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Time To Tear Down

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by JohnnyBiker, Sep 8, 2014.

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  1. JohnnyBiker

    JohnnyBiker Well-Known Member

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    Playing around a little. Just never thought to check this right away. Here is a problem. Watch "Rod Slop. 1996 Sportster" on YouTube
    Rod Slop. 1996 Sportster:
    JohnnyBiker, Nov 14, 2014
    #301
  3. Lucifer

    Lucifer Well-Known Member

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    Lil bit of side play is OK....Up and down is not good....
    Lucifer, Nov 14, 2014
    #302
  4. JohnnyBiker

    JohnnyBiker Well-Known Member

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    That side play is just a little excessive. There is a lot there. I went back to play with the rod and there is slight in and out motion. That isn't good. :confused:
    JohnnyBiker, Nov 16, 2014
    #303
  5. joshbob

    joshbob Well-Known Member

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    If "in & out" means "up & down" you have a big problem.
    joshbob, Nov 16, 2014
    #304
  6. JohnnyBiker

    JohnnyBiker Well-Known Member

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    The side play is way beyond factory spec.

    EDIT: I misspoke. There isn't an actual spec for side to side play but this just seems to be a lot. There is very slight up and down movement. This indicates bad rod bearings.
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2014
    JohnnyBiker, Nov 16, 2014
    #305
  7. Lucifer

    Lucifer Well-Known Member

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    Did you try moving the rear...S&S spec for the female con rod side play is .015"-.035"Harley is .005"-.025"...a little rocking on the front rod is normal,But side play should be minimal....any up and down or twisting movement means R&R...
    Hold both rods and rotate the flywheels,it should be smooth and no binding...
    Lucifer, Nov 16, 2014
    #306
  8. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    It has to have a little side to side but up and down is a problem


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    hotroadking, Nov 16, 2014
    #307
  9. cardboard

    cardboard Well-Known Member

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    Ya know they have new bikes at the Harley dealer.
    Ya don't have to waste money and tear down.
    Just put gas in them and ride.
    cardboard, Nov 19, 2014
    #308
  10. Lucifer

    Lucifer Well-Known Member

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    But some people like to fix broken stuff and hop up their bikes .......You show me a Sporty at the dealer that looks or will run anywhere near what JB's is....
    Lucifer, Nov 19, 2014
    #309
  11. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Yea but who wants to constantly work on their bike. All them mods are OK but many of them tend to break down more often. I've known several guys who build their motor up to be the biggest badass in town but seem to always be working on them to keep em running. Some guys like to work on them but, some of us just enjoy riding.
    FLHTbiker, Nov 19, 2014
    #310
  12. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Leave ol JB alone, he's young, been there myself, built my heritage into
    a helicopter bike over 10 years, it was fast, loud, scared wimmen and chillrens
    laid rubber like a porn star, and surprised crotch rocket humpers,

    however it required a week of maintenance for every hour of riding lol

    Still it was fun,
    hotroadking, Nov 19, 2014
    #311
  13. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Hehe, he wouldn't listen to anyone anyway. Best way to learn is spending all the money and time doing it. We all been there at one time or another.
    FLHTbiker, Nov 19, 2014
    #312
  14. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Yep what fun is it leaving every bike stock,
    you need a project bike so you can stay in the garage
    with a cigar, rock n roll and your buddies..
    hotroadking, Nov 19, 2014
    #313
    JohnnyBiker and Lucifer like this.
  15. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Except when the weather is nice and yea want to ride it. :)
    FLHTbiker, Nov 19, 2014
    #314
  16. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    thats why ya own two LOL
    hotroadking, Nov 19, 2014
    #315
  17. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Except when your working on em both
    FLHTbiker, Nov 19, 2014
    #316
  18. cardboard

    cardboard Well-Known Member

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    When you build them and you want them super strong you loose liability in them.
    That is why you are always working on them.
    Some people has to have the biggest numbers that their bike can put out.
    Then wonder why something is aways making a noise or breaking.
    Had a dude that built race bikes to build me a bike. Didn't make the number that everybody else did. He said don't worry about the numbers. I'm building it to go the fastest from Point A to Point B.
    And it would do it.
    Never had another bike to get near it.
    Too bad he got old and quit working on bikes.
    Think the 107 Kit I got from fuelmoto has liability in it but will run like a scalded ape, And still gets good fuel milage.
    so far everything has stayed together good after I replaced the clutch.

    And working on them all the time COST MONEY.
    cardboard, Nov 19, 2014
    #317
  19. JohnnyBiker

    JohnnyBiker Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Lucifer. I like my bike too.;)
    JohnnyBiker, Nov 20, 2014
    #318
  20. JohnnyBiker

    JohnnyBiker Well-Known Member

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    No I didn't. The reason I didn't is because my main interest is anything related to the front cylinder.
    JohnnyBiker, Nov 20, 2014
    #319
  21. JohnnyBiker

    JohnnyBiker Well-Known Member

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    I haven't had any of the major engine mods that I have done ever fail. The Sportster hasn't had the engine touched ever since I originally did the better performance package back in 2009. My Road Glide ran perfectly before I went to a 98" and continues to run perfect. To say that they are always being worked on is just silly.

    Why this happened to the Sportster is just a flat out mystery. My opinion is that it was just a flat out mechanical failure. I will never know for sure.:confused:
    JohnnyBiker, Nov 20, 2014
    #320
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