Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Rhino]

Now I'm confused, I am taking mine in Fri to have a look at the clearance issue. Is this a simple remove the rocker cover, checking for interference with the rocker case , removing some material if touching and closing it up? Or do I need to worry that the tech will have to do all of this above described procedure ? If so, it's getting scarier by the minute, I don"t think that they would be capable!

Hello Serkus,

No, it is not just the top. You need to do all of the above to get off the rocker box, not the rocker cover.  I was freaked, but I took my time, as a first timer, and it was fine.  Once the rocker box, which is the place that the rocker arms sit, are off, you then clearance them on a bench, far away from the bike so no shavings get near it. . HOWEVER, if the top is taken off, just the cover i mean, a good flashlight and perhaps a mirror will suffice to see if your clearance is a problem or not. If not, it's simple to do.

A question: Why do you feel you have a clearance problem if your bike is stock? Is it noisy?  Even before you go this far, it is a simple matter to diagnose with a long screwdriver and one good ear. So if the wrench or you listen, you will not be 'going in' without just cause.

Rhino

[Boatman]

I think several members with stock 110's are/had the clearance issues-Chief for one.  Like Rhino stated, they/you can listen with a screwdriver and they can tell for sure once the rocker covers are off.

[Serkcus]

Thanks for the reply. If I understand correctly, they should be able to take the top cover off to see if there is an issue and fix without any other disassembly needed. Hopefully, this is true.

I have a fairly loud tapping noise in the top end that is.nt there on a buddies Serk with same milleage. Mine has had this noise since day one as well as other noise, but the tapping is predominant. Hoping to get this fixed then see how she runs and what other noises there are.

[hard10]

I had my cylinders replaced at ~ 8k. They said that the clearance was checked but I'm still hearing a noise. I have an appointment for 6/12 to have it checked again.

AJ

[Twolanerider]

Just a sad sad series Rhino.  Fortunately with a personally satisfying conclusion for you.  That you had to go through all that, however, is just inexcusable.  Even when you laid the part in front of the guy he still blew you off.  At that point you've only got two options, run away or deck the guy.

[Hoist!]

Maybe some of you have really talented techs at your dealer, but Rhino's spot on in genaral about this. Now you see why I'm making them use the correct size solid pushrods and HD cams. They'll do the work, use HD parts, and get me a new motor when they wreck it! Your choice is the lesser of two evils. Blow off the w.....ty and have everything done yourself or by someone you trust, use whatever parts you want, and take your chances with this 110" Wonder! Or let your dealer do everything; right wrong or indifferent; using all HD parts; bring it back as many times as necessary and deal with it. I'm hopeful that they take care of everything properly, but I've seen this movie before. 5 grand for a new engine makes you do a lot of things you'd never do otherwise! They got us by the balls and they know it! Hoist!

[Chief]

Thanks for the reply. If I understand correctly, they should be able to take the top cover off to see if there is an issue and fix without any other disassembly needed. Hopefully, this is true.

I have a fairly loud tapping noise in the top end that is.nt there on a buddies Serk with same milleage. Mine has had this noise since day one as well as other noise, but the tapping is predominant. Hoping to get this fixed then see how she runs and what other noises there are.

Serkcus,

You would be able to see if there is a problem by just removing the cover. To fix it, you will need to remove the boxes themselves. It's just 6 more bolts and one gasket. Like Rhino said, grind them on the bench, clean out the box real well, and put it back together. I think you will be VERY please with the results.

Best of luck to you.

[Unbalanced]

Hoist,

If you had to repurchase a motor would you really want to buy another one like this or go for a little more like a 113, 124, or a 120 or a 131 which is just a 120 with the juggs punched out a little bit more?  I haven't heard of many problems from the guys that went to the 113 engine.   things that make you go hrmm.

[Hoist!]

Hoist,

If you had to repurchase a motor would you really want to buy another one like this or go for a little more like a 113, 124, or a 120 or a 131 which is just a 120 with the juggs punched out a little bit more?  I haven't heard of many problems from the guys that went to the 113 engine.   things that make you go hrmm.

Harry, you know that goes without saying! If I were taking the responsibility myself and completely blew of the w.....ty, there's no way I'd put this engine back in. But you know HD, with their entire redesign of the motor mating, tranny and primary redesign, limits your selection of components on the '07. Probably the best alternative today would be to rebuild this engine, properly, from the flywheels up, building a bulletproof bottom end and like you said. larger pistons for 113 or 124. HD's trying get closer to what they want, eliminating the aftermarket competition, by constantly redesigning chit. Then they use us as Guniea Pigs to field test it. And they still don't seem to care if they ever get things right. So they're never gonna get there if they keep making junk like this! When will they realize that if they gave us real quality stuff instead of the junk they throw at us today, there'd be little competion anyway. We want to buy their chit, but they don't respect us enough to make this chit properly for us. This leaves us little alternative but to look elsewhere! Hoist!

