Found a piston crack
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 1,422
From: Lost
Ok....I'm pasting this from another thread I replied:
Master tech from Indy called me, bike will be dropped off next Wednesday.
I had called LoneWolf Harley in Spokane, a sales girl answered my phone. I told her I wanted to speak to a master tech who will be working on my bike, so that he could explain me what they will be doing, since I don't know anything mechanical about Harley's. She informed that they are super busy and don't usually talk to customers. I explained I'm spending more than $3000 to $5000 and would like to at least get an idea of what's going on straight from the tech. She immediately told me "They have several customers who spend more $$$$ than that and won't ask tech to call me"......wow.....dang.....
Anyway this master tech from Indy called me and we spoke for close to an Hr. He answered all my stupid questions without making me feel stupid...
He thinks it's most likely due to heat. Once open they will inspect pinion run out and recommends replacing both tensioners, installing Vesco pistons, will rehone cylinders if they can or will have to get new ones. Will check lifters, inner cam bearings ( he said replace with fueling bcuz they have bigger oil passage), lifter wheels, timkin cam bearing, inspect lifter+cam condition...etc...
I told him to install new motor mount. Front is easy but rear will take time according to him. He will inspect and see if it needs replaced ( Have to take off rear shocks and do a load test). Anyway I think it is better to do both. I explained most likely I'll ride this bike for another 100k miles or more, so need to do everything once it's open.
I thanked him for his time but also apologized for holding him on phone for long, he said no worries they have 3 techs in the shop and he wanted to make sure he answered all my questions and that I was comfortable knowing what they will be doing with the bike.
Master tech from Indy called me, bike will be dropped off next Wednesday.
I had called LoneWolf Harley in Spokane, a sales girl answered my phone. I told her I wanted to speak to a master tech who will be working on my bike, so that he could explain me what they will be doing, since I don't know anything mechanical about Harley's. She informed that they are super busy and don't usually talk to customers. I explained I'm spending more than $3000 to $5000 and would like to at least get an idea of what's going on straight from the tech. She immediately told me "They have several customers who spend more $$$$ than that and won't ask tech to call me"......wow.....dang.....
Anyway this master tech from Indy called me and we spoke for close to an Hr. He answered all my stupid questions without making me feel stupid...
He thinks it's most likely due to heat. Once open they will inspect pinion run out and recommends replacing both tensioners, installing Vesco pistons, will rehone cylinders if they can or will have to get new ones. Will check lifters, inner cam bearings ( he said replace with fueling bcuz they have bigger oil passage), lifter wheels, timkin cam bearing, inspect lifter+cam condition...etc...
I told him to install new motor mount. Front is easy but rear will take time according to him. He will inspect and see if it needs replaced ( Have to take off rear shocks and do a load test). Anyway I think it is better to do both. I explained most likely I'll ride this bike for another 100k miles or more, so need to do everything once it's open.
I thanked him for his time but also apologized for holding him on phone for long, he said no worries they have 3 techs in the shop and he wanted to make sure he answered all my questions and that I was comfortable knowing what they will be doing with the bike.
Last edited by pyuchem; Sep 25, 2024 at 02:44 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,456
Likes: 3,723
From: backwoods
I somewhat agree with the girl. The guy is busy working, and you want him to take a call. Different when owner. You are screwing mechanic out of pay out of a hour of pay. Owner you are screwing out of hour of time, and someone else work, or late for dinner. At some point it is putting lip stick on a pig, if you don't understand.
I would think talking him or service manager when you drop it off would be more reasonable. Not that I think it is crazy what you are asking. It does blow me away some of things I hear people here do. I drop my truck off, and come back when its done. I have never dreamed off any other involvement.
Now maybe if you have to travel a long ways to drop your bike off, deciding on the phone if you want to pursue bringing it in, is realistic. But if you already know
I am not sure i would bother checking the rear mounts. I replaced mine, when I did belt though, Not sure it worth taking swing arm apart for that. Time consuming $$$. Need to take primary off and swing arm. I don't think you are taking primary off now.
I would do lifters, tensioner pads, cam bearings,and then whatever his opinion is. I would probably keep cam plate and oil pump too. I did on mine. Plus you don't even know if you want to keep this.
