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CVO Social => Other Topics => Topic started by: Hoist! on April 22, 2007, 09:24:00 PM
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Hey gang. Had a fantastic time in York and the area until the ride home. I didn't make it to Harrisburg from York when I heard a bad noise. I finally got off the highway to find the whole left side of the bike covered in a film of oil. So was my left leg and boot. Saw smoke puffing out of the left side case. Low and behold, I blew out the timing plug. On an Evo, there is a plug to access the left side flywheel, where the timing marks are. I called Don to ask some technical advice about oil pressure and oil passages down there. He told me it should only be crankcase pressure. Obviously, I needed to something, as I couldn't go 200 miles with the oil blowing out of the left side of the engine.
At that point, a local asked if he could do anything to help. I called the 2 HD dealers in the area. One was Appalachian, the other was Susquehanna. The reason I mention that is that both tried to be very helpful. Either would have come and gotten me. And one offered to bring the part and tools to try to get me going. But our good Samaritan friend, Ray, went to Susquehanna and picked up a timing plug and some oil. Sounds like we'll be back in business and good to go! WRONG!!!
We went to install the new timing plug, and lo and behold, it was too small for the opening! WTF!!! I've only owned this bike a little over 10 years. There must have been a previous problem there and the hole is oversized. Dead in the water? Not so fast. I thought about the info Don gave me, and Ray went to a hardware store to bring back various plumbing fittings. I was determined to get this bitch home tonight! One of the fittings he got was a Nylon 3/8" MPT x 1/4" barbed fitting. It would not thread, so I got it lined up in the hole, put a deep socket over the Nylon fitting, and drove it into the hole with a hammer. Jammed it in there good. No chance of damage, as it's soft Nylon. The I took some clear 1/4" hose and ran it from the fitting, along the clutch cable, and up to the handlebars. I zip tied it to the fitting and the clutch cable. I had just crated a new crancase breather! It looked like a real Rube Goldberg! It's too dark, but I'll show some pics tomorrow of what I did. I filled the oil tank back up and started the bike. We all had our fingers crossed. The bike fired up and the fitting held. I let it warm up and then started revving the engine. It's still holding up. I'm going for it! I packed up my chit and hit the road.
Now you have to understand that there's only crankcase pressure under the cylinders. But you can't just leave it open. The flywheels were slinging the oil out of the hole. It wasn't being blown out. So by leaving the plug open, and running the hose 2 feet above the hole, there was no chance of losing oil. And the opening would prevent any crankcase pressure from building up and blowing the fitting out. I could only hope that vibration or thermal expansion wouldn't foil my plan. I took off!
I ran about 65-70 MPH to avoid getting run over, but didn't want to risk my usual faster pace. I rode about 90 miles, leaning down to left side of the case, what now seems like every minute to check on it. Could it be holding? Damn straight it was holding. I shoved a burger down my throat, filled the bike up with gas, and proceeded on. That was at the PA/NJ border. Only 90 miles left. I got back on the road and continued checking, but everything was still holding up fine. I got about 10 miles from the George Washington Bridge and a wall of traffic. F that! My bike's broke and I'm taking her home!!! Splitting lanes and riding on the shoulder all the way to the Toll Booths. Then splitting lanes the entire length of the bridge. No traffic for me. I was on a mission! Got to the other side and got off and took alternate route back into Queens. I think the entire country knows to stay off the Cross Bronx Expressway! I took the Deagan to the Triboro Bridge and was in Queens now! 15 minutes more. Stayed on the Grand Central, past Shea Stadium and made it home. What a relief! Desparate times call for desperate measures. It was time to get creative!!! And my perseverance paid off! My baby got me home after I gave her a little love!!! She's broken chit before, but has NEVER left me stranded!!! I love my Wide Glide. Should I blame this on MoCo too? If I had my SERK, I would have been on that bike. FTF!!!!!!!