[Chief]

Harry, you know that goes without saying! If I were taking the responsibility myself and completely blew of the w.....ty, there's no way I'd put this engine back in. But you know HD, with their entire redesign of the motor mating, tranny and primary redesign, limits your selection of components on the '07. Probably the best alternative today would be to rebuild this engine, properly, from the flywheels up, building a bulletproof bottom end and like you said. larger pistons for 113 or 124. HD's trying get closer to what they want, eliminating the aftermarket competition, by constantly redesigning chit. Then they use us as Guniea Pigs to field test it. And they still don't seem to care if they ever get things right. So they're never gonna get there if they keep making junk like this! When will they realize that if they gave us real quality stuff instead of the junk they throw at us today, there'd be little competion anyway. We want to buy their chit, but they don't respect us enough to make this chit properly for us. This leaves us little alternative but to look elsewhere! Hoist!

When are we going to learn that as long as we keep buying their 'junk' that's what they're going to produce? Wake up man. From their point of view, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

It's their business model and it works. This site is proof of that. Nothing will change unless we make it change.

Get used to it.

Yea, yea, a little testy today, but get over it.

[hard10]

When are we going to learn that as long as we keep buying their 'junk' that's what they're going to produce? Wake up man. From their point of view, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

It's their business model and it works. This site is proof of that. Nothing will change unless we make it change.

Get used to it.

Yea, yea, a little testy today, but get over it.

It is amazing how those of us in business for ourselves see this with the same eyes. Can you imagine if we treated our customers the same way? Imagine if Hogbreath put up a building and something was hitting the interior walls?

Sam Walton, founder of Walmart said:

"There is only one boss, the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”

We all need to remember this, from both sides of the picture.

AJ

[SBB]

Just wanted to say,
Good job Rhino!

When all else fails, do it yourself.
On my SEEG I had to adjust my pushrods myself and fortunatly I had Brad from Freedom on the cell phone walking me through it.
Good to hear it's running great!

 



And do I believe AJ is going to do anything to his?
NO WAY!

[Chief]

It is amazing how those of us in business for ourselves see this with the same eyes. Can you imagine if we treated our customers the same way? Imagine if Hogbreath put up a building and something was hitting the interior walls?

Sam Walton, founder of Walmart said:

"There is only one boss, the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”

We all need to remember this, from both sides of the picture.

AJ

AJ,

I'm not really testy today, just having some fun. But..... in your example of HB's building. He wouldn't do that because he would assume he would lose that customer, and that customer would tell other potential other customers and then he'd soon be out of business.

If, on the other hand, HB's been building buildings that way for this customer for the last 20 years, and there is always something wrong with the buildings, and the customer expects there to be something wrong with the buildings yet he keeps coming back to HB to build him another and another and another, why would HB change anything? HB has a loyal customer. Isn't that what every business wants, loyal customers? Give them what they want, and they'll keep coming back for more. How do customers speak their mind? With their wallets.

If we keep buying HD's, as I intend to do, then we get what what we deserve. If we decide the pain is too great, and we decide to go elsewhere, then maybe things will change. Until then, they are building them, and we're buying them as fast as they come out the door. How many of us here actually stood in line to get our flawed piece of machinery? I waited in line for four months for mine. I love it, flaws and all.

I'm not complaining, because I knew what I was getting into. I've had three small problems so far. That ain't bad. My bike kicks butt. Is it finely tuned like a Swiss watch? No. Did I expect it to be? No. I think it's time we stop sitting at the sales manager desk, pounding and pointing and demanding they change the way they build the bikes, as we sign on the dotted line and then wait for our new baby to show up. If we are serious about enough is enough, get out of the chair and let the guy standing behind you sit down, because he'll take the bike you don't want.

Harley has a very desirable product, and until we stop desiring it, I don't expect anything to change.

I'm done. You guys are awesome. Thank you for letting me rant. I feel better now.

[Hoist!]

AJ,

I'm not really testy today, just having some fun. But..... in your example of HB's building. He wouldn't do that because he would assume he would lose that customer, and that customer would tell other potential other customers and then he'd soon be out of business.

