118,000 miles, engine ugrade?
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: So. Cal
118,000 miles, engine ugrade?
My 02 Ultra with a twin cam 88 has 118k miles on it. I have a 5,000 mile trip to Canada coming up this summer and I'm nervous on pushing my luck with a motor with this many miles. The motor has had meticulous maint it's entire life and it still runs great but....
a few questions..
how hard is it to R&R a motor (I am very mechanical but no experience on HD bikes(
I found a 3400 mile 96" twin cam out of an 09 Ultra, will this fit plug & play? Will my 02 88" injection work perfectly with the 96"
Have any of you had good luck with a 3rd party shops rebulding your motor? I don't care to pay HD dealer prices. Yeah, I'm cheap!
any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
a few questions..
how hard is it to R&R a motor (I am very mechanical but no experience on HD bikes(
I found a 3400 mile 96" twin cam out of an 09 Ultra, will this fit plug & play? Will my 02 88" injection work perfectly with the 96"
Have any of you had good luck with a 3rd party shops rebulding your motor? I don't care to pay HD dealer prices. Yeah, I'm cheap!
any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
or since you are happy with a stock motor ( it seems) check the H-D remanufacturing program.
I watched them re and re a couple of evo motors and it seems like a great program- the only hold back is that they required a dealer pull and reinstall it, which could drive the price way up.
Last summer I did almost 8000 miles on my 72,000 mile '95 evo and spent many of them wondering "what if" and knowing that if I had problems I'd be paying full retail and have some stranger mawling my bike.
so on my return home I bought an 09, got a great deal and made a fair deal on the evo, so $7500 out of pocket.
Like the new ride alot, should be worry free for the next 10 years
mike
I watched them re and re a couple of evo motors and it seems like a great program- the only hold back is that they required a dealer pull and reinstall it, which could drive the price way up.
Last summer I did almost 8000 miles on my 72,000 mile '95 evo and spent many of them wondering "what if" and knowing that if I had problems I'd be paying full retail and have some stranger mawling my bike.
so on my return home I bought an 09, got a great deal and made a fair deal on the evo, so $7500 out of pocket.
Like the new ride alot, should be worry free for the next 10 years
mike
Is it burning any oil,making any funny sounds. If you are happy with it's performance as is,and there aren't any problem why even mess with it.
You said it was well maintained and just because it's high mile doesn't mean it's just going to fail on you. Take it in,unless of course you do your own work,and take all the covers off. Inspect tensioners,adjust clutch. Just give it a complete once over. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Now if you are getting that black puff of smoke at start up then it's a prime candidate for a big bore kit.
You said it was well maintained and just because it's high mile doesn't mean it's just going to fail on you. Take it in,unless of course you do your own work,and take all the covers off. Inspect tensioners,adjust clutch. Just give it a complete once over. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Now if you are getting that black puff of smoke at start up then it's a prime candidate for a big bore kit.
Is it burning any oil,making any funny sounds. If you are happy with it's performance as is,and there aren't any problem why even mess with it.
You said it was well maintained and just because it's high mile doesn't mean it's just going to fail on you. Take it in,unless of course you do your own work,and take all the covers off. Inspect tensioners,adjust clutch. Just give it a complete once over. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Now if you are getting that black puff of smoke at start up then it's a prime candidate for a big bore kit.
You said it was well maintained and just because it's high mile doesn't mean it's just going to fail on you. Take it in,unless of course you do your own work,and take all the covers off. Inspect tensioners,adjust clutch. Just give it a complete once over. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Now if you are getting that black puff of smoke at start up then it's a prime candidate for a big bore kit.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Holland, NY
upgrade?
My current ride is my third rubber mount Electraglide, so I knew what I wanted. I got it new with all the motor the dealer would warranty: 95", stage IV, no stroker kit. I now have 95K on the bike with no worries, though I just invested heavily this fall. I like this bike so much I put in the hydraulic cam tensioners, replaced the (forged) pistons, a valve job, and new brake discs. Progressive suspension front and rear was an upgrade. I am confident I'll get another 50K out of this scooter, or I would have scored a new bike.
If I was you, I'd get a valve job (at a dealer!), and go riding. I gave up on non-dealer motor work 25 years ago, due to experiences I wish I hadn't had! I pay the money and rest easy knowing the job was done right. I do not do my own motor work.
When I bought my first Harley over 30 years ago, I was told that the more I ran it, the better it would run. This has proven to be true for me. I've ridden in all the lower forty-eight with no real trouble, though those shovelheads would fall apart on ya if you didn't keep things tight!
If I was you, I'd get a valve job (at a dealer!), and go riding. I gave up on non-dealer motor work 25 years ago, due to experiences I wish I hadn't had! I pay the money and rest easy knowing the job was done right. I do not do my own motor work.
When I bought my first Harley over 30 years ago, I was told that the more I ran it, the better it would run. This has proven to be true for me. I've ridden in all the lower forty-eight with no real trouble, though those shovelheads would fall apart on ya if you didn't keep things tight!
Last edited by BikerPaul; Feb 1, 2012 at 12:51 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Is it burning any oil,making any funny sounds. If you are happy with it's performance as is,and there aren't any problem why even mess with it.
You said it was well maintained and just because it's high mile doesn't mean it's just going to fail on you. Take it in,unless of course you do your own work,and take all the covers off. Inspect tensioners,adjust clutch. Just give it a complete once over. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Now if you are getting that black puff of smoke at start up then it's a prime candidate for a big bore kit.
You said it was well maintained and just because it's high mile doesn't mean it's just going to fail on you. Take it in,unless of course you do your own work,and take all the covers off. Inspect tensioners,adjust clutch. Just give it a complete once over. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Now if you are getting that black puff of smoke at start up then it's a prime candidate for a big bore kit.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
do a re-man via harley. Get a 103 via the re man program, it basically is a new engine. Dealer R&R and out the door you are more cost effective than building what you have. Then in future, if you want to upgrade, you can go 107 and be $$$'s ahead.