Advise

Energy One

wolfen

Member
Hey,
Does anyone kmow of a shop in NJ that could rebuild my S&S 117" motor for me. I was riding on the Parkway and the exhaist valve on the front cylinder broke off taking the entire front cylinder out. It`s so bad I could`t get the piston off the rod. There were wholes on the top of the piston.Which means it probibly has compramized the crank shaft as well. If it didn`t envolve the bottom end I would try and do it myself. The cost in just special tools would be to much. So if amyone knows of anyone it would be appreciated.
 

woodbutcher

Mr. Old Fart member #145
Staff member
check with "bigdogtech01" (andrew) he is in NY and if he can't, he can point you in the right direction.
 

bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
check with "bigdogtech01" (andrew) he is in NY and if he can't, he can point you in the right direction.
Thank you :)
He's probably not more than 3 hrs from me. I would love to help you out if your willing to bring it up here to me. You can Google Johnson City, NY and see how far it is from you.
Let me know, I've rebuilt hundreds. :cheers:
 

wolfen

Member
Finally

I hooked up with Joey Sernotti, He had done work for me in the past. He worked up my HD 88" and I was getting 105 rwhp 108 tq. The motor lasted almost 60000 miles and eventually the bottom end went. Something he didn`t even work on. So he is going to repair my S&S 117" for me. It`s something I couldn`t do myself because of lack of experiance with the bottom end and not haveing the special tools ,and machines nessasary.
So I think he is going to make it a 124". So I`ll see what happins. Wish me luck.
By the way Joey Sernotti is a top fuel harley rider who accually has had a few national wins this last season. I`ve crewed for him a few times . Was cool as hell. Maybe I`ll get a chance to go racing again.
 

wolfen

Member
8000 around

From what Joey told me they at big dog kind of shorted the build on these motors. It was getting excessive oil through the head which froze up the valve in the guide. Which means the push rod climbs on the edge of the rocker and pushes the valve into the top of the piston. Going to cost me probibly 4000. to fix. After that is done the motor will run cooler and breath better. Will have bigger valves and a bigger crank. Probibly a 124" crank.
Will see.
I was impressed with his shop. He has all the machining equipment & flow bench. Also has a dyno. So I was glad I was able to get a hold of him again.
He also said he wished he had a chance to talk to me right when I bought the bike. He could have saved me alot of this shit I`m going through now.
One thing he did say is I`m going to have to get another ignition system. He said the one that came on the bike had a lot to do with why this happins.
I`ll update how it turns out.
Now I must start on putting a new motor in my 2001 fxst softail.
So wish me luck.
 

RCAdd1ct

JAFO
Then the clutch won't hold.

Next the trans will die.

Last the belt will need to be replaced by a chain.

I am not saying to not do the 124, just know what that road brings.
 

wolfen

Member
Thanks

You know I didn`t even think of that. I really am happy with the power I was getting out of the motor I had. I`m really not shooting for any more power per say. I will take this into concideration when making my discision on the build. Maybe just keep at 117".
 
Last edited:

bigdogtech01

Well-Known Member
Might as well rebuild the Transmission while you have it all apart as well. Get rid of the old style Main shaft and put the better one in that will not brake on ya. Upgraded bearings will also make it more reliable :D
 

wolfen

Member
Money

I would do all that ,but,I`m going to have to do it as I can. As money doesn`t grow on trees.
 
I have the TP rocker boxes as well. Now have 23,000 miles on them.....still ticking along. Want to change over to the S&S rockers and 585 cam, but money is tight and the bike is running good. Did you have any indication that it was about to drop the valve?
 

wolfen

Member
Follow up

I did put I didn`t know it. I was getting alot of oil out of the carb breather. I just ran a hose down from the rear head to the ground and that solved the oil problem. From what my guy told me it is what acuaaly ended up causing my faliure. There was alot of oil getting into the intake. Eventually the valve froze up in the guide , If only for a brief second which was enough for the push rod to climb up the rocker and push the valve into the top of the piston.
It would have been worth my while to take the bike to my guy before hand and have him go through it.
Live and Learn
 

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
I did put I didn`t know it. I was getting alot of oil out of the carb breather. I just ran a hose down from the rear head to the ground and that solved the oil problem. From what my guy told me it is what acuaaly ended up causing my faliure. There was alot of oil getting into the intake. Eventually the valve froze up in the guide , If only for a brief second which was enough for the push rod to climb up the rocker and push the valve into the top of the piston.
It would have been worth my while to take the bike to my guy before hand and have him go through it.
Live and Learn
Not usually a problem of too much oil presusre on EVO style engines.

Seems odd that you had too much oil, does he have any suggestions as to why the pressure was to high? Did you have an oil pressure gauge? Faulty pump?
 

RCAdd1ct

JAFO
Also, if it is like my 117 to 124" upgrade the intake manifold will need to be replaced.

The difference between the cylinder heads at the intake port is bigger and the intake gasket kept getting sucked in and creating a big vacuum leak.

This was on a twin cam so it may be different, just be aware it might need it.
 

wolfen

Member
Follow up

No, I don`t think he meant it had to much oil pressure. I think he meant there was to much oil blow by or at least getting by the guides into the intake and manifold. Thats what I think the problem was.
 
Top