Now I need to thank a few people. First, thanks Don for helping me keep my head on straight and give me some technical input and ideas. I actually expanded on one of your ideas as the Bandaid to get me home. Thanks to Hoody, who offered to come from Gettysburg with a trailer and bring the bike back to his house and put me up. Thanks to the 2 HD dealers that weren't going to leave my bike stranded on the road. But most of all, thanks to Ray, a total stranger, who took three hours out of his afternoon to help me until I was good to go! He even offered to store the bike and let me stay at his house. Not a CVOHarley brother. Not an HD rider at all. He was in a pick up truck. He went home and got his Kawasaki, and ran around until we got something to work!!! That is one stand up MoFo!!! I hope he visits me in NYC like I asked him to. I owe him a night on the town.
As it turned out, it's now just another story for the Hoist Motorcycle Diaries! And it had a happy ending. At least for now. I still have to figure out what to do with that oversize hole. But it's home safe and sound. And so am I! That's what really mattered today.
So like I said, Chit Happens! You can't panic and must get as creative as necessary when you're on the road. With the help of some good people and some ingenuity, I made it home! And it feels great knowing my bike got me there!!!
Hoist! 8)
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Great story, glad it all worked out and you made it home safely!
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Great reading and heads up for all those who either offered or actually helped. :2vrolijk_21:
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Howie,
Glad to see you made it home safely. :2vrolijk_21: You sure know how to make a trip exciting. :o
:pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
:fireman:
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Even though the day was frustrating while it was going on you still got in by dark:30 and it's a day with a good story and a good samaritan. All that punctuating a great long weekend trip with good friends has to have a guy feeling pretty good as he stretches at home with a beer when it's all done. So glad you got in ok. Pat the bike on the rear fender and tell it "good girl" for doing it's part. It did all you needed it to today :2vrolijk_21: .
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Glad you got home OK. Now you'll just have to get a chrome plug. ;)
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Great story glad you made it safe.I lived in the area for 5 years and details about the way you went home made me remember good days I had while i was there.Its been little over 3 years since i went back to states.Hmm i guess i miss my old home.Hey Howie thanks for bringing back memories. :drink:
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Howie,
Sounds like some real REDNECK engineering. Are you going to get the RK road ready in time for the pickup ride?
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Howie,
Sounds like some real REDNECK engineering. Are you going to get the RK road ready in time for the pickup ride?
If you want Redneck engineering check out
www.redneckengineering.com
Take a look at the undresser!
:2vrolijk_21:
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Howie, good to see you made it home with a bit of cage dodgin' throwin' in too. Sorry you had the snafu, but certainly great that you got it patched and home. Rog
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Super impressed with the ingenuity and the perseverance to get the bike back on the road and home. What a great story, we'll ignore the inconvenience you endured to have the story to tell. Thanks for sharing. So sorry we missed you this weekend. I can actually stand today, not for long and can't walk without a little bit of help, but should be strong when you pass through this area in a few weeks. Hope we can hook up. :bananarock: :cherry:
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GLAD TO HERE EVERYTHING WORKED OUT FOR YOU BRO!!!!!!!
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Thanks for the kind words everyone! You sometimes have to be able to look past the normal repair methods, when you break down on the road. You have to think outside the box. I was ready to get a piece of wood and whittle it down, and beat it into the hole. It works on whiskey barrels, so why not on an engine! That would have been real Redneck engineering! Short of blowing up, when something breaks, and the normal fix doesn't work, do what it takes to get it done, and get back on the road! I'm not keen on leaving my bikes out of town for a stranger to fix.
Chip, my friend is an RE dealer, but they're not for me. If I did any other bike right now it, it would be a Rucker.
Candy, I'm glad everything went well, and you're making progress. Hopefully I'll get to meet you guys next month. I hope you'll be up to do a little riding with us. If not, maybe you guys can stop by and meet the group.
