Print

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

[Ironhorse]

Well Jimmie from Harley House Call's came over today and installed my AMS heads and Andrews 26-G gear drive cams.

He started at 9:00am and finished at 4:00pm. I took some pics along the way, but had to leave the install for a commitment at my kids school. He said everything went well, no problems or unexpected findings.

It was interesting to compare the AMS heads to the OEM ones. Jimmy looked the AMS heads over and said they looked great. I pointed out the heat coated exhaust port, something he had never seen before. I said that treatment is an AMS specialty. Jimmie pointed out the exhaust valve on the stock head, it was ashen white from the high temps. No excess carbon build up. The piston tops looked good too. There was some coating, but nothing concerning.

When I stopped by again, he had the heads on, and the cam cover off. The guts were pulled out, and he was installing the cams and gears. Everything was going well he said.

When I got home at 3:30, he had the exhaust back on, and the cams installed. I put on the gas tank, and filled it, and hooked up the battery. He kept the sparkplugs out, and cranked the engine awhile letting the top end and cams lube up. Then he put the plugs in.

As I ALWAYS do, when I have major work done on either of my vehicles, I made a sign of the cross by waving a wrench over the bike. Jimmie hit the starter and the bike fired right up. It was clacky at first, then settled down. Although the idle was high, I could hear the faint whirring of the cam gears. We let the bike run till it was warmed up and shut it down. Since it had just finished raining, Jimmie did not take it for a test ride. He told me that with the heads and new cams, I would have to get it retuned on a dyno anyway. The bike sounded good.

About half an hour after he left, the weather cleared up. I took the bike for a quick spin around the block. It ran like another bike. I COULD FEEL the difference. I look forward to another dyno tune.

And now the big question.....

How much do you think this cost?
A factory trained mechanic came to my house and swapped heads and installed gear drive cams. He was there from 9am to 4pm.

[Ironhorse]

C'mon...

Anyone care to guess?

[SPIDERMAN]

This is a CVO site dude If we gave a chit about money we'd be over on the factory site talkin smack

[Ironhorse]

Well Spidey,

Just a wild guess here, but I think I may not be as fiscally blessed as you.
I'm still a newbie here, but from your posting it's becoming clear what separates this forum from the others.



For those of you who watch your dollars and cents, and are considering similar modifications,

It was $572.88

My local dealer wanted $660.00.
The one in Glendale wanted $800.00
The shop that did my dyno tune wanted $1,200.00

I feel I got an excellent job done for a very reasonable price!


Maybe, God willing, one day I might get to that place and be able to not give a chit about money.
Then I would take my bike to the $1,200.00 shop for work that could cost $572.88.

[Twolanerider]

This is a CVO site dude If we gave a chit about money we'd be over on the factory site talkin smack

Spiderman, you're relatively new here.  Therefore, you might not have noticed a few things.  This site's primary interest is CVO bikes.  It is specifically not, however, limited to them.  We're friendly, not closed minded about such things, and accepting of good friends and good information from wherever they may come.

[SPIDERMAN]

Twolane, go check out the thread I just started titled "talkin smack"

[Twolanerider]

Twolane, go check out the thread I just started titled "talkin smack"

Spider, in a friendly vein friendly poeple yanking one another's chain is never going to be a problem.  Your post above, however, didn't leave that impression.  You'd hate to be back in time out again wouldn't you?

[hd-dude]

Well Spidey,

Just a wild guess here, but I think I may not be as fiscally blessed as you.
I'm still a newbie here, but from your posting it's becoming clear what separates this forum from the others.



For those of you who watch your dollars and cents, and are considering similar modifications,

It was $572.88

My local dealer wanted $660.00.
The one in Glendale wanted $800.00
The shop that did my dyno tune wanted $1,200.00

I feel I got an excellent job done for a very reasonable price!


Maybe, God willing, one day I might get to that place and be able to not give a chit about money.
Then I would take my bike to the $1,200.00 shop for work that could cost $572.88.

Iron;
Sounds like you got a great deal, you've got a great friend to come do the work for you. The $572, was that for everthing heads, cams, labor etc? Be sure to keep us informed on the outcome of the tune when you get it done.