If, on the other hand, HB's been building buildings that way for this customer for the last 20 years, and there is always something wrong with the buildings, and the customer expects there to be something wrong with the buildings yet he keeps coming back to HB to build him another and another and another, why would HB change anything? HB has a loyal customer. Isn't that what every business wants, loyal customers? Give them what they want, and they'll keep coming back for more. How do customers speak their mind? With their wallets.

If we keep buying HD's, as I intend to do, then we get what what we deserve. If we decide the pain is too great, and we decide to go elsewhere, then maybe things will change. Until then, they are building them, and we're buying them as fast as they come out the door. How many of us here actually stood in line to get our flawed piece of machinery? I waited in line for four months for mine. I love it, flaws and all.

I'm not complaining, because I knew what I was getting into. I've had three small problems so far. That ain't bad. My bike kicks butt. Is it finely tuned like a Swiss watch? No. Did I expect it to be? No. I think it's time we stop sitting at the sales manager desk, pounding and pointing and demanding they change the way they build the bikes, as we sign on the dotted line and then wait for our new baby to show up. If we are serious about enough is enough, get out of the chair and let the guy standing behind you sit down, because he'll take the bike you don't want.

Harley has a very desirable product, and until we stop desiring it, I don't expect anything to change.

I'm done. You guys are awesome. Thank you for letting me rant. I feel better now.

The problem is there is NO alternative to HD for the money. You start to have some choices for CVO money, but still are working with smaller outfits, that might not be around, and their support is spread thin. For a Big Twin, Air-cooled, single crankpin flywheel bottom end, factory built motorcycle, there is only one manufacturer. HD. That's it. All the others are HD clones using aftermarket parts. And they know this and they don't give 2 chits about us! Thunder Mountain is a good alternative if you like a Softail. Rucker Performance is another if you want a good used bike. Harley knows they have a monopoly and care more about shareholder return than their loyal customer base because they know we have nowhere else to go. But if and when they're forced to go water-cooled, all bets are off. If they don't get their chit together then, they're going down. Probably go crying to the Feds to bail them out again. This will be my last new HD. It will get built properly by me eventually and rebuilt over the years as necessary, as my '85 FXWG will be too. So we play their silly w.....ty game until it ends, and we're then on our own. Now that I think of it, all the w.....ty does is tie you to them for 2 years, when they're the last place you want to bring your bike, based on their track record. They dangle that w.....ty carrot in front of us and we keep chasing it. This w.....ty repair will be my last attempt to let them work on my bike. I'll shake this bike out on their dime as best I can, but seriously doubt I'll be able to put up with their crap for a full 2 years, when I'll be on my own anyway! I guess what I'm saying is FTW!!!

Hoist!

[Chief]

The problem is there is NO alternative to HD for the money. You start to have some choices for CVO money, but still are working with smaller outfits, that might not be around, and their support is spread thin. For a Big Twin, Air-cooled, single crankpin flywheel bottom end, factory built motorcycle, there is only one manufacturer. HD. That's it. All the others are HD clones using aftermarket parts. And they know this and they don't give 2 chits about us! Thunder Mountain is a good alternative if you like a Softail. Rucker Performance is another if you want a good used bike. Harley knows they have a monopoly and care more about shareholder return than their loyal customer base because they know we have nowhere else to go. But if and when they're forced to go water-cooled, all bets are off. If they don't get their chit together then, they're going down. Probably go crying to the Feds to bail them out again. This will be my last new HD. It will get built properly by me eventually and rebuilt over the years as necessary, as my '85 FXWG will be too. So we play their silly w.....ty game until it ends, and we're then on our own. Now that I think of it, all the w.....ty does is tie you to them for 2 years, when they're the last place you want to bring your bike, based on their track record. They dangle that w.....ty carrot in front of us and we keep chasing it. This w.....ty repair will be my last attempt to let them work on my bike. I'll shake this bike out on their dime as best I can, but seriously doubt I'll be able to put up with their crap for a full 2 years, when I'll be on my own anyway! I guess what I'm saying is FTW!!!

Hoist!

So my friend, and I do mean friend, you are saying we're a bunch of old dinosaurs, who refuse to get with the new technology. I'll go with the new stuff, but I'll be kicking and screaming all the way. I think we're probably seeing the end of this engine design. Maybe their intention is to use this thigh cooker to make the water-cooled platform, which is probably in the works, more palatable for us to swallow. If that is the case, having the biggest and last air-cooled touring bike Harley built will be worth something extra.

I'm pretty sure my next Harley will be a big touring bike with a radiator and fan. Maybe even 130 / 130 numbers to boot. I'm OK with that. My kicking and screaming won't last long.