Hoist! 8)
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Howie,
Somehow, I don't think I would have expected anything less from you! Sorry to hear about the problems, but glad you made it home safe and sound. It's really interesting how nice folks can turn up at the most opportune time.
Hope to see you soon friend,
Tony
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Howie,
Somehow, I don't think I would have expected anything less from you! Sorry to hear about the problems, but glad you made it home safe and sound. It's really interesting how nice folks can turn up at the most opportune time.
Hope to see you soon friend,
Tony
Thanks Tony. Man you've been going thru your own form of hell these days. We missed you in York, but hopefully we'll get to see you next month. I hope you have a speedy full recovery from the ordeal last week, and get to ride that shiny new bike of yours. If you're not up to riding by 5/12, pleas try to meet us for dinner in Front Royal that evening. Feel better Tony! :2vrolijk_21: Hoist! 8)
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Hoist your tales get better - keep 'em coming
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Thanks Tony. Man you've been going thru your own form of hell these days. We missed you in York, but hopefully we'll get to see you next month. I hope you have a speedy full recovery from the ordeal last week, and get to ride that shiny new bike of yours. If you're not up to riding by 5/12, pleas try to meet us for dinner in Front Royal that evening. Feel better Tony! :2vrolijk_21: Hoist! 8)
Thanks, Howie. Just let me know when and where and we'll be there. Doubt that we'll be on the bike by then, but we'll see.
Tony
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Good story, Hoist!
OK, anytime someone talks about cobbling something up to keep going, I think of my friend Curly.
He was riding his Dyna on the Cherohala Skyway by himself, minding his own business about 7 years ago, when a couple of good 'ol boys in a pick-em-up truck behind him started messin' with him...tailgating, etc, then blasted around him and slammed on their brakes.
Curly went off the road and down. The good 'ol boys laughed their toothless laugh, and left him there. He had some bruises but nothing broken, so he pulled his bike back onto the shoulder of the road. He had a busted clutch lever and broken shift shaft. After a bit, he was able to fashion a clutch lever extension out of a spoon and some cable-ties, but with no shift lever he only had 2nd gear. A few minutes later another pickup pulled up.
Guy got out and said "Ya havin' troubles, son?" Curly explained that he was in second gear and couldn't move the shift shaft. The guy had a welder in his truck and welded a piece of steel onto the stub right there. Curly tried to pay him, but the guy wouldn't take anything.
He was able to ride back to Naples with that welded part. Picked up a new clutch lever on the way, tho.
Sadly, of all the crap that Curly went through in his life, we lost him a few years later to a simple little really low speed drop...the backside of his helmetless melon hit the asphalt. He was 'out of it' for a year and a half before he succumbed. (RIP Bro. I still miss ya.)
Jerry
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, do what it takes to get it done, and get back on the road!
Hoist! 8)
Hoist?!?!?!? We need to talk man...That was a perfect opportunity for saying "git er done". I'm just trying to get you ready for the south bro.
I rode with a group this weekend I've never ridden with before. I had ridden with one guy, and he'd called asking me to ride along with his group to a crawfish boil. Count me in. We meet at one guy's deer camp/party shack. We metat 10:00 AM Saturday. Slowly over an hour or so, one bike after another rides in. The last one to show up was a guy they nicknamed "Do Drop". Do Drop was about 60 years old with a long ponytail. He was riding a really sharp springer. I had to ask Do Drop, how'd you get the nickname? He got a sheepish look on his face and said, Because I Do Drop my bike a lot. Sure enough, when we left, Do Drop did drop his bike.
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I'm sorry to hear about Curly. I was hoping that story had a happy ending, instead of an Easy Rider ending! I was hoping you'd say they found thos assholes in the pickup and beat them like a red headed stepchild so they'd never think of Fing with another biker! Too bad, they're probably still at it. That chit really makes me mad! >:(
Hey HB, I saw the opportunity, but somehow those words don't come out yet! ;D
Here's the pics of my custom crankcase breather.
