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[kona76]

Greetings Brothers and Sisters....

I have just visited my SE FatBoy in the "Shop". A recap: After the original performance build (took 2.5 months to finish) I blew out a pushrod in the high desert after 3K miles of dream performance bike heaven. I had the first repair done by a Dealer in Monterey County (I was towed there, with not a single other option at the time). The experts there thought I had too much oil in the bike, and that caused the pushrod to bend and tweak. The fine folks at this Dealer charged me $1, 800.00 plus and had "Fools" rebuilt my ride (only the front cylinder), getting me exactly 112 miles to Hayward, CA where my favorite Tuner works at RC Cycles. Blew out another pushrod, this time the ear cylinder. New repair to get me home: $2,200.00 plus and I limped home for 485 miles. Every day my compression in the rear cylinder was getting worse. Took it to the experts that built the performance into my ride originally. They had just closed their doors after 3 years of business. The owner and I talk, for a few weeks...still nothing.

I finally got it into the shop locally where the former owner took control of the situation back on January 20th, 2008. After 2 plus months, I saw my engine in my bike for the first time. That was two days ago.
Now, I know it is a speedy process to rebuild a Top End with well known performance parts for vendors like HD and Screamin' Eagle, Fueling, Axtell, J & E, etc... and working with nationally recognized machinists like STD, and performance experts not to be named right now... Yeah all these people chipped in and helped with the lowering of costs, adjusted labor (their own work originally) costs due to the reputation and need to know how, what, where, when, why.....  OK, get the picture? Everybody pointed fingers at first, that's the easy way they do it....Eventually, each party took responsibility for what work or what part they had in the original build, and came to the plate for around $1200.00 approximately.

The SE FatBoy I adore was "clayed" and tested. Passed the test and now it's getting close to coming home finally. I get to do a heat cycle this weekend. A test run Saturday. Maybe I'll be back in my garage with two CVO's as it should be.

I know this has taken WAY WAY too long. The original pushrod blew out in October of 2007. And finally, she'll come home without a limp just needing a break-in. I am up for that.


Thanks for reading and listening to me rant. If my brother Hoist (Howie) can diatribe and chronicle endlessly, then I can toss a word or two at ya'all as well. Thanks Howie, you're an inspiration to us all.


Mike K.
kona76

[miker]

I'm glad to hear this saga drawing to a close..Ride on in good health!

Miker

[sadunbar]

So, the end diagnosis was you had valves hitting pistons bending pushrods?   

[Hoist!]

Wow Mike, I sure know where you're coming from man! I feel your pain! I'm happy you finally hooked up with some talented and reasonable people. You've been screwed by the infamous HD dealer network, and were lucky enough to get past that. And now it sounds like you're being made whole again without getting robbed to badly, to get you back up again. I wish you the best with this rebuild, and hope like with mine, that it's right this time around!

Hoist!

[WISHBONE]

hindsight................JIMS120  145/144...SCREAMS !!!!...........with no problems !!!!
I've been there also  Kona, I'm just a slow learner.  Good luck to you in the future!!!

[portablemayhem]

Wow, my bike hasn't even been delivered yet and I am ready to burst into tears over your's.  Hope that everything works better than it should on the test ride.

[sadunbar]

Wow, my bike hasn't even been delivered yet and I am ready to burst into tears over your's.  Hope that everything works better than it should on the test ride.

There's no crying in Baseball Biking!

[56FLE]

Kona76,

Good to here your bike is coming back home.

I can not believe the BS the HD dealer in Monterey County was telling you. Too much oil tweaked you push rod? Give me a break.

[kona76]

hindsight................JIMS120  130/135...SCREAMS !!!!...........with no problems !!!!
I've been there also  Kona, I'm just a slow learner.  Good luck to you in the future!!!

Heard that Wishbone. Look at my #3 CVO...as it should be!!

Thanks.


Mike K.
kona76

[kona76]

Kona76,

Good to here your bike is coming back home.

I can not believe the BS the HD dealer in Monterey County was telling you. Too much oil tweaked you push rod? Give me a break.

You know when someone is bullc__ting you, right? Can't get the facts off the top of his head, looking elsewhere instead of at you...follow me?
MY life is so damn strange, from start to the finish, I am assured of one thing: Some people have no clue, some are like Sherlock Holmes; When in doubt, bullc__t is a reflex, a defender of ego, a defense mechanism... but still, with or without clues, OIL? They had me going for weeks with this crap.

Then, when I was introduced to the "builder" who was the most experienced mechanic there, I couldn't believe my ears. They did step up to the plate however. I do give them credit for doing me without fear. Cause If I was taking a guy who happened to have money and blink he doesn't, I the one who pulls out his peacemaker and starts knocking loudly.


Can 't you hear me knockin'?

No hard feelings, just no feelings, you feel me?


Mike K.
kona76

[Black Diamond]

Good luck with your Fatty    We know the SERK and FB sit well in the garage together.
JW

[Smiler]

Good luck to you on the rebuild... here's hoping no further s**t

[AUSSIE_FLSTFSE]

Mike,

Your belovered FatBoy very close to being home, that is the best news I heard all day. I suppose the upside is you have had another CVO to ride. But I am still quite amazed at the lack of expertize you have come across in that fine country you live in. Mike you are a better man than me & your patience with these  is impeccable. If I have done my sums right that is around 14k you have had removed from your wallet for what should have been around 5-6k.

I really  hope it runs better than before & still pulls like a schoolboy! As I do believe for a short period you your were quite impressed with the first build.

Cheers
Aussie

[kona76]

Mike,

Your belovered FatBoy very close to being home, that is the best news I heard all day. I suppose the upside is you have had another CVO to ride. But I am still quite amazed at the lack of expertize you have come across in that fine country you live in. Mike you are a better man than me & your patience with these  is impeccable. If I have done my sums right that is around 14k you have had removed from your wallet for what should have been around 5-6k.

I really  hope it runs better than before & still pulls like a schoolboy! As I do believe for a short period you your were quite impressed with the first build.

Cheers
Aussie

Hey Mike,

As you have noted, I think my short duration with the first performance build ( after RC Cycles Tuned it ) remains the finest bike I have ever experienced. Three thousand miles of performance heaven. And the SE FatBoy was good too. lol

Your numbers are shy a little. I had totaled the entire cost of the first two repairs to include airline, hotel and additional expenses. You don't want to see that number Mike. It'll make your wallet drop to the floor, grow legs and run like hell.

When she arrives home, I'll be the happiest guy in my garage.  I am actually on my way in a few minutes to check out the final stages of heat cycling. Yahoo!!

Mike K.
kona76

[kona76]

HOMECOMING 11

I have my SE FatBoy back home finally. After months and months of stalling, problems, towing, dragging around and general loss of riding time on her.....we're home.

I have included a couple of photos of the party we had in the driveway.....

Breaking in the rebuilt engine starts tonight; in about 15 minutes.

Yahoo!!

Mike K.
kona76