Left out Friday morning for Daytona. Great ride down, no worries, rode all the way down, ride got warmer farther south i went. Spent three great days riding around Florida and seeing the sites around Daytona. First time i have been back to this rally since 2005. Left out Tuesday morning, in brilliant sunshine, lite easy breeze. Filled up the tank set the cruise for a leisurely ride back on the Freeway, until, i got out of Florida. Stopped for gas approx 200 miles later 95 N to Jville, 10 West to Tallahassee. Everything ok. Bike running good. Had something to drink and a snack. Back on the bike, cruising along. Stopped at rest area for a nature break about 30 to 40 miles from Tallahassee, bike had a loud tick, i thought maybe it was starting to warm up a bit. Cut it off, went to use facilities, came back started bike and tick was very pronounced. Listened for a minute, no miss, good oil pressure (10 PSI for a warm stock 110) at idle.
got back on freeway, riding toward Tallahassee, bike starting to get warm, seat starting to get warm, R leg, starting to get real warm. Oil Pressure 32 PSI.
Get into Tallahassee, bike is getting uncomfortably hot, noise getting very loud. Saw sign for Harley dealer Tallahassee Harley-Davidson. Took exit, pulled in cut bike off, very loud tick. Talked with service pulled bike in to service. 1 hour later. Diagnosis....
Lifter grenades, metal in cam chest, cams scored, cam plate scored, crank scored, case busted in lifter galley, oil pump scored, metal in oil, oil pan, oil cooler, and i am guessing it probably ruined the cylinders as well. They did not take the heads off, bike was running under its own power when i pulled into the dealer and was running (although not perfect) at speed on the freeway. Never lost oil pressure....
So ESP sent a inspector out (very quickly too) and i am waiting after an overnight stay and a 600 mile rental car trip home to hear about my bike.
Engine had approximately 18.5K on it and has been routinely serviced by Harley. Had Syn 3 in it for all engine oil services, was not hot rodded, and was my long distance touring bike, set up with lowers and a tour pack. I had the bike into the dealer at approx 17K and with about a month left on the original warranty before ESP kicked in, asking them to determine the ticking noise i was hearing upon startup as i suspected the lifters were going bad. I was told in writing to "ride the bike" they could not duplicate the noise.
So, for those of you with 110's, check your lifters.
I now get to see what ESP is going to do, rebuild, replace or what?
What would you guys prefer, repair, or replace... I ride 25 to 30K a year. Approx 15 on this bike. the rest on another.
Bike is a 2012 RG Skunk Model
'Surprised ESP didn't deny the claim since you added a Tour Pak and Lowers
All kidding aside, (I starred in the exact same movie with the '09 SERG last Oct. "taking the long way home from Sturgis")
ESP will have to give you (or probably have the Dealer build you) a new motor, since your cases are damaged and the VIN has to remain intact. ESP will skimp where ever they can, but if you plan to keep your Skunk stock throughout the rest of the ESP period, than just let the Dealer do his thing, and the next time it blows, ESP will have to eat another one. If you plan to mod the motor at all (say for instance, you want to upgrade to some decent lifters ~ have another failure ~ even if the failure is unrelated, ESP will deny that claim!) then you might consider doing what I and others here have done, take the ESP $ and Build / Buy a motor that you can have confidence in...
Good Luck,
Author
Topic: My 110 took a dump on the way home from Daytona (Read 22896 times)