But mostly you need to figure out why the piston has a crack. Also interesting it was cracked, but you can ride it. Doesn't seem possible to me, but I sure don't know for sure.
I would think talking him or service manager when you drop it off would be more reasonable. Not that I think it is crazy what you are asking. It does blow me away some of things I hear people here do. I drop my truck off, and come back when its done. I have never dreamed off any other involvement.
Now maybe if you have to travel a long ways to drop your bike off, deciding on the phone if you want to pursue bringing it in, is realistic. But if you already know
I am not sure i would bother checking the rear mounts. I replaced mine, when I did belt though, Not sure it worth taking swing arm apart for that. Time consuming $$$. Need to take primary off and swing arm. I don't think you are taking primary off now.
I would do lifters, tensioner pads, cam bearings,and then whatever his opinion is. I would probably keep cam plate and oil pump too. I did on mine. Plus you don't even know if you want to keep this.
But mostly you need to figure out why the piston has a crack. Also interesting it was cracked, but you can ride it. Doesn't seem possible to me, but I sure don't know for sure.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 680
Likes: 224
From: Buhl, Idaho
Funny (meaning STRANGE) thing is, my 2008 FLHT broke a stock piston, rear cylinder, at 70,000 miles. under extended warranty the dealer replaced the piston and rear cylinder with new parts, honed and re-ringed the front cylinder to keep things even and balanced. Now at 160,000 and still runs fine. Total out-of-pocket for me was under $100. Now I'd have to do it myself.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,679
Likes: 2,082
From: Massachusetts
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 800
From: Colorado
THe problem is harley tunes the bike so dam lean to pass EPA standard, and bike running lean is going to run hot.
Simply put, fuel is cooling, so want to run the HD motors on the rich side to help cool them down, instead of on the lean side to make EPA happy.
Note, same goes for not dumping the breather points into the intake for the cylinders to burn the oil coming out of breathers.
To add, did say that hd lower compression motors will run fine on 87 octane (new at least), but here is the rub, and with more fouling in the cylinders/top of the pistons from breathers puking that into the motor, this cause detonation problems with the lower octane fuel, so fouling/oil build up in the cylinders and running low octane fuel, could cause detonation problems in itself. As for HD, problems starts to happen later after warrenty has run out, so win/win for them all around, with epa happy so the can sell bike, and service departments happy when they are having to replace motors/pistons no longer under warrenty as well.
Simply put, until you have to start taking the bike in every 2 years to smog it to get plates in your area, re-tune the bikes to run on the richer side from the start, and repipe the beathers so they are not just dumping all the oil out of them, back into the intake manifold to foul up the pistons faster.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 1,422
From: Lost
I know, It's crazy..
Only thing I changed was I added hard lowers. I also have fork fangs, and I did notice little heat compared to before. According to a tech at fuel moto and indy heat is likely the cause. But he said fangs and hard lowers should not not make that much of a difference.
I'll take off left side heat shield so that right side shield acts like a AIR scooper. Hopefully that helps some.
Tech said they will install Vesco pistons and I was told they have better heat tolerance.
Last edited by pyuchem; Sep 27, 2024 at 06:44 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,456
Likes: 3,723
From: backwoods
I don't think it matters cause it is not normal. Why it happened is a mystery.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,588
Likes: 8,413
From: Inland NW
I know, It's crazy..
Only thing I changed was I added hard lowers. I also have fork fangs, and I did notice little heat compared to before. According to a tech at fuel moto and indy heat is likely the cause. But he said fangs and hard lowers should not not make that much of a difference.
I'll take off left side heat shield so that right side shield acts like a AIR scooper. Hopefully that helps some.
Tech said they will install Vesco pistons and I was told they have better heat tolerance.
Only thing I changed was I added hard lowers. I also have fork fangs, and I did notice little heat compared to before. According to a tech at fuel moto and indy heat is likely the cause. But he said fangs and hard lowers should not not make that much of a difference.
I'll take off left side heat shield so that right side shield acts like a AIR scooper. Hopefully that helps some.
Tech said they will install Vesco pistons and I was told they have better heat tolerance.
In our climate the fangs are likely an issue, they do block a lot of air. I do not run them because of this issue.