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[Harleywood]

I'm 3rd owner on a 2000 FLTRSEI. 2nd owner told me that the motor had been upped to a 100" by the 1st owner. Last summer the motor failed down near the tail of the dragon.  Had it towed to the HD shop where they said the rear inner cam bearing failed, and it needed a new motor.  I've had several folks tell me that I may not have to replace the whole thing.  I've been saving my pennies, and I'm ready to take it in to my local independent shop, but I'd like to know where I stand before he sees it.  He's a great guy, and I trust him, but I think it's better to be informed than blind.  I've never been in a twin cam motor until this.  I've seen a lot of conflicting info, including the info in the owner's manual.  Can someone tell me the stock bore and compression on that 1550 motor?  I've measured the cylinder bore and it's 4.024.  From what I've read that doesn't appear stock.  It has SE 211 cams in it.  I seriously doubt it's been stroked, but wonder if that's an option to repair the existing cases.  Last question--can someone tell me which moco heads would be a step up from stock or some other option?  I'm looking for reliability decent performance and not having to stop for fuel all the time when I'm out riding cross country 2 up, but I'd like to have the power to pass when I need to and some decent torque when I grab the throttle at a stop light.  I'm looking at maybe $4500 or a bit more available to spend on repairing this thing right now.  I'm sure there's a lot of different opinions, but I'd appreciate hearing what folks have to say.  Thanks!

[timo482]

if you rebuild upgrade to the new cam chains - or go gear drive & have the crank done at hoban[aka dark horse]

the stock crank was 4" i think, the current stock crank is 4 3/8 - the 95" engines are the same bore as current 103 engines. 120 r uses 4 5/8 crank typically if the inner bearing fails it ruins the cases. all you can reuse is the flywheels, possibly the jugs and heads - and those will "probably" need to be redone.

you can get a silver hd crate engine with the new style cam chains - for 3995 list price new. up to a 120r for 5500 give or take. the remans wont have much discount - a crate engine you should be able to get 20% discount. the remans you get a year warranty - all other options have no real warranty.

1550 black and chrome reman for 3395

120r's for 5500 give or take. - most folks get a 120r and then lose there minds and spend another grand making it faster - as is where is its really fast for a bagger & it has a better crank. if i had a completely broken engine and no warranty - it would be a hard call, rebuild, reman, 120r.. but the 120r would be the best bang if the case is ruined. well, i think so, but.. reman can be financed and has warranty....

we are "almost" to where the price of new or reman engines is so cheap that its hard to rebuild a engine and come out on the right side of things. in cars and pickups its been that way for a while - the parts kit costs more than a whole running crate engine in a box.

do whatever suits you - but go in with eyes wide open - there are many options that didnt exist a few years ago.

to

[Twolanerider]

If the inner cam bearing turned in the case you're unfortunately screwed.  Timo's description of the engine reman program is spot on.  19111-06A is the part number for the silver 1150 engine that would be the replacement for your 2000 Road Glide.  But there's a hitch.

You won't buy a set of cases and do an engine rebuild for less than that.  But you can't buy that engine using the factory reman probem using your indie.  Harley only offers that program through the dealer network. 

If you want the indie shop to R&R an engine for you or want to go with a larger engine at the same time the 120R is a surprisingly cost effective option and is, bang for the buck, hard to beat.  There's a kicker there too though.  Your Road Glide has a silver engine and transmission.  The 120R is only available in black.

You can order a set of proper silver new engine cases.  It will require turning your old cases back in when the new ones come to you (they have a VIN derivative stamped on them and Harley won't allow the originals to stay in the wild when a new set is issued).  With those you could then build whatever you wanted.

Last options will be to watch eBay, Craigslist or other sources for a good used engine or a set of cases (they do come up occasionally) or call the vendors that sometimes have complete engines for sale.  The latter is sometimes a pricey proposition though.

[prodrag1320]

no reason for new cases,we`ve fixed tons of inner bearing failures.theres NO way you need a new motor because of a failed inner bearing.
http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/veetwin1/000_0001-7.jpg
http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/veetwin1/000_0024-7.jpg

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

I'm 3rd owner on a 2000 FLTRSEI. 2nd owner told me that the motor had been upped to a 100" by the 1st owner. Last summer the motor failed down near the tail of the dragon.  Had it towed to the HD shop where they said the rear inner cam bearing failed, and it needed a new motor.  I've had several folks tell me that I may not have to replace the whole thing.  I've been saving my pennies, and I'm ready to take it in to my local independent shop, but I'd like to know where I stand before he sees it.  He's a great guy, and I trust him, but I think it's better to be informed than blind.  I've never been in a twin cam motor until this.  I've seen a lot of conflicting info, including the info in the owner's manual.  Can someone tell me the stock bore and compression on that 1550 motor?  I've measured the cylinder bore and it's 4.024.  From what I've read that doesn't appear stock.  It has SE 211 cams in it.  I seriously doubt it's been stroked, but wonder if that's an option to repair the existing cases.  Last question--can someone tell me which moco heads would be a step up from stock or some other option?  I'm looking for reliability decent performance and not having to stop for fuel all the time when I'm out riding cross country 2 up, but I'd like to have the power to pass when I need to and some decent torque when I grab the throttle at a stop light.  I'm looking at maybe $4500 or a bit more available to spend on repairing this thing right now.  I'm sure there's a lot of different opinions, but I'd appreciate hearing what folks have to say.  Thanks!

