stage IV
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 30
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From: Forest city North Carolina
stage IV
i installed a harley davidson stage 4 big bore kit in my 09 classic road it for 22 miles and the front piston basicallly came apart from the piston pin down. worse is that it bent the front connecting rod.
at best i will have to replace the rod and flywheel assembly , at worst the whole engine.
has anyone else heard of any piston failures where the piston basically dedintigrated in the cyclinder?
at best i will have to replace the rod and flywheel assembly , at worst the whole engine.
has anyone else heard of any piston failures where the piston basically dedintigrated in the cyclinder?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,939
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From: TX
22 miles.... ???.....
Wow. Sorry to hear that, Dude.
That's not enough miles for the tune to come into play.
Did you check piston to valve clearance? Are you sure the cams are properly indexed? Was the engine rattling or making noise? I almost have to think a valve smacked the piston.
At this point, you may as well get a good crank & an after market package, like a 117 or 124.
Wow. Sorry to hear that, Dude.
That's not enough miles for the tune to come into play.
Did you check piston to valve clearance? Are you sure the cams are properly indexed? Was the engine rattling or making noise? I almost have to think a valve smacked the piston.
At this point, you may as well get a good crank & an after market package, like a 117 or 124.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,758
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From: Out West
Man that is like out of some Shakespeare tragedy, sorry to hear it!
Have to think it was something not right as opposed to the motor just not running smoothly, something like PhilM mentioned.
Have to think it was something not right as opposed to the motor just not running smoothly, something like PhilM mentioned.
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Boise Idaho
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Forest city North Carolina
to answer a few questions, it was all put together correctly , piston gaps checked and clerances checked, there was a bent valve but i think that happened after the piston let go. if you looked at the top of the piston through the spark plug hole it looked good but when it was disassembled there was nothing left from the top of the piston pin down.
havnt pulled it any further apart so not sure what else is wrong waiting on warranty info.
havnt pulled it any further apart so not sure what else is wrong waiting on warranty info.
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Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Forest city North Carolina
Update: Harley will not warranty any of my failure due to me doing the work. I know it is safe as far as warranty goes to have the dealer install something like this...However this is the 5th kit i have done. I spent 22 Years in the Navy as a diesel mechanic and as a failure analyzer. so i feel i know a thing or two about engines. But that doesnt stop the motor company from not helping me. So i will rebuild it but maybe this time i will use aftermarket parts.