People with engine knowledge..
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 3
From: ATL
Thanks for the comments and advice..not sure what I will do..I have tried to call the warranty company 3 times. And the same old story..if the PCV exists on the bike, they are to deny all claims. Just to get my bike fixed so I can ride, I will prob just cancel the warranty and pony up and get it fixed..chalk it up as an expensive lesson learned..I will prob do the fuelmoto 107..with the woods 555 cams..since all of that has to be replaced anyway..If the dealer will not help me out on labor/parts, I will just bring it home and learn how to do it myself..
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 3
From: ATL
I did read the contract carefully and it says this:
"This contract does not cover and it does not apply to:
14. YOUR MOTORCYCLE if it has been modified with any alterations to the powertrain, the suspension(including tire or wheel sizes) and/or an exhaust system not approved by Harley-Davidson"
This is what they keep pointing me to..
"This contract does not cover and it does not apply to:
14. YOUR MOTORCYCLE if it has been modified with any alterations to the powertrain, the suspension(including tire or wheel sizes) and/or an exhaust system not approved by Harley-Davidson"
This is what they keep pointing me to..
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
I think I'd suggest going back to the beginning.
First of all, blow-by from the heads that causes a bit of oil to be leaking from the Air Cleaner can NOT be caused by the supposed problem you (and your mechanic) feel that you have discovered with the Rod Bearing. In fact, a bit of blow-by is actually fairly normal on Twin Cam engines. Check out how many threads there are on this forum with folks (rightly or wrongly) recommending that the engine be run a half a quart low on oil to prevent or at the least reduce this complaint. Both of my bikes do it, and to one degree or another I think almost all Twin Cam engines do it a bit. My 2003 is completely stock and my 2010 has the build listed in my signature . . . they both do it, particularly after long runs on hot days.
Second, as someone else pointed out, I'd seriously hesitate to make any conclusions what-so-ever about what might or what might not be wrong with your Rod Bearing based on a picture. If the Crank Pin in lined up with the weight of the Rods it will balance there . . . and there is nothing wrong with anything. It would be very difficult for me to believe that any sort of failure, or combination of failures, that might in some way produce this as the basis for condemning the engine could not have allowed the engine to run more than a few minutes without grenading in a most spectacular fashion.
I'd get someone to look at this engine (hands-on) who doesn't have any ulterior motives. Your mechanic has his motivations and the warranty person has theirs . . . I'd guess that neither is motivated enough or maybe even knowledgeable enough to actually diagnose and repair (assuming anything actually ever needed repairing) your engine.
First of all, blow-by from the heads that causes a bit of oil to be leaking from the Air Cleaner can NOT be caused by the supposed problem you (and your mechanic) feel that you have discovered with the Rod Bearing. In fact, a bit of blow-by is actually fairly normal on Twin Cam engines. Check out how many threads there are on this forum with folks (rightly or wrongly) recommending that the engine be run a half a quart low on oil to prevent or at the least reduce this complaint. Both of my bikes do it, and to one degree or another I think almost all Twin Cam engines do it a bit. My 2003 is completely stock and my 2010 has the build listed in my signature . . . they both do it, particularly after long runs on hot days.
Second, as someone else pointed out, I'd seriously hesitate to make any conclusions what-so-ever about what might or what might not be wrong with your Rod Bearing based on a picture. If the Crank Pin in lined up with the weight of the Rods it will balance there . . . and there is nothing wrong with anything. It would be very difficult for me to believe that any sort of failure, or combination of failures, that might in some way produce this as the basis for condemning the engine could not have allowed the engine to run more than a few minutes without grenading in a most spectacular fashion.
I'd get someone to look at this engine (hands-on) who doesn't have any ulterior motives. Your mechanic has his motivations and the warranty person has theirs . . . I'd guess that neither is motivated enough or maybe even knowledgeable enough to actually diagnose and repair (assuming anything actually ever needed repairing) your engine.
Last edited by Bluehighways; Sep 23, 2012 at 12:40 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 3
From: ATL
I think I'd suggest going back to the beginning.
