Found a piston crack
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 680
Likes: 224
From: Buhl, Idaho
I have an '08 FLHT. At seventy thousand miles, the rear piston came apart while riding to work. Bike was still under warranty, so that helped a LOT. Shop tore it down, split the cases to clean everything and inspect. They did it right. Replaced the rear cylinder and piston, honed and re-ringed the front to keep it even. No idea why the piston broke. All stock internals at the time, simple stage one. **** happens. We fix it and ride on.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,588
Likes: 8,412
From: Inland NW
I will check in on her for you
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 1,422
From: Lost
I haven't dropped it yet, appointment is on 08/23.
I'm just not able to decide what to do, if you notice in the thread, I've been all over the place...just want to do cyclinder/pistons...but then jumped on doing stage I...then looked into upgrading cam chest parts...lol
I may for now just ask them to put new pistons and seal it up if bottom is good. Then may be in spring I can do Stage I and then next year end upgrade bottom end parts...at least that's what is going through my mind. See if it hold's up (Don't want to dump money if this starts falling apart...may just get a new one).
If I could develop 2 skill sets in my life, one would be focus and second decision making ability. man that will help me so much...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
You were satisfied with it before this break occurred, so have the repair done, and nothing else. Then see whether or not you're still satisfied with it. Not that it matters what I would do, but to not replace both cylinders and both pistons at the same time seems like a shortcut to me.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 2,225
From: College Station, TX
My thoughts would be at 70k miles if i planned on keeping it and riding it many more miles, there are some wear items that I'd want to do while things are apart. But yes, it can turn into a cascading list of want / need things that can get out of control and get really expensive. Also, when they take more things apart, they may find other issues that aren't presently known (crank runout). So I'd have a conversation with them so they know what you are thinking and see what ideas they have.
The exhaust will be off, so checking the cam chain tensioners and oil pump would be easy. And lifters at 70k would concern me because they can cause big problems when they do fail. Basically, you can save some labor by doing things that are either taken apart or at least patrially apart when the heads and cylinders are removed.
I've been to that dealer and it is a really nice one. I haven't had service there, but have had the chance to talk to several people in sales and parts and have had good experiances.
Paul
The exhaust will be off, so checking the cam chain tensioners and oil pump would be easy. And lifters at 70k would concern me because they can cause big problems when they do fail. Basically, you can save some labor by doing things that are either taken apart or at least patrially apart when the heads and cylinders are removed.
I've been to that dealer and it is a really nice one. I haven't had service there, but have had the chance to talk to several people in sales and parts and have had good experiances.
Paul
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,456
Likes: 3,723
From: backwoods
You should consider cost of labor.
Even if you don't do performance upgrades, the bike has 70k on it.
It would foolish to not do lifter, tensioner pads and cam bearings, imo. If you can't afford that, Park it until you can
Even if you don't do performance upgrades, the bike has 70k on it.
It would foolish to not do lifter, tensioner pads and cam bearings, imo. If you can't afford that, Park it until you can
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,456
Likes: 3,723
From: backwoods
I haven't dropped it yet, appointment is on 08/23.
I'm just not able to decide what to do, if you notice in the thread, I've been all over the place...just want to do cyclinder/pistons...but then jumped on doing stage I...then looked into upgrading cam chest parts...lol
I may for now just ask them to put new pistons and seal it up if bottom is good. Then may be in spring I can do Stage I and then next year end upgrade bottom end parts...at least that's what is going through my mind. See if it hold's up (Don't want to dump money if this starts falling apart...may just get a new one).
If I could develop 2 skill sets in my life, one would be focus and second decision making ability. man that will help me so much...
I'm just not able to decide what to do, if you notice in the thread, I've been all over the place...just want to do cyclinder/pistons...but then jumped on doing stage I...then looked into upgrading cam chest parts...lol
I may for now just ask them to put new pistons and seal it up if bottom is good. Then may be in spring I can do Stage I and then next year end upgrade bottom end parts...at least that's what is going through my mind. See if it hold's up (Don't want to dump money if this starts falling apart...may just get a new one).
If I could develop 2 skill sets in my life, one would be focus and second decision making ability. man that will help me so much...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
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From: Las Vegas