my streetrod had a vibration and a noise that sounded like a valve rap... set the valves and the usual drill with no luck.... the mechanics gave up on it...
i unbolted my exhaust and realigned the motor via the turn buckle on the front of the motor as per the manual... problem solved....

 

Well, got the bike back yesterday. Only had time to ride it home, about 20 miles, but it seems fine. Some scratches on the chrome here and there, but over all it looks better than I expected given that it was in pieces all over the dealer's shop. The engine is a story I suppose only time will tell. I have to go through break-in again with the new bearings. The technician mentioned they had trouble with the factory on the warranty because something like this so rarely happens with this engine. They (the Motor Company) could not believe that I hadn't done some modification, or run it out of oil, or something to caise the problem. In the end the official factory explanation is a defective oil pump, but I don't think they really know. Thank you all for your support and advice on this. If it self destructs again you all will be the first to know...

 

Thanks for the update Ken, I hope that this is the only time you have to deal with something like this.

 

Well, I've had the V Rod back for two weeks now, going to get the 1000 mile "break in" oil change Thursday. So far so good. Runs good, looks good too in terms of the work quality - no scratches or damaged fasteners that I can see. No oil leaks either, and it has not used any oil. I tried to follow the new engine break-in guidelines pretty close. I'm going to have it dyno analyzed after I've put another 1000 on it, just to see where the numbers are. It feels plenty strong though. So, knock on wood...

 

1500 miles on the rebuilt engine now. Put it on a dyno yesterday - 100.28 max horsepower, 69.64 max torque. I think that's pretty much in line with factory specs, but I have not looked it up. I know the numbers quoted in The Company's literature is at the crankshaft. Anyway, hope this is the final chapter of this saga...

 

Ken,

Certainly gald to hear things are moving along and you're back on your ride! Onthe dyno, is everything stock? I thinkyou are very close to stock numbers if it is. If you got some mods like V-Mods w/PCIII and High Flow A/F...these numbers would be about 10% too low...I'm pretty sure anyhow! Maybe the expertswill chime in.

Ride safe and the best of luck to you and your "new" ride!
BillyD

 

Yes Billy, bone stock. The horespower curve is very linear, torque pretty flat. Max HP is hits and flattens at 7800 rpm, torque at 6800. A bunch of the onlookers weren't familiar with the V Rod and could not believe the power. They had spent big bucks and horsepower wise were not able to generate more than the 90s. Of course those engines are much more torque-ee. New word... There was a Q & A with the guy running the dyno, who seems to be a very knowledgable service tech, about how that "little" engine could produce that much power. Kind of fun. He thought my rebuilt engine was runnung great, and the technician who did the rebuild was very interested in the results, and pleased too with the results.

Eventually I might put in a power commander and a K&N filter, but I kind have grown to like the quiet pipes. The weather here has been pretty much perfect for riding recently. Nice.

 

Always nice to watch the air-cooled fellers shudder a little bit when they see a V-Rod at work and realize it's stock! A truly awesome event to behold!

Maybe I'm wrong butseeing these numbersflatten at 6.8-7.8k seems a little too early but the overallnumbers seem to be there.Maybe I keep thinking of slightly modified bikes. Did you notice or hear any dead spots...like when she's getting up to speed and blowing thru the gears didshe seem to flatten and then regain or was it a smooth acceleration with no flat spots? Any sputtering or farting (as they say) as she was winding down? Did you get a printout?

Again, I'll let the experts (as I am certainly not) chime in here but all in all...I think you're good and gad to hear you had this done!

BillyD
P.S. Wish we had your weather!

 

Billy -
I did get the printout graph, and acceleration was very smooth all the way up, and winding down. (The runs were all done in one gear, I think 5th). It did make me feel a lot better about the rebuild seeing these results. I like the way these bikes run. The air-cooled guys were almost mad... it didn't seem "fair" to them that I was getting 100 HP from a stock bike. The only bike with more was a heavily modified big bore that did 106.

And another advantage for me is that for all the great weather now it will be hot as fire in a few months, and the water-cooled technology reall shines, especially idling in traffic.

I do miss my Sporty though - it's still getting repaired from my wreck. I healed faster than the parts could be shipped.

 

Ken,
It's been a long interesting saga. Glad to hear you and the bikes are doing better. I hope this year goes better for you.