First of all, blow-by from the heads that causes a bit of oil to be leaking from the Air Cleaner can NOT be caused by the supposed problem you (and your mechanic) feel that you have discovered with the Rod Bearing. In fact, a bit of blow-by is actually fairly normal on Twin Cam engines. Check out how many threads there are on this forum with folks (rightly or wrongly) recommending that the engine be run a half a quart low on oil to prevent or at the least reduce this complaint. Both of my bikes do it, and to one degree or another I think almost all Twin Cam engines do it a bit. My 2003 is completely stock and my 2010 has the build listed in my signature . . . they both do it, particularly after long runs on hot days.
Second, as someone else pointed out, I'd seriously hesitate to make any conclusions what-so-ever about what might or what might not be wrong with your Rod Bearing based on a picture. If the Crank Pin in lined up with the weight of the Rods it will balance there . . . and there is nothing wrong with anything. It would be very difficult for me to believe that any sort of failure, or combination of failures, that might in some way produce this as the basis for condemning the engine could not have allowed the engine to run more than a few minutes without grenading in a most spectacular fashion.
I'd get someone to look at this engine (hands-on) who doesn't have any ulterior motives. Your mechanic has his motivations and the warranty person has theirs . . . I'd guess that neither is motivated enough or maybe even knowledgeable enough to actually diagnose and repair (assuming anything actually ever needed repairing) your engine.
First of all, blow-by from the heads that causes a bit of oil to be leaking from the Air Cleaner can NOT be caused by the supposed problem you (and your mechanic) feel that you have discovered with the Rod Bearing. In fact, a bit of blow-by is actually fairly normal on Twin Cam engines. Check out how many threads there are on this forum with folks (rightly or wrongly) recommending that the engine be run a half a quart low on oil to prevent or at the least reduce this complaint. Both of my bikes do it, and to one degree or another I think almost all Twin Cam engines do it a bit. My 2003 is completely stock and my 2010 has the build listed in my signature . . . they both do it, particularly after long runs on hot days.
Second, as someone else pointed out, I'd seriously hesitate to make any conclusions what-so-ever about what might or what might not be wrong with your Rod Bearing based on a picture. If the Crank Pin in lined up with the weight of the Rods it will balance there . . . and there is nothing wrong with anything. It would be very difficult for me to believe that any sort of failure, or combination of failures, that might in some way produce this as the basis for condemning the engine could not have allowed the engine to run more than a few minutes without grenading in a most spectacular fashion.
I'd get someone to look at this engine (hands-on) who doesn't have any ulterior motives. Your mechanic has his motivations and the warranty person has theirs . . . I'd guess that neither is motivated enough or maybe even knowledgeable enough to actually diagnose and repair (assuming anything actually ever needed repairing) your engine.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/10354430-post13.html
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 872
Likes: 20
From: Niagara Falls Canada
wild guess
they are gonna pull the modification thing out of their hat and say the pcv made it run too lean and it got too hot and fried the motor. probably complete bullshit but it will save them from fixing their failed oil pump or plugged oil spary nozzles or a scissored crank that was the real cause
not sure if the magnessen act will save your hide
not sure if the magnessen act will save your hide
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Tulare County, CA
My hunch would be (having not read your entire contract) that whether th modification caused or contributed to the engine damage is irrelevant. It sucks, but that's what the warranty company will claim.
BUT, who installed your pipes and PCV? If a HD dealer installed them, you've got a real strong argument that by installing them - those modifications were "Approved by Harley Davidson.". Even if they didn't install them, but they worked on your bike since then, arguably they approved then after-the-fact (at least I would try that angle).
I wish you the best of luck!
Bill
BUT, who installed your pipes and PCV? If a HD dealer installed them, you've got a real strong argument that by installing them - those modifications were "Approved by Harley Davidson.". Even if they didn't install them, but they worked on your bike since then, arguably they approved then after-the-fact (at least I would try that angle).
I wish you the best of luck!
Bill
Looks like you have a fight on your hands.
The MoCo is a joke. If I buy a new bike it won't be a Harley. Too much. They don't care about the customer,they care about money.
How does a tuner wipe out a bearing. Absolutely disgusting. Yep,Harley is making a profit by screwing their customers.