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[Mr. We]

For info for anyone else who is interested, many things might have led to Candy's bike shutting down, but the final straw that broke this camel's back was the crank sprocket stripping the crank shaft. As I said, there were quite a few factors including oil, temperature, chain tensioners, and who knows what else.

As a Chef, a lot of what I am saying may need translation, but I am learning. Maybe it was the heat, broke down the oil, and that could have lead to the chain tensioners going. Whatever it was, the outside chaintensioner was gone, bits and pieces, but nothing attached. The inside chain tensioner was going, but still in place. Somehow, this allowed the motor to slip to where it was running some 23 degrees out. I guess when the motor is out that far, something is going.

Well, leave it to the engineers at the MoCo to ensure the most expensive, least accessible part is made of a material that is not as hard as the more accessible, less expensive part. The kick that dropped the bike like a fat man in a bar fight was the crank sprocket, a small, easy to get to piece, stripped the crank shaft. There actually was very little visible damage to this little gear. This gear has a flat side that seats it onto the crankshaft. (Did I mention that the crankshaft is welded to the flywheel? Yeah, easy piece to pull, eh?) Anyway, the motor is running 23 degrees out and the flat side of this little gear slipped back on the crankshaft by pushing back and grinding off a good size chunk of the crankshaft. Really hard to believe, but I am sure the Engineers are happy that their plan was a success. Don't stop now, there is more... pistons and valves decided it was mating season, and we all know those to can't breed - their babies never go full term!

So, as you know, we got this diagnosis while in Nelson, rented a truck and carried both bikes home. We ended up stopping in Burlington NC at Davis HD where Opie works. Opie came highly recommended by a few very knowledgeable site members. (Thank you, thank you very much!!!) The guys at Davis HD were very good to us and Opie and I spoke for a while about the situation and we left Candy's bike there, in boxes. 

[Mr. We]

Well, the guys at Davis HD have gotten with the extended warranty folks and the decision was made to rebuild the engine. They told us that the only piece that will remain is the our case, all the innerds will be replaced and put together by Opie. We feel pretty good about that, we think that Opie stands a much better chance of building a motor correctly than an assembly line does. So we are waiting.

Candy got word yesterday that the parts are actually ordered, so the anticipation starts. We are trying to remain calm and patient. But it is riding season, and every sumbi!ch with a bike within a 100 mile radius of us parades up and down our little two lane twisty all dang weekend! Deep breaths… we’ll be OK.

On the upside, we really appreciate all the support of our friends, from the gifts at Nelson, to the phone call updates and advice from our cyberspace family, ya’ll are the best!   

Candy has reservations about another big ride like that, I am just trying to turn them into hotel reservations. 

[naitram]

are they sure that there was no damage to the cases? id hate to see it built back up just to find out they missed something else

[Seegarsmkr]

Sorry for the troubles Mr and Mrs...I hope that this ends the saga and that Opie does it up right, once and for all.

Seegarz

[Twolanerider]

Great to hear parts are finally on the way guys.  That's good news indeed.

[Hoist!]

I hope you're taking the opportunity to do the Timkin Conversion and have the flywhels welded and balanced!

Hoist!

[Midnight Rider]

Jamie....had the cam chain tensioners ever been replaced in Candy's bike?  Also, how many miles were on it when this happened?  I ask this so we might all learn something from this unfortunate experience.


I would bet my paycheck that the tensioner shoe failure started the process of all other failures.

I am just happy to hear that you have the extended warranty, and that her bike will be put back together correctly.  That is VERY good news

[Twolanerider]

Jamie....had the cam chain tensioners ever been replaced in Candy's bike?  Also, how many miles were on it when this happened?  I ask this so we might all learn something from this unfortunate experience.


I would bet my paycheck that the tensioner shoe failure started the process of all other failures.