Hoist! 8)
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Close up.
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Last one with the new "breather hose" running along the clutch cable, up to the handlebars.
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Howie,
Great story and super improvising to get the old girl back on the road and running. ;) Glad you made it home okay bro... Was great seeing you in York and looking forward to hooking up with you in May.
Cheers :2vrolijk_21:,
:devil:
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Uh Oh!!! Bad news. Just as I thought, the timing plug blew out of the cases thru the threads, and took threads with it. This is a very bad thing. The hole must be re-tapped for a new plug. The inner primary on the early Evo's have a raised boss in front of the timing hole. Hopefully, there's enough meat on the IP to clearance it enough to get a tap straight in the hole. Otherwise, the entire Primary must come apart to get that straight shot at the hole.
That's only part of the problem. After that's done, the tap is set up for re-tapping the hole with flywheels removed. So we're gonna try to do a little at a time, and cut the tap shorter and shorter as we go deeper. Systematically trying to get threads in the hole. If this doesn't work, the motor's got to come out. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm starting a new thread in the Evo Section, but I'll ask here now. What is the largest Evo engine that can be installed in a stock '85 HD 4-speed Evo Frame? I really don't expect you guys to know this, but there might be a few out there who would. BTW, where's djkak when you need him? Hey dj, I bet you know this.
I'll let you guys know how it goes. See, it ain't just 110's that break. Everything breaks at some
point in time!
Hoist! 8)
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The Joy's of owning a Harley ;D Great job of Roadside engineering :2vrolijk_21: And you were still able to make it home safe. See you in a couple of weeks :orange:
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Uh Oh!!! Bad news. Just as I thought, the timing plug blew out of the cases thru the threads, and took threads with it. This is a very bad thing. The hole must be re-tapped for a new plug. The inner primary on the early Evo's have a raised boss in front of the timing hole. Hopefully, there's enough meat on the IP to clearance it enough to get a tap straight in the hole. Otherwise, the entire Primary must come apart to get that straight shot at the hole.
That's only part of the problem. After that's done, the tap is set up for re-tapping the hole with flywheels removed. So we're gonna try to do a little at a time, and cut the tap shorter and shorter as we go deeper. Systematically trying to get threads in the hole. If this doesn't work, the motor's got to come out. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm starting a new thread in the Evo Section, but I'll ask here now. What is the largest Evo engine that can be installed in a stock '85 HD 4-speed Evo Frame? I really don't expect you guys to know this, but there might be a few out there who would. BTW, where's djkak when you need him? Hey dj, I bet you know this.
I'll let you guys know how it goes. See, it ain't just 110's that break. Everything breaks at some
point in time!
Hoist! 8)
One other bit of alternative engineering you might consider. If the alternative is the engine coming out anyway, and these cases are already damaged, and you're not concerned about saving these cases, and all you want to do is ride it for awhile until some other engine goes in anyway....
Then just weld it up.
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One other bit of alternative engineering you might consider. If the alternative is the engine coming out anyway, and these cases are already damaged, and you're not concerned about saving these cases, and all you want to do is ride it for awhile until some other engine goes in anyway....
Then just weld it up.
Thanks Wayne, it was a matter of time before that 4-speed needed something major. But it never left me stranded. Looking forward to seeing you guys again in 2 weeks!
I thought about that Don. My other option right now is to use the 89" motor from my Pro Street, which isn't VIN'd yet anyway. I'll worry about the Pro Street later. That bike would be better with a bigger motor anyway, since that's a 425 lb hot rod. It's being worked on right now, so keep your fingers crossed! Hoist!