Oh and just for the record, i'm sure that there are many members here that do give a sh*t about money. I for one work my azz off to be able to afford the things that I have. I have a regular 40+ hour a week job, an Internet biz, and I work on bikes about 20+ hours a week.

[Ironhorse]

Iron;
Sounds like you got a great deal, you've got a great friend to come do the work for you. The $572, was that for everthing heads, cams, labor etc? Be sure to keep us informed on the outcome of the tune when you get it done.


Oh and just for the record, i'm sure that there are many members here that do give a sh*t about money. I for one work my azz off to be able to afford the things that I have. I have a regular 40+ hour a week job, an Internet biz, and I work on bikes about 20+ hours a week.

HD Dude,

The $572.88 was for labor. Which is not bad considering he came to me, and I didn't have to figure out how to drop it off the night before. The convienence that I didn't have to take the bike somewhere to be left over night to be cold for the mechanic to start on the next day. I didn't have to figure out how to get to the shop and back, drop off and pick up. I also liked seeing him work on it. Knowing the work gets done. I like being able to ask questions about what he is taking apart. Learning all along. Kinda like the Discovery Channel in my own garage.

The AMS heads were $578.00 exchange.
The Andrews 26 cams were $269.00
The gear drive set was $329.00
The install kit was $31.99
The cometics were $36.50
Chrome hardware from the local dealer was $59.95

Over the next few weeks I'll take it back to the dyno shop.

Mark

[Twolanerider]

he came to me,

Mark, how well equipped is your portable mechanic?  Will he go to someone's site and do just about anything; or only take on tasks that can be in and out of in a long day or less?  Interesting business concept though.  For an automobile (anymore) it would be tough to take all the tools with you you might need to diagnose and repair even most things.  But for a bike a "portable shop" really could be a reality.  Glad you found the guy and are so pleased with the quality of the work.

[Ironhorse]

Don,

He's pretty well equipped. In his van is a compressor and a hydraulic press. He has air-pneumatic tools and hand tools. He used the press to press in the cams and bearings, and the compressor to drive his air tools. He also carrys a variety of oils, plugs and filters. He has one of those long handled floor stand jacks, a bike lift, and works out of a creeper seat. He brings two folding shop tables and an EZ up if he has to work in the sun. He also has ramps in case he needs to move a bike in the van.

If he knows what you want to do, he can prepare for it. I purchase all my stuff off the internet for the best prices. He brings the labor and knowledge. For something like an engine rebuild with splitting the cases, he may either take the bike, or pull the engine to take back to his shop. He says he can do anything, and I believe him.

I do believe I'll call him again when it's time to do the 6 speed tranny.

[Twolanerider]

That sounds pretty slick Mark.  Since he did your cams I figured he had some kind of a press available and the rest seems just real well laid out.  Gotta admit though, an operation like that would work a whole lot better in SoCal than it would in other parts of the counrty.  Must be nice when you can count on mother nature to help keep you working at least relatively comfortably most of the time without having to worry about what kind of heat or A/C might be in the bike owner's garage.

[hd-dude]

HD Dude,

The $572.88 was for labor. Which is not bad considering he came to me, and I didn't have to figure out how to drop it off the night before. The convienence that I didn't have to take the bike somewhere to be left over night to be cold for the mechanic to start on the next day. I didn't have to figure out how to get to the shop and back, drop off and pick up. I also liked seeing him work on it. Knowing the work gets done. I like being able to ask questions about what he is taking apart. Learning all along. Kinda like the Discovery Channel in my own garage.

The AMS heads were $578.00 exchange.
The Andrews 26 cams were $269.00
The gear drive set was $329.00
The install kit was $31.99
The cometics were $36.50
Chrome hardware from the local dealer was $59.95

Over the next few weeks I'll take it back to the dyno shop.

Mark

MOST IMPORTANLTY...Having the job done right by someone you trust....PRICELESS.

Did your wrench change out the bearings in the cases?

Still a good deal

[Ironhorse]

Yes he did. He used the bearings that came with the kit.

Mark

[RedFXR2]

I'm still trying to get my arms around the idea of a good tech coming to your house, having all the proper tools and knowledge, and doing a great job at a major motor makeover right there in your garage.

And not offended by where you got the parts.

And charging a quite reasonable price, to boot.

Wow.  that is just plain amazing. 8-)

Would he come to Florida?