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[lilbear]

Pete,

It hurts just to look at this thread.  Really sorry to see that this unfortunate event happened!  I think my heart missed about 60 beats or so when I saw those first pics.  Good luck on the rebuild and hope the $ and downtime are kept at a minimum.

Craig

[SBB]

Pete

Sorry to see that.
Might be a good time to pick up a SERG as a spare!
They run forever and everyone I have ever seen is stock. (well almost)

 

[Twolanerider]

Terribly sorry to read this Pete.  Just makes the heart sink.  And could not be a worse time of the year to either be done or hope to get quick work out of a vendor.  Best of luck and all the good thoughts I can muster getting it going again soon.

[Boatman]

Sad pictures to see for sure Pete.  Glad you and the rest of the bike are ok..  Maybe Zippers will help you out with some sort of policy adjustment and get you back on the road soon. 

[hd-dude]

OUCH! Goo to hear that you got her shut down safely!.  How bad did the valve look?

[cuthbertss]

damn thats just terrible to see and read about !!!
very sorry to hear this Pete

[SneakyPete]

OUCH! Goo to hear that you got her shut down safely!.  How bad did the valve look?

Jim,

Wish I could tell you, but there was no valve left to look at!  All blew out the pipe.

[Twolanerider]

Jim,

Wish I could tell you, but there was no valve left to look at!  All blew out the pipe.

If you're looking for a silver lining.....   At least it grenading so completely, holing the piston and breaking up small enough to eject all the pieces meant it didn't just lock up.  For what it's worth that is better than the alternative.

[Boatman]

If it would have happened to me, my seat would match the new 08 105th anniversary seats with the brown stripe.

[Twolanerider]

If it would have happened to me, my seat would match the new 08 105th anniversary seats with the brown stripe.

Another time you learn just how strong and resilient leather is.  After all, you'd think when faced with that much negative pressure it'd just suck right up there.... 

[SneakyPete]

Sad pictures to see for sure Pete.  Glad you and the rest of the bike are ok..  Maybe Zippers will help you out with some sort of policy adjustment and get you back on the road soon. 

Thanks Bob.  This isn't a Zipper's problem, they built me a real nice motor that actually exceeded performance expectations and I can't criticize them for their policy.  I am probably one of a few that run a big inch motor in a touring bike and use it to go fast (and often) as well as pile on the miles (20K+ per year on average).  In all other respects, the motor is in perfect condition.  Of course I am metriculous in the maintenance because I know that is how to build longevity, but I am perplexed as to why this keeper failed.  That actually bothers me more than the damage itself.  I certainly don't want this to happen again and I intend to speak with them about it when I take the motor to them on Monday.  Maybe I will find out something useful about keepers I can pass on to others.

I expect to be down for awhile.  As Don mentioned this is not the best time of year to have a problem like this.  The Zipper's piece of the work is not the issue, but the new head and cylinder needs to be diamond cut, head, piston and valves thermal coated, etc. before final machining, fitting and assembly can begin.  The crank will have to either be rebuilt by S&S or replaced entirely, rebuilding will probably take longer.  All in all, the rest of the motor needs to be broken down and examined before I know what path to follow.  Stay tuned.

Now I know why people own at least two bikes!  Maybe this was an omen to get me off my arse and find an SERG!  

[Hoist!]

Dayum, sorry to hear it Pete!

Blowing up sucks! But at least nothing else happened as a result and you're OK. No explanation for parts failing except that chit happens unfortunately. All we can do is try to determine the best chit we can put in these engines, hope they're assembled correctly, and ride em til they break again. Which they will. 20K, 50K, 100K. But it will break again. So now you get to make it better and stronger. The timing sure sucks, and I know what that's all about. Good luck with the new motor!

And yeap, a second bike helps take some of the sting out of the bite!

Hoist!

[SPIDERMAN]

Dayum, sorry to hear it Pete!

Blowing up sucks! But at least nothing else happened as a result and you're OK. No explanation for parts failing except that chit happens unfortunately. All we can do is try to determine the best chit we can put in these engines, hope they're assembled correctly, and ride em til they break again. Which they will. 20K, 50K, 100K. But it will break again. So now you get to make it better and stronger. The timing sure sucks, and I know what that's all about. Good luck with the new motor!

And yeap, a second bike helps take some of the sting out of the bite!

Hoist!

Hmmmmmmm unless I've somehow lost my ability to comprehend the written word what you're saying here is that it's not IF you're bike will break down again, but WHEN.

Now how come when I said that it pissed people off ?

Inquiring minds need to know why the double standard

B B

[Hoist!]

Hmmmmmmm unless I've somehow lost my ability to comprehend the written word what you're saying here is that it's not IF you're bike will break down again, but WHEN.

Now how come when I said that it pissed people off ?

Inquiring minds need to know why the double standard

B B

Everything breaks eventually. Your perception that mine can't be kept from breaking in reasonable periods of time is where your confusion lies. It's gotta be built right and with the right parts, to have a chance of getting a good life out of it before having to rebuild again.  Then on top of that, chit happens! But you already know all this. Like it's your first rodeo. Harleys break and we fix em cause we love em. So what else is new!

Hoist!

[Twolanerider]

Hmmmmmmm unless I've somehow lost my ability to comprehend the written word what you're saying here is that it's not IF you're bike will break down again, but WHEN.

Now how come when I said that it pissed people off ?

Inquiring minds need to know why the double standard

B B

What?



Who argued with you when saying something as obvious that if you run a mechanical system long enough it will eventually break ?