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HOWIE THOSE OLD EVO'S NEVER DIE THEY JUST NEED SOME GOOD NY ENGINEERING. GLAD YOU MADE IT HOME. BETTER LATE THAN NOT AT ALL. :2vrolijk_21:
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HOWIE THOSE OLD EVO'S NEVER DIE THEY JUST NEED SOME GOOD NY ENGINEERING. GLAD YOU MADE IT HOME. BETTER LATE THAN NOT AT ALL. :2vrolijk_21:
Thanks Dave, I'm not out of the woods yet. I'm waiting to hear if the hole was able to be tapped with the flywheels still in the cases. We clearanced the inner primary to get the straight shot we need for a tap. Now we have to see if we can get it tapped. If not, I'm throwing my 89" Evo from my Pro Street in it. Hoist! 8)
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Well gang, sometimes we get good news too! After 5 hours of painstaking work to get the timing hole threaded, with primary fully assembled and the engine completely together, my buddy tapped a new hole in my case! Painstaking because he had to run the tap in until it hit the flywheel, take it out, cut the tap down, and continue tapping. He did this a few times until he got all the way thru the case!!! The cases are 23 years old and a little fatigued. To be safe, he added some JB Weld to the oversized Acorn Plug that Ted's VTwin makes for this repair. I don't know anyone that actually uses that hole and a timing light to time these motors anyway. So, no big deal not having a timing hole anymore! $50 for the Teds Repair kit, including the Tap, and $120 Labor. My buddy Vern is the best!!! He's been doing all of our motors for years and has his chit together. From Flatheads to TC's, he builds them all. Probably one of the best Shovelhead guys in the country. Well Vern bailed me out of another hole (no pun intended ;D ). If your in the NY area, North Shore Motorcycles in New Hyde Park is where you want to bring your bike! Thanks a lot Vern!!!!!
Hoist! 8)
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Howie,
That's great news glad to hear it. :2vrolijk_21: Time to relax now and have a few :drink:
:pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
:fireman:
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Howie,
That's great news glad to hear it. :2vrolijk_21: Time to relax now and have a few :drink:
:pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
:fireman:
Thanks d00d! You don't know how relieved I am right now not to have to swap engines and disable my Pro Street! So yeah, it is great news! It even deserves a Black Dancing Sausage!!! :jalapeno: Hoist! 8)
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It even deserves a Black Dancing Sausage!!!
So many ways to go with that.......
Another of those times when just struck mute by the fact of too many tacky options.... :huepfenlol2:
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So many ways to go with that.......
Another of those times when just struck mute by the fact of too many tacky options.... :huepfenlol2:
LOL!!! You and me both, matter fact I went and asked my wife if she's been talking to Howie. :oops: :huepfenlol2:
:pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
:fireman:
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LOL!!! You and me both, matter fact I went and asked my wife if she's been talking to Howie. :oops: :huepfenlol2:
:pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
:fireman:
Only one way! This is a biker site, not a gay site!!! ;) Hoist! 8)
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Only one way! This is a biker site, not a gay site!!! ;) Hoist! 8)
WAS BEING TO WONDER ABOUT YOU THERE HOWIE!!!!!!!!!!
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WAS BEING TO WONDER ABOUT YOU THERE HOWIE!!!!!!!!!!
I hope I cleared it up for you Randy! ::) Hoist! 8)
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YEA AND GLAD OF IT!!!!!!!!! ;) BUT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK BEFORE YOU PUSH THAT POST BUTTON!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Close up.
(http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=12876.0;attach=28549;image)
I see the clearance issue you refered to. I'm happy you got it fixed. Post a pic of the repair when you get a chance.
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(http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=12876.0;attach=28549;image)
I see the clearance issue you refered to. I'm happy you got it fixed. Post a pic of the repair when you get a chance.
Thanks Tros, I'm picking it up Sat, so I'll get some pics this weekend some time. Hoist! 8)
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how did you prevent any metal fragments from falling into the case cavity??....glad she is up and running..what other option of timing the bike w/out your timing hole??...static timing???
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how did you prevent any metal fragments from falling into the case cavity??....glad she is up and running..what other option of timing the bike w/out your timing hole??...static timing???
