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[sadunbar]

Hi All,

So I just registered on this forum and also the HDForum . . . have read many if not all the threads .  . . .

So here's my question . . . Just put $$ down on a 2008 SERK (black/silver) due to arrive in April (I hope!).  Does starting off with upgraded exhaust (like Reinhardt's), upgraded A/C, SERT or Power Commander and dyno, improve the odds of me not having the problems I've been reading about?

Thanks in advance for your patience with newbies . . . I'm hoping for good news from y'all   

Welcome to the site from Illinois!   

Making the upgrades to your bike will make your bike run better - and cooler - which is a good thing....but no - the changes won't necessarily improve your odds of not having dreaded head gasket leak.  I know because I made the changes you describe before my bike ever saw the pavement - and I still suffered a leaky head gasket...

But, hey, who knows - maybe you will be one of the lucky ones!

Scott

[Black Diamond]

Hi All,

So I just registered on this forum and also the HDForum . . . have read many if not all the threads .  . . .

So here's my question . . . Just put $$ down on a 2008 SERK (black/silver) due to arrive in April (I hope!).  Does starting off with upgraded exhaust (like Reinhardt's), upgraded A/C, SERT or Power Commander and dyno, improve the odds of me not having the problems I've been reading about?

Thanks in advance for your patience with newbies . . . I'm hoping for good news from y'all   

Another welcome from Illinois. I agree with Scott. I have that exact scooter you ordered with the upgrades you described. Rear cylinder liner moved within 3673 miles. Some believe the issue is the cam. I have no idea, I just know it's a crap shoot at this point.  Good luck with your scoot, may you be one of the lucky ones.

JW

[skreminegul07]

Another welcome from Illinois. I agree with Scott. I have that exact scooter you ordered with the upgrades you described. Rear cylinder liner moved within 3673 miles. Some believe the issue is the cam. I have no idea, I just know it's a crap shoot at this point.  Good luck with your scoot, may you be one of the lucky ones.

JW

Can you provide a bit more on this theory? Anyone?

[ultrafxr]

Can you provide a bit more on this theory? Anyone?

What I heard is that it has 'negative' overlap and this can cause heat build up in the head.

[skyhook]

the lack of overlap is a lot of the problem, also the fact that the stock cam closes the intake valve at 25* abdc...this makes compression WAY too high...a cam with intake close in the 34* to 38* range would help reduce heat and compression

[hdctss]

honestly while I love my red jester...I think if I had it to do over again I would buy a regular ultra and build it the way I wanted it...I did this with my '01 (95", baker 6-speed, boatload of chrome) and was quite happy until I went to sell it, and then the resale value was not what it would have been if it was a cvo bike...but hey...ride a regular ultra or watch your cvo bike being worked on it is up to you

[nixobilly]

Yes - I love my CVO but I probably build my own Road Glide when I get my bike paid off (2020 LOL).

Mark

[hard10]

It's really a sad testament that Harley's top of the line motorcycles are having these problems and that people who are educated enough to do research before spending $40,000 on a new bike are coming here to find these problems.

[skreminegul07]

honestly while I love my red jester...I think if I had it to do over again I would buy a regular ultra and build it the way I wanted it...I did this with my '01 (95", baker 6-speed, boatload of chrome) and was quite happy until I went to sell it, and then the resale value was not what it would have been if it was a cvo bike...but hey...ride a regular ultra or watch your cvo bike being worked on it is up to you

I believe these issues will reduce the desirability of these 110"  CVOs, especially when the American Iron Magazine article gets published.

[grc]

honestly while I love my red jester...I think if I had it to do over again I would buy a regular ultra and build it the way I wanted it...I did this with my '01 (95", baker 6-speed, boatload of chrome) and was quite happy until I went to sell it, and then the resale value was not what it would have been if it was a cvo bike...but hey...ride a regular ultra or watch your cvo bike being worked on it is up to you

You seem to have a similar "feeling" to the one I developed over the past 3 years.  First, thanks to the many issues I had/have with my CVO I thought the best approach for the next time would be to buy a regular production model and modify it myself.  Now, with the addition of the flexible Chinese crankshaft and the steadily worsening quality in general, I don't consider that to be a viable option either unless I want to start out from zero miles spending an extra $5k for a reliable engine.  So now the question, at least for me anyway, is do I throw some more cash at the '05 and keep it until it falls apart, or do I go to a different company and buy something better for less money?  I'm still kicking that one around in my head.  The only decision I've made so far is that there will be no more new Harley's for me.  They can keep their cheap Chinese crap and their latest customer service policy (don't admit chit, don't fix chit, change the specs until all the cheap-ass parts fit within the tolerance so we don't have to replace chit, etc.)  

BTW, I think the secret to the 110 problem is finding a way to make the head gasket leak coincide with the 5000 mile service intervals.  That way everyone can just schedule the bike in for the service and the dealer will know to have the jugs and gaskets in stock and ready for your visit.  

Jerry

[ccr]

I think throwing money at your gorgeous 05 SEEG is a great idea.  I hope to keep mine going for quite some time.  Jamey had wanted to get one of the 08s but the trade in offer was too low to be of interest and the time spent to try and sell by owner seemed too much trouble so he kept his 04.  So far, it keeps running great.  There are definitely some things about the newer bikes that are of interest, but overall, when your driving down the road, enjoying the blue skies and the warmth from the sun, it truly doesn't matter much about the couple of upgrades one could have had.  The key here would be having a bike to drive down the road on.  Having one in the shop is seldom done at your convenience.

[Smiler]

honestly while I love my red jester...I think if I had it to do over again I would buy a regular ultra and build it the way I wanted it...I did this with my '01 (95", baker 6-speed, boatload of chrome) and was quite happy until I went to sell it, and then the resale value was not what it would have been if it was a cvo bike...but hey...ride a regular ultra or watch your cvo bike being worked on it is up to you

Unfortunately I did this with my Heritage Springer and converted it to Stage 3 (High Comp pistons etc).  The MoCo didn't realise at the time that I needed to upgrade the starter motor or add decompressors and the bike kept breaking down.
I did get it fixed 3 times but I lost a lot of confidence with the product which made me buy a factory built 110 -  little did I know.

[MUFFMAN]

So far so good on my motor. I did, by choice put different heads & cams in last year so hopefully I've avoided the problem. If I do end up having problems I'll put in a Jims 131". Hopefully i'll get a few years out of it before I go that route. Would I buy another new HD? Hard to say.

[Deacon]

Mine is leaking again. 3850 miles total, about a 1000 since my last repair. I decided to keep this bike because I have a 7 year warranty. In the mean time I bought a wrecked bike cheap. Put it together this winter and I have begun to ride it already. Now I will have something to ride while my 110 is in the shop all summer.

[skreminegul07]

I hope everyone is opening a case with HD Tech Support.  That's the only way to keep this an open issue and make sure you get the "gasket of the month" and new cylinders.  Please let's not let this lose visibility.