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22nd September 2010
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Biker
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33 Sportster/Buell Model: XLCH 72, XLH 75 Sportster/Buell Year: 72 Sportster/Buell Model #2: AJS Mod 31, Norton 850, Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1959 Other Motorcycle Model: FLH Other Motorcycle Year: 1969
Reputation: 10
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To split or not to split?
Bought a 72 incomplete restoration. Mainshaft roller race has surface rust. Should I hone out and use oversize rollers or press in new? Cost about the same.
2 of the 4 camshaft roller bearings are siezed. Can these be replaced without splitting the cases?
Perhaps the question really is should I trust the pevious builders?- rust + siezed rollers = water +oxygen not good! Cases together are clean and feels tight and nice. Should I split and look? Never touched a harley before but wanted to build a RHS gear Ironhead bobber.
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22nd September 2010
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Senior Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 7,848 Sportster/Buell Model: XLCH 1000 Sportster/Buell Year: 1977 Sportster/Buell Model #2: 75 motor in Norton frame. Other Motorcycle Model: 42WLA 45, Harton, Narley Other Motorcycle Year: 1942
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I would split the cases and do the job right. You don't know what other rust might be in there. And if you replace the timing cover cam bushings as well, the cases need to be split to use the RH case to guide the reamer in square, unless yo have a spare RH case to use as a jig.
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In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.
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22nd September 2010
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Senior Bike Builder
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,986 Sportster/Buell Model: Custom Sputhe XR Sportster/Buell Year: 19** Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLCH Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1965
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATC
Bought a 72 incomplete restoration. Mainshaft roller race has surface rust. Should I hone out and use oversize rollers or press in new? Cost about the same.
2 of the 4 camshaft roller bearings are siezed. Can these be replaced without splitting the cases?
Perhaps the question really is should I trust the pevious builders?- rust + siezed rollers = water +oxygen not good! Cases together are clean and feels tight and nice. Should I split and look? Never touched a harley before but wanted to build a RHS gear Ironhead bobber.
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I would clean it up and do a quick brake hone job just to see how bad it really is or is the race severely pitted? |
22nd September 2010
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Flat Track Champion
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: In a wind tunnel
Posts: 641 Sportster/Buell Model: ironhead Sportster/Buell Year: 72
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If your heart is in it, I say pull 'em apart and do it all. If you lack at least some mechanical skills, you may wanna have a reputable mechanic do it. Splitting cases can lead to splitting head aches! And there are the tools. Without such it is futile.
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I'd rather die trying!
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22nd September 2010
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Senior Master Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Puget Sound--Washington State
Posts: 3,832 Sportster/Buell Model: Sportster XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1961 Sportster/Buell Model #2: Sportster XL Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1957 Other Motorcycle Model: XLH 62, 65, 68, FLH 1970
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It's a tough call, but if you have some skills and since it sounds as if the tranny is already out, you might consider splitting them.
Do the connecting rods move freely and smoothly? When you say everything is nice and tight, are you referring to rods? If there is no up and down movement, you can probably get away with assembly.
Of course that's the rub--"probably."
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If I could only live at the pitch that is near madness
When everything is as it was in my childhood
Violent, vivid, and of infinite possiblilty:
That the sun and moon broke over my head.--Richard Eberhart
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23rd September 2010
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Biker
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33 Sportster/Buell Model: XLCH 72, XLH 75 Sportster/Buell Year: 72 Sportster/Buell Model #2: AJS Mod 31, Norton 850, Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1959 Other Motorcycle Model: FLH Other Motorcycle Year: 1969
Reputation: 10
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All bearings, end play etc, good on the crank. On an old BSA single I would not bother smack togethr and give a couple of rapid oil changes and all OK. Not so for a later Norton twin as these engines run a tighter tolerance. Finding out about ironheads right now.
Cam bushes OK, might replace the big one for the crankshaft end. Do not know S... about HD's never seen one open til now and this came almost ready for rebuilding in 6 boxes. Mostly good but just cant work out why 2 of the cam rollers are siezed- look ok but do not move, soaked in solvent and oil mix but still no move!. Cams look great so I fear rust due to bad storage. Never seen one siezing before not typical for this sort of bearing
No probs with the skill level but working only from exploded diagrams from part listing sheets. What special tools would I need over the basic, I have years of experience on a range of brit iron. Guess there might be a link on this site that describes splitting the cases - can you send me a link.
Thanks for your help
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23rd September 2010
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Land Speed Record
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 735 Sportster/Buell Model: XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 1976 Sportster/Buell Model #2: XLH Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1979
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It is really a question of how comfortable are with what the previous owner did? Personally, I don't trust too many other people with my motor.
Is this something that you just plan to put together and then sell? Or do you plan to keep it?
If you do split the cases you'll know how well it gets put back together. You may get lucky and find that there is nothing wrong and it can be put together with peace of mind. But you may also find something that could have been catastrophic.
Side note: This is post 666 for me... Feeling kinda evil... <EG>
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Skeeeter
'76 XLH - 4 5/8" Stroker, Andrews V-9 cams, S&S Super 'E' and Barnett Billet Scorpion Clutch plus some cosmetic stuff
'79 XLH - Mostly stock except for cosmetics (for now!)
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20th June 2011
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Biker
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 33 Sportster/Buell Model: XLCH 72, XLH 75 Sportster/Buell Year: 72 Sportster/Buell Model #2: AJS Mod 31, Norton 850, Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1959 Other Motorcycle Model: FLH Other Motorcycle Year: 1969
Reputation: 10
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I split
"new" main bearing was BAD. Looks like the previous builder used a heavy bluntish instrument to hammer home - is now concentric. Total rebuld now finished. Why the *** did this guy block off the case vent???
Thanks for thereplies and sorry for the tardy response
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20th June 2011
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Senior Custom Bike Builder
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,796 Sportster/Buell Model: XLCH Sportster/Buell Year: 1971 Other Motorcycle Model: FXDL Other Motorcycle Year: 2003
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATC
Thanks for the replies and sorry for the tardy response
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Just 9 months late. 
You may want to start a new thread.
pg
__________________
Rolling down the highway on two wheels since 1957...
Owner Red/White 1971 XLCH & 2003 FXDL-Silver over Black
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