out to a reputable shop. Wish ya a successful journey....
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 199
Likes: 155
From: Western Pennsylvania
Now We Are Talking
Former Harley tech here, my 03 95" FLHTI **** the lower end (left crank bearing) at 65k miles, my brothers 04 95" made it to 68k miles...same issue. wife's 06 with sidecar made it to 88k miles. I elected to convert them to the old opposed Timkin bearings and trued/welded flywheels. My bike has S&S gear drive, other bikes are hyd. tensioners. Over 250,000 trouble free miles before I totaled a new Ram truck with my bike (I'm ok haha)
If your bike runs well, compression good, no big leaks etc... I'd run it till she needs attention. As others mentioned, when the need arises, pull the motor yourself, strip it and send lower end out to a reputable shop. Wish ya a successful journey....
If your bike runs well, compression good, no big leaks etc... I'd run it till she needs attention. As others mentioned, when the need arises, pull the motor yourself, strip it and send lower end out to a reputable shop. Wish ya a successful journey....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1,122
From: 48.067222,12.863611
My personal opinion is this: If the leakdown comes out okay and you're not using oil and not interested in a big inch build..... I'd leave it and wait for the day it starts using oil and save an extra $100/month for a rebuild when the time comes.
Otherwise, doing the top end without peeking at the bottom end with that many miles is just asking for trouble.
So do it right or leave it alone. Neither answer is right and neither is wrong. Just don't get caught with your pants down financially.
Otherwise, doing the top end without peeking at the bottom end with that many miles is just asking for trouble.
So do it right or leave it alone. Neither answer is right and neither is wrong. Just don't get caught with your pants down financially.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1,122
From: 48.067222,12.863611
Geoff, now we are talking, someone with some direct experience as to when the problems occur, which is what I need. I am going to check compression on the bike this winter, but I can feel the bike is weaker, so I suspect its down. My bike also has S&S gear drive, I converted it back in 05. Your suggestion is to run it till it need attention, but if something goes on the lower end, does it not take out parts pretty quickly? I am thinking I would like to get it done before it gives up and wipes out expensive parts.
I think the bigger questions is this: what are you comfortable spending on a motor rebuild? That will likely dictate your next step.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 119
From: Penna.
Flyboy,
I have an '04 EG Classic with 119,000 miles on it. About 15,000 miles ago I had Hillside do a valve job on the bike (they did an excellent job). The reason I had to do a valve job was a cracked valve guide caused by a bad spark plug (long story). Like you, I've wondered how long the bike will go. I've always used synthetic oil in it and have maintained it well. It runs great, uses absolutely no oil and gets 45 MPG. I'm just driving it until that day arrives. It has never let me down. I put about 5-6,000 miles a year on it. Good luck.
I have an '04 EG Classic with 119,000 miles on it. About 15,000 miles ago I had Hillside do a valve job on the bike (they did an excellent job). The reason I had to do a valve job was a cracked valve guide caused by a bad spark plug (long story). Like you, I've wondered how long the bike will go. I've always used synthetic oil in it and have maintained it well. It runs great, uses absolutely no oil and gets 45 MPG. I'm just driving it until that day arrives. It has never let me down. I put about 5-6,000 miles a year on it. Good luck.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
A lot of good information has been shared by the previous contributors of this thread... But... No one has mentioned where you described your riding style - "I ride the back roads of Pennsylvania at the speed limit.....never on a freeway."
I would also consider that in making my decision.
If you truly ride as described then the bottom end has most likely experienced relatively low stress levels throughout its life, assuming you're not lugging it around at very low rpm's.
I'd also consider that it has gone as long as it has without issue. That tells me that your particular engine was probably well within the factory tolerances to begin with (which equates to higher reliability and a longer life). Another poster stated that three bikes he knew of had lower end bearing issues in the 60k mileage range. I'd suspect that those bikes were either ridden very hard or were close to the limits of the factory tolerances when new.
I would also consider that in making my decision.
If you truly ride as described then the bottom end has most likely experienced relatively low stress levels throughout its life, assuming you're not lugging it around at very low rpm's.
I'd also consider that it has gone as long as it has without issue. That tells me that your particular engine was probably well within the factory tolerances to begin with (which equates to higher reliability and a longer life). Another poster stated that three bikes he knew of had lower end bearing issues in the 60k mileage range. I'd suspect that those bikes were either ridden very hard or were close to the limits of the factory tolerances when new.
Last edited by 2black1s; Dec 8, 2019 at 08:00 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 199
Likes: 155
From: Western Pennsylvania
Point
A lot of good information has been shared by the previous contributors of this thread... But... No one has mentioned where you described your riding style - "I ride the back roads of Pennsylvania at the speed limit.....never on a freeway."
I would also consider that in making my decision.
If you truly ride as described then the bottom end has most likely experienced relatively low stress levels throughout its life, assuming you're not lugging it around at very low rpm's.
I'd also consider that it has gone as long as it has without issue. That tells me that your particular engine was probably well within the factory tolerances to begin with (which equates to higher reliability and a longer life). Another poster stated that three bikes he knew of had lower end bearing issues in the 60k mileage range. I'd suspect that those bikes were either ridden very hard or were close to the limits of the factory tolerances when new.
I would also consider that in making my decision.
If you truly ride as described then the bottom end has most likely experienced relatively low stress levels throughout its life, assuming you're not lugging it around at very low rpm's.
I'd also consider that it has gone as long as it has without issue. That tells me that your particular engine was probably well within the factory tolerances to begin with (which equates to higher reliability and a longer life). Another poster stated that three bikes he knew of had lower end bearing issues in the 60k mileage range. I'd suspect that those bikes were either ridden very hard or were close to the limits of the factory tolerances when new.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11
Likes: 9
From: Arlington Tx
Just ran across this thread. Posted a thread yesterday in general discussions with very similar questions. My 05 RD King has 175000 miles, is all original and with no engine work to this point. Will be following this thread to pickup some valuable insights.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 199
Likes: 155
From: Western Pennsylvania
Interesting
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
My 04 has in excess of 200k miles. It's gone from an 88 to a 95 to a 107.
If you're going to do crank work, upgrade the crank to a 103 crank. You get the same upkeep, the same cylinder but with a trued balanced and welded crank in a 103 variety. You get more options.
You can stay 103, go 106 or 107, or even consider 110 or you could even go larger.
However with an 88 crank, you get 95, 98 and that's about it.
Spend the $$ once but do it right.create as many options as you can even if you don't use them.
My opinion
If you're going to do crank work, upgrade the crank to a 103 crank. You get the same upkeep, the same cylinder but with a trued balanced and welded crank in a 103 variety. You get more options.
You can stay 103, go 106 or 107, or even consider 110 or you could even go larger.
However with an 88 crank, you get 95, 98 and that's about it.
Spend the $$ once but do it right.create as many options as you can even if you don't use them.
My opinion