He had a vacuum going and stuffed a rag inside the hole too. He barely got 1 thread at a time, so he said he was able to keep everything out OK. The TDC and advance marks on the flywheels aren't accurate anyway. We've been timing Evo's and Shovels by ear, forever. Timing hole, we don't need no stinking timing hole! ;) Hoist! 8)
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Just picked the Wide Glide up. Attached are a few pics of the repair. Notice the clearancing under the plug, on top of the Inner primary. Slight 1/2 Moon to get a straight shot at the hole. For now, good as new. But you never know, it's a 4-speed! Hoist! 8)
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Another
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Last, a little further back. Should be a good riding weekend here. Later. Hoist! 8)
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That's one damn fine looking plug Howie :2vrolijk_21: :drink: !
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That's one damn fine looking plug Howie :2vrolijk_21: :drink: !
Don, that Acorn Plug is part of the repair kit from Ted's V Twin, for this problem. It included the tap also, which we wound up cutting into little pieces along the way of making the new threaded hole. Should be good for awhile. If it happens again now, to me, the cases are junk. We'll see how long this lasts before developing a long term solution. For now, it's good to go! For how long, who the hell knows! ;) Hoist! 8)
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I was of course being a littttttttttle bit facetious. Given what happened and what the alternatives were; anything in that hole would be a damn fine looking plug :2vrolijk_21: .
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I was of course being a littttttttttle bit facetious. Given what happened and what the alternatives were; anything in that hole would be a damn fine looking plug :2vrolijk_21: .
True Dat! But this looks much better than the stock one too! ;) Hoist! 8)
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Well that turned out nice. :2vrolijk_21:
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Last, a little further back. Should be a good riding weekend here. Later. Hoist! 8)
Howie,
Looks good. :2vrolijk_21: Back in the wind is always a plus.
:pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
:fireman:
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Howie,
I'm trying to figure out if you actually own real motorcycles or little 1/25th scale models. Two days after you posted this thread, you went on a 75 post rampage. Now seriously dude, what's the purpose of owning three bikes if all you do is talk about em. I'm sure there's folks on this site would love to have a 2nd bike. If you really cared about your CVO brothers and sisters as you say, you'd give away these motorcycles you don't ride.
:huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3:
B B
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Howie,
I'm trying to figure out if you actually own real motorcycles or little 1/25th scale models. Two days after you posted this thread, you went on a 75 post rampage. Now seriously dude, what's the purpose of owning three bikes if all you do is talk about em. I'm sure there's folks on this site would love to have a 2nd bike. If you really cared about your CVO brothers and sisters as you say, you'd give away these motorcycles you don't ride.
:huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3:
B B
Brian, at the rate he keeps breaking them having spares might be necessary :nervous: !
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Brian, at the rate he keeps breaking them having spares might be necessary :nervous: !
How do you break em if you don't ride em :nixweiss:
B B
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Howie,
I'm trying to figure out if you actually own real motorcycles or little 1/25th scale models. Two days after you posted this thread, you went on a 75 post rampage. Now seriously dude, what's the purpose of owning three bikes if all you do is talk about em. I'm sure there's folks on this site would love to have a 2nd bike. If you really cared about your CVO brothers and sisters as you say, you'd give away these motorcycles you don't ride.
:huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3: :huepfenjump3:
B B
Yeah, too bad this ain't Dago, huh? Them Dago people quickly forget that the weather ain't perfect all the time in the rest of the world. It musta been tough making 100 posts in a day from your laptop while riding in that sunny Southern CA weather today. But those 1/25th scales bikes we ride here in NYC are great for our traffic. I don't have to split lanes on them, I just go under the cars! ;D Hmmm, 2 Touring Bikes and no Street Bike. I think that's great that you built that RG to give to one of your CVO brothers. Man, what else would you do with 2 Touring Bikes? ;) Hoist! 8)