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[Ramblin Man]

I bought my 2006 Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic brand new in Feb 2006.  Of course, it's got the 103 engine.  I just rolled over 76K miles on it, and I'm on my 3rd set of cams, push rods, lifters, etc.  That's 2 engine rebuilds.  The latest rebuild came in Reno, Nevada during Street Vibrations.  I'm from Florida, but broke down in Reno on a recent trip.  The Reno H-D shop did a great job of getting right on my rebuild, but it still took 5 days since they had to order parts.  The mechanic showed me the cams they took out.  They were abused.  It looked like someone had taken a heavy hammer and pounded on them.

I was staying at the Nugget Casino hotel.  I was telling a rider from Seattle about my rebuild.  This rider said a friend back home had the exact same bike I have and had problems with his cams.  He was told that Harley-Davidson had relaxed the tolerances on the cams when they were machined, so they wobble around and wear out over time.  Since I'm on my 3rd set of cams, I'm inclined to believe this.  Has anyone else with a 103 engine experienced this?

Fortunately, I bought the extended warranty (which has more than paid for itself), so the Reno shop just put stock cams back in my bike.  This Seattle rider said I'll probably have the same problem again.  He said his friend put S&S cams in and hasn't had a problem since.  When my warranty runs out and the next engine rebuild is on my dime, I'll upgrade my cams from the stock cams that seem to have a problem.  I'd be interested in hearing if you have had this problem and what you did to fix it.  --  JR

[Sklywag]

I don't know about the tolerances but I own the same MC.  I lost the rear inner cam bearing at 33k mikes & toasted the entire motor.

In your case HD just puts back in their same crappy parts, the cheap bearing are more likely the cause of everything for you.  Since you are on extended warranty you do not have to go to HD for the repairs.  Any extended warranty authorized shop can do the repairs.

I used Yuill Bros in Reno, great folks.  The extended warranty company agreed to what the cost would be for the rebuilt, Brad then built the motor with all good parts.  I now have a great reliable motor that just happens to make 104hp 114ft lbs.  I have no worries about things failing because it has all good bearings in it now.

Just food for thought if you have issues again & where you take it for repair.

[1sharprdkg]

Yeah my great indy shop can do extended warranty work.   

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

If they are installing the OEM bearings ar the time the new cams are going in, that's the root cause.
Torrington, or Sonnax, is what you want.
Scott

[Ramblin Man]

Thanks, guys.  Sklywag, I had no idea I could get extended warranty work done somewhere besides a Harley dealership.  That's good to know.  Since the Reno H-D shop put all stock parts back in, I'm sure I'll have the same problem again.

[DaBigNuttedMan]

Yeah my great indy shop can do extended warranty work.   

just wondering  whos the great Indy shop?