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18th August 2012
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XL FORUM TEAM MEMBER
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 34 Sportster/Buell Model: sportster Sportster/Buell Year: 2000 Sportster/Buell Model #2: 1976 ironhead
Reputation: 10
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Hole in my piston
76 iron bought a week ago unmolested engine S&S carb ran great when I bought drove about 100 miles then lost all power oil came out of everywhere including the tach cable. Had to tralior it home did a full service thought the oil pump was bad. Adjusted push rods the whole nine. Got it started sounded like crap did a compression check 165 rear 0 front cylinder thought I had a bad ring. Pulled the front head of actually looked good until I found the hole in the piston head. I would like to know what the culprit is I have more experience with EVO engines this being my 4th HD I have had rocker box leaks and head gasket leaks but never this. I am sure I need to pull the motor and replace both pistons and have the jugs honed and the heads cleaned should I pull everything apart and replace the gaskets from top to bottom too basically rebuild the entire motor. I am a vet and motorcycles keep my mind on other things and help with living a normal life so the work does not bother me but I go on the notion if ain't broke don't try to fix it.
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18th August 2012
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Rider Of The Iron Steed
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: London, ON Canada
Posts: 23,712 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1978
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A hole in the piston can be caused by an intake or exhaust system leak, or anything else that causes the cylinder to be running way too lean. Both of these are comon on IronHeads as the exhaust system has no gaskets, and if the carb/air cleaner assembly has no support bracket it will come loose.
It would be a good idea to post this in the IronHead forum, here ...
Ironhead Sportster Motorcycle Talk (1957-1985)
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7
Welcome! to XLForum. Hope this gets resolved for you soon. |
18th August 2012
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Harley Engineer
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 310 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1981 Other Motorcycle Model: Various
Reputation: 88
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Yep, detonation (pinging) torched a hole in the piston. Lean jetting, over-advanced ignition or fuel with too low an octane number can cause it.
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Still crazy after all these years
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18th August 2012
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Senior Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cornelius, OR
Posts: 3,987
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Ignition timing!!!!
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Ryder Rick "If life doesn't kill me, nothing ever will."
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18th August 2012
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Senior Chief Know It All 3rd Class
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Mojave Desert
Posts: 1,737 Sportster/Buell Model: 1200S Sportster/Buell Year: 2002 Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLH883 Sportster/Buell Year #2: 2003 Other Motorcycle Model: Triumph Bonneville Other Motorcycle Year: 2012
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How light was the color in the rear plug?
If it was close to white, then most likely your mixture, which could be from any of the reasons previously mentioned
The front cylinder works harder
That is not ruling out timing being a factor
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18th August 2012
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Senior Bike Builder
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,922 Sportster/Buell Model: 93 Cubic Inch XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1975 Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLCH Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1968 Other Motorcycle Model: Softail Deluxe Other Motorcycle Year: 2007
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I would pull the cylinders then check the rod side play and up and down movement. If they are within specs then just do the top end and ride.
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93 Cubic Inches..3.635 Bore x 4.50 Stroke...Baisley Roller Rockers...Dual Plug Heads Ported With XLR Valves...Chrome Moly Pushrods...Andrews AX Grind Cams .550 Lift...Venolia Pistons...Total Seal Gapless Rings...Balanced S&S Rods & Flywheels...Blitz Steel Barrels...Billet Oil Pump...K&N O2 Sensors...S&S Super E Carb...Crane Fireball Multi Spark Ignition...All Andrews Trans Gears & Shafts...Strociek Billet Trap Door...Barnett Kevlar Wet/Dry Clutch...Motorsport Rear Motor Mount...High Torque Starter...100 Plus HP
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18th August 2012
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Bike Builder
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,891 Sportster/Buell Model: xlh convert to xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 1978 Sportster/Buell Model #2: xlch Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1972
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fdny37
I would pull the cylinders then check the rod side play and up and down movement. If they are within specs then just do the top end and ride.
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what about all the pieces of melted aluminum that dropped into the bottom end?
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If your gonna do something, do it right!
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18th August 2012
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Senior Bike Builder
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,922 Sportster/Buell Model: 93 Cubic Inch XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1975 Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLCH Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1968 Other Motorcycle Model: Softail Deluxe Other Motorcycle Year: 2007
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Flush them out with some kerosene, he said it was a really small hole that he could hardly see. Over the years I found some interesting stuff in the oil with no damage to the engine, go figure!
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18th August 2012
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Senior Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pottstown PA.
Posts: 5,132 Sportster/Buell Model: xlch Sportster/Buell Year: 1960
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are we talking about removing the crankcase drain plug? [op with 2,post's.don't do that yet!] wmyersabn. it's possible you may only need 1,new piston w/rings,and gasket's.
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72 1000cc barrels and heads, s&s 41/2'' flywheels, sifton cams, s&s super B w/ zippers thunderjet w/yost powertube, andrews gears,and shafts, competition engineering kevlar wet or dry clutch, 72 oil pump, morris magneto w/auto advance and single fire module, cycle electric generator w/electronic regulator,73 cu.in.
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18th August 2012
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XL FORUM TEAM MEMBER
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 34 Sportster/Buell Model: sportster Sportster/Buell Year: 2000 Sportster/Buell Model #2: 1976 ironhead
Reputation: 10
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I was concerned that if I replaced the front I also needed to do the back. The hole is about a dime size and and it is melted I have not popped the back because I have to pull the hole motor to get to the back one. If I do not need to pull the back head I will not. But the back runs fine and sounds great.
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