If that failed bearing buggered the bearing bore, no need for replacement cases, as that is a simple repair.
At a 4.024" bore size, that is not a 1550. The bore on a 1550 is 3.875", plus/minus.
Your existing heads can be attended to w/o the purchase of new.
Scott

[grandpadoc]

I had to make a similar decision lately and stayed stock. Your stock electronic ignition and M&M fuel injection probably won't handle much of a upgrade let alone the added stress to the tranny, frame, swing arm and everything else downstream, so its a very slippery slope $$$ when considering going bigger with an older bike. I say fix the cases, put it back together with gear drive cams, and enjoy that great classic bike.   

[Twolanerider]

no reason for new cases,we`ve fixed tons of inner bearing failures.theres NO way you need a new motor because of a failed inner bearing.
http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/veetwin1/000_0001-7.jpg
http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p79/veetwin1/000_0024-7.jpg

That's different than has been my experience, though certainly good to hear.  Of the 15 or so engines I've personally known over the years that have spun inner cam bearings four were with guys who had parts sent to shops to attempt repairs.  All different shops so not just one set of hands doing the work.

Of those four two lasted less than a thousand mile and one made it 2500.  The fourth was sold about a thousand miles after the repair so isn't considered a data point.

I've seen lifter bores repaird with better luck.  Always knew proper machining was possible for inner cam bearing failures that didn't eat up too much as similar work is done in many other types of machining.  But hadn't yet run across a shop making it a regular service on our bike engines.  A data point worth saving.

[prodrag1320]

we have alot of indy,regular riders & HD dealers who send us cases on a regular basis for repairing bearing holes.done 100`s,not 1 failure

[FlaHeatWave]

Just my 02 cents worth: I'd consider putting the 103 reman (if it will fit, if you have a dealer that will do it). Maybe w/255 cams, maybe not. You get the whole motor remanufactured with warranty. you should get comparably good power and mileage.
If the MoCo won't do it, just go w/ the reman 95 and slip a cam in it. There are still some tuning products out there for the Marelli EFI

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

We have not done 100, but we repaired probably 30 or so.
Never had a problem with any either.
Scott

[Harleywood]

I really appreciate all the replies.  I knew I'd get a lot of different opinions, and that's a good thing.  I finally got the bike into the shop yesterday, and he was really interested in seeing what had happened.  He's still not certain of the sequence of events, but he found the damaged rear cam inner bearing that I knew about. He also found the gear broken in the oil pump and it had spun on the shaft. The heads look good, but the rear cylinder is scored. I'm not ruling out any of the options you guys have shared, and it gave me some good information to talk with my guy about.

Here's some new questions:  Why does the HD shop say you can't put a 96 or 103 twin cam A motor in a 2000 touring bike if you can put in a 120R?  Is that 120 motor going to be a decent running around town/touring motor, or is it going to get too hot running around in our 100˚ days in the midwest?  Is there a consensus on a good, reliable, streetable maximum compression?  As I understand it, the 96, 103, 110 have a 4 3/8 stroke.  If that's right then would putting a stroker flywheel assembly in a pre 07 motor be less reliable than that same stroke in the later motors.  Last, at least for now, with all the talk of having the crank trued and welded  does a new crate motor need that same service to be reliable?

Thanks again for all the feedback. 

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

You can run the 120R around town, as they have it partially nuetured.
Another consideration is an S&S 124"er if your leaning towards a larger powerplant.
Those come with a warranty, gear-drive cams, and roller rocker arms, from a company, that has specialized in Harley power since 1958.
BTW, they are ready to release their 139" T/C engine, directly.
Scott

[Twolanerider]

Why does the HD shop say you can't put a 96 or 103 twin cam A motor in a 2000 touring bike if you can put in a 120R? 

The engines from 07 and up (96" or 103") are physically different.  Mate to the transmission isn't the same.  Physically wouldn't bolt in your 2000 model bike and hook up to everything.  The 120 R comes in versions with both the earlier and the later model cases.  It's available both ways.

The S&S 124 mentioned above is available in a configuration to fit your bike.  The oil line hookups will be a little different and installation will require a plumbing kit to make those connections.  That's a little extra above the eight or nine thousand dollar initial cost for the motor.

[grandpadoc]

...and different efi or carb conversion in all the above also must be considered.

[Twolanerider]

...and different efi or carb conversion in all the above also must be considered.

...because the old Marelli system won't tune an engine that large.  So another couple grand for a good Marelli to Delphi conversion.  Less for a carb swap but still some money to spend.  Strong 95" or bumping to a strong 98" isn't all that ill sounding sometimes.