Help from the pros
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Help from the pros
Gang,
The speedo cable broke on my 1999 FLHTCUI (Ultra Glide) and I dropped it off at the dealer to have it replaced for $117.00. They looked at my mileage (38,500) and told me I needed my 40,000 mile service which required a complete bottom end rebuild in excess of $1,000.00, and if the cam tensioners failed it would be catastrophic for my engine. I declined. I called another Harley dealer in my area, told them of my mileage and they told me I needed a bundle of services (stuff I already maintain), but did not mention the rebuild. The bike runs great and I ride a lot. I leave for a couple thousand mile round trip in a month. What should I really be concerned about, if anything?
The speedo cable broke on my 1999 FLHTCUI (Ultra Glide) and I dropped it off at the dealer to have it replaced for $117.00. They looked at my mileage (38,500) and told me I needed my 40,000 mile service which required a complete bottom end rebuild in excess of $1,000.00, and if the cam tensioners failed it would be catastrophic for my engine. I declined. I called another Harley dealer in my area, told them of my mileage and they told me I needed a bundle of services (stuff I already maintain), but did not mention the rebuild. The bike runs great and I ride a lot. I leave for a couple thousand mile round trip in a month. What should I really be concerned about, if anything?
Last edited by Classx; May 12, 2014 at 08:44 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
A rebuild?? 99 to 02 were the best years for bottom end engines, Timkin crank bearings, forged bottomd end, only thing I would check are the cam tensioners, I also have a 99 and mine were gone at 38k miles. I have 68k miles on my bottom end with no problems, keep that bike, the bottom end will last a very long time and are great for gear drive cams, they hardly ever have crank run out issues unlike the newer cheap cranks they make now.
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
I just got off the phone with a Harley tech (those guys are good). I was told not to worry about the cam tensioners unless I begin to hear a ticking noise on the left side of the bike. That will alert me to the need to have the cam tensioners replaced.
When I mentioned a bottom end rebuild, I wasn't talking about the engine, just all the bearings and cam tensioners inside the primary...sorry for the confusion.
When I mentioned a bottom end rebuild, I wasn't talking about the engine, just all the bearings and cam tensioners inside the primary...sorry for the confusion.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
Yes, you need to visually look at them, if you wait for noise it could be the tensioners comming apart, when that happens the pieces of plastic can go thru your engine ruining the oil pump and clogging small oil passasges, that will ruin the engine very quickly, do you really want to risk waiting to hear it happening, and on your long trip it could be even worse, you really need to check them or have them checked, if they are worn pretty far, and I have a feeling they are, at minimum have them replaced, or upgrade to the hyd kit from HD, or go gear drive and never worry about tensioners again, its your bike, $500 to replace tensioners? Or risk loosing your engine?
And when they replace the tensioners they also replace the cam bearings since they have to pull the cam assembly out to replace the inner tensioner, they should also use B-148 Torrington cam bearings, is an upgrade to stock cam bearings, I believe they are now made by Timkin
And when they replace the tensioners they also replace the cam bearings since they have to pull the cam assembly out to replace the inner tensioner, they should also use B-148 Torrington cam bearings, is an upgrade to stock cam bearings, I believe they are now made by Timkin
Last edited by fwb35; May 12, 2014 at 09:24 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
I just got off the phone with a Harley tech (those guys are good). I was told not to worry about the cam tensioners unless I begin to hear a ticking noise on the left side of the bike. That will alert me to the need to have the cam tensioners replaced.
When I mentioned a bottom end rebuild, I wasn't talking about the engine, just all the bearings and cam tensioners inside the primary...sorry for the confusion.
When I mentioned a bottom end rebuild, I wasn't talking about the engine, just all the bearings and cam tensioners inside the primary...sorry for the confusion.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
A rebuild?? 99 to 02 were the best years for bottom end engines, Timkin crank bearings, forged bottomd end, only thing I would check are the cam tensioners, I also have a 99 and mine were gone at 38k miles. I have 68k miles on my bottom end with no problems, keep that bike, the bottom end will last a very long time and are great for gear drive cams, they hardly ever have crank run out issues unlike the newer cheap cranks they make now.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 17
From: Orange, VA,
When the tensioners get replaced they have to pull the whole assembly out, so yes the bearings should get replaced, and make sure they use the Torrington or Timkin B-148 cam bearings, the tensioners come complete with new springs, they dont just replace the shoes.