I was on my way to work today when after passing some traffic it started making a loud clanking from inside the engine. I've only put 4000 miles on the bike since I bought it (it already had 8000) and not many of them have been easy. My assumtion is it either dropped a valve or a connecting rod broke. I shut the bike down as soon as I could, but I'm sure however fast you shut it down it still isn't fast enough. The bike had the 6800 RPM ignition module in it, which still isn't anything insano high, but I still think I'm going to put the stock one back in before I take it to the dealership to have them do the warranty work on it. This whole episode has got be thinking about busting out the old credit card which I've finally paid off and giving NRHS a call. Although, assuming all goes well, I plan on have them do the warranty work, but now that I know how fragile the stock stuff is I would like to have the parts on hand for the next time this happens.

Lesson:

The fire inside my sportster's engine is writing checks the factory metal can't cash

Clacking could be a lifter that failed. Makes a hell of a noise, but probably not a lot of damage. Good luck.

Sorry to hear that, keep us posted on what they find. Hope you're back up soon, Zeke.

Is that the bike in your signature? If so, what kind of warranty do you have on a bike that old?

When I bought it from the dealership they through in a 1 year extended warranty. Beets me how they could do that on an 8 year old bike but they did and he through it in for free. For those of you that live in the DC area, Bingo at Rockville Harley Davidson/Battley Cycles is amazing to deal with.

From my experience, a failed lifter sounds closer to a ticking than a clanking. I have experienced cronic lifter problems on an old AMC V8 I had and that is the experience I am speaking of. I loved keeping that POS alive. Stuff like this is what draws me to archaic american vehicles.

From my experience, a failed lifter sounds closer to a ticking than a clanking. I have experienced cronic lifter problems on an old AMC V8 I had and that is the experience I am speaking of. I loved keeping that POS alive. Stuff like this is what draws me to archaic american vehicles.

The first major failure my bike ever had was a lifter at about 28,000 miles. It did start out as a slight ticking sound that lasted about a day. Then the needle bearings in the roller fell out and trust me, it started making a very loud clacking sound. I'm talking, loud metalic, clacking.

If it is a lifter, it's probably the front intake.

dang dude. get her fixed. i'll be at rockville May 27th for the wall ride

When I bought it from the dealership they through in a 1 year extended warranty. Beets me how they could do that on an 8 year old bike but they did and he through it in for free. For those of you that live in the DC area, Bingo at Rockville Harley Davidson/Battley Cycles is amazing to deal with.

Man, you are a lucky dog.

The first major failure my bike ever had was a lifter at about 28,000 miles. It did start out as a slight ticking sound that lasted about a day. Then the needle bearings in the roller fell out and trust me, it started making a very loud clacking sound. I'm talking, loud metalic, clacking.

If it is a lifter, it's probably the front intake.

Ya got me wondering, when the above happens, how bad are the damages? Since the lifters are an eventual failure point how bad do they mess stuff up when they fail?

I do not think this is a lifter issue. I have a feeling his pinion gear came loose and spun causing the valves to hit the pistons.

Ends up the front exhaust valve popped it's head off and blew a hole through the piston. in the process it bent the connecting rod and of course F'ed the cylinder and head all up.

Looks like a good thime for a 1250 kit or bigger! Sorry bout your luck.

damn that sucks big time

Are they going to Warranty it ????

That will be the test of the dealer !!!

So far it sounds like they are. They use a third party warranty company which they are waiting to hear back from.

Don't let them wesel out on that warranty.

What's the verdict on the dealer?

Ends up the front exhaust valve popped it's head off and blew a hole through the piston. in the process it bent the connecting rod and of course F'ed the cylinder and head all up.

While its getting re-built, have em tap that card a little...

What the heck, since your cases and crank are gonna be split anyway,

you could come away with 88-90" bore capability, and a Balance-Master for around $500...hell you may be able to walk away with a 90incher for $2K more?

;)

now that I know how fragile the stock stuff is I would like to have the parts on hand for the next time this happens.

Lesson:

The fire inside my sportster's engine is writing checks the factory metal can't cash

That's to bad. I wish it had only been a lifter.

A lot of the stock parts are kind of crappy. When you push these engines hard it's a good idea to fill them with higher quality parts. Good luck.

They got the parts in at the dealership yesterday. It is all covered under warranty. I chose to hold off on the engine build till the warranty is up. I will be doing it though next janurary. 88", HSR 45, SE .575's, Stage III heads

Glad to hear that they're taking care of things, 4L. It's always nice to hear when a dealer does right. Of course, I'm sure your 88" conversion next winter will pretty much kill whatever's left on the warranty, but man, will it be worth it!!

I do not think this is a lifter issue. I have a feeling his pinion gear came loose and spun causing the valves to hit the pistons.

It's like you have a crystal ball?

He even said it sounded like a dropped valve, or a broken rod.

Pinion gears are RED-Loctited from the factory...besides the gear is captured by the nut and cam cover, even IF the nut backed off, there would be a lot of racket before it spun the key...

:geek

I got it back, and man do I have trouble breaking it in. I still catch myself tearing it up. I am going to hold off till I put 500 miles on it before I put the 6800 RPM rev limiter back in it.

glad to hear you got it back

Glad to hear you're mobile again..

IF I phucked up my bike like that, I'd be hard pressed not to go Super huge with it. (as I have to split the cases anywayz)

Hopefully you'll break it in right and have a nice smooth new engine.