I am just happy to hear that you have the extended warranty, and that her bike will be put back together correctly.  That is VERY good news

TC, it looks like both of the We's are off right now.  Candy's bike hadn't had the tensioners replaced.  I think I remember her saying it was in the 45k mile range too.  That in itself gives a pretty good idea what happened.  Scary thought is that his bike has more miles than hers, and is also still on the stock original tensioners.

[Midnight Rider]

TC, it looks like both of the We's are off right now.  Candy's bike hadn't had the tensioners replaced.  I think I remember her saying it was in the 45k mile range too.  That in itself gives a pretty good idea what happened.  Scary thought is that his bike has more miles than hers, and is also still on the stock original tensioners.

Don...thanks.  First thought in my head when I heard of her problems in Nelson was the tensioners.  I knew she had a good many miles on the bike.  I'm glad she had the extended warranty and will get back on the road eventually. 

Another very good reason for those of us with the old style tensioners and chains to either convert or go to gears before 25-30K clicks over.

[Mr. We]

I think that Candy had 35 or 36,000. The service manager at Davis HD said that the chain tensioners are supposed to be checked at 30,000 miles. I had never heard that, wonder if it is written anywhere??? 

Anyway, like Don said, I am way over 46,000, yep, scared to ride anywhere but off to see the wrench!  

[Midnight Rider]

I think that Candy had 35 or 36,000. The service manager at Davis HD said that the chain tensioners are supposed to be checked at 30,000 miles. I had never heard that, wonder if it is written anywhere??? 

Anyway, like Don said, I am way over 46,000, yep, scared to ride anywhere but off to see the wrench!  

Jamie...that ain't in the scheduled maintenance, bro.  No mention of it anywhere that I've ever seen, other than places like this or other forums.  HD just hopes people get their two year warranty out of the way before it becomes a failure issue, then it's not their problem any longer, even though they are fully aware of the potential catastrophic failure due to the tensioner shoes.  Going back with gear driven cams is the only real fix to the problem, or converting to the new, and as yet unproven, set up.

It costs almost as much to go in and check the things as it does to just replace the POS with gear driven cams.  Just a bit more in parts, labor would be virtually the same.  With 46K on yours, I would be a nervous wreck...the odds are very high that yours would have gone out too if you had made the entire trip on the bike.  If they pull yours down to look/replace, they need to check the oil pump very carefully for signs of scoring due to the particles of the shoe being pumped through the system.  Hope both of you get things fixed to your satisfaction, as we fully expect to see you again in 08, if not sooner!!   

[spydglide]

Mr/Mrs We......sorry to hear of Candy's bike blowing up.  My SEEG has 45K on it w/ the original tensioners still in there.....I'm pushing my luck, but from what I'm hearing, some wear out very early  and others are showing minimal wear when pulled at these upper mileages.......I've never heard that mileage figure before to check them.  Are you going back w/ cam gears in Candy's '05?  Do you still have the Road King for a back up to ride in this HOT weather?  Keep us informed on the progress and we'll be pulling for you both.  spyder

[naitram]

while in for service at 42K they asked me if they had ever been checked, i had them checked around 25k and will have them checked agin next spring

[Midnight Rider]

Mr/Mrs We......sorry to hear of Candy's bike blowing up.  My SEEG has 45K on it w/ the original tensioners still in there.....I'm pushing my luck, but from what I'm hearing, some wear out very early  and others are showing minimal wear when pulled at these upper mileages.......I've never heard that mileage figure before to check them.  Are you going back w/ cam gears in Candy's '05?  Do you still have the Road King for a back up to ride in this HOT weather?  Keep us informed on the progress and we'll be pulling for you both.  spyder

 

[Mr. We]

Brian (HOGASM) said something about measuring the "runout," (more $h!t I gotta learn) and that would determine if I should go to gear drive or stay with HD doo-doo.  

I was looking at the 08 Anne, but I think I will sink a little less cash into the three we have.
We love our bikes and once you invest an enormous ammount of time & energy into them, you hate to let them go for nada.  

  Liver hurts!