General_Mayhem
Member
05 Chopper ~ Valve guides oval’d – NOT COVERED (HELP)
My 05 Chopper developed a tick in the front head. I went through the motions and researched it here, contacted the dealer. My bike is an 05 but was purchased in late 04 and I am told is out of warranty. I have 4200 miles on it, I am not the original owner. At the urging of the dealer I pulled the heads and brought them in. They pulled the springs and valves in front of me and sure enough both exhaust valves (front and rear) showed severe ovaling.
The dealer contacted Big Dog to see if there was anyway to support a factory based swap as this seems not uncommon with the TP rocker boxes. The answer was no.
Now I’m pissed that this seems to be a known issue, as the TP’s are replaced with S&S rocker boxes if this same situation is found under warranty. Seems to me that incompatible components were used, I can understand it happening. Hell it happens to me in my profession, all possible research is done and the conclusion to use the components is reached and assembly or run time proves the research wrong.
Question: Does anyone know of another route to seek some factory support on this issue?
(rant on)
I’m frustrated by not having premium manufacturing ethics behind a product that uses premium status as a selling point, and a product that carries a premium price tag. This is by far not the end of my voicing my dissatisfaction on this matter, but it is the end here. I’m sure Big Dog will have a trailer or booth at Bike’toberfest in Vegas, the phrase “How do ya like me now” comes to mind when I think of visiting them.
(rant off)
Now I’m Irish and stubborn to a fault, so maybe I’m just throwing more money into this bike and I should be looking to walk away. ( NOT GONNA HAPPEN ) I’ll muddle through all the issues, because I do love it.
So where do I go from here assuming no factory love.
I’ve read the adding compression thread, got it. I guess I also want to drop a .600 cam in it. Of course match the springs. I’m also kind leaning on changing the valve size back to the true S&S variety, I know less about this, I’ve only seen one thread so far.
So in a concise list I’m looking to:
1) Head rework to repair valve guides
2) .600 cam
3) Zero the deck ( 10.5:1 target )
4) Valve springs
5) Valve sizing changed
6) Change TP to S&S rocker boxes
7) Hone cylinders
8) Replace rings
Question: Am I missing something I should consider at this time?
Question: Based on all the work to the heads, should I price a new set from S&S?
Question: Are there rocker box options that I should make sure I get?
Question: What machine shop / Engine builder in the southwest should I call?
Thanks for all the effort in the things I’ve read and learned from so far, and thanks in advance for your feedback on this.
~Mayhem
My 05 Chopper developed a tick in the front head. I went through the motions and researched it here, contacted the dealer. My bike is an 05 but was purchased in late 04 and I am told is out of warranty. I have 4200 miles on it, I am not the original owner. At the urging of the dealer I pulled the heads and brought them in. They pulled the springs and valves in front of me and sure enough both exhaust valves (front and rear) showed severe ovaling.
The dealer contacted Big Dog to see if there was anyway to support a factory based swap as this seems not uncommon with the TP rocker boxes. The answer was no.
Now I’m pissed that this seems to be a known issue, as the TP’s are replaced with S&S rocker boxes if this same situation is found under warranty. Seems to me that incompatible components were used, I can understand it happening. Hell it happens to me in my profession, all possible research is done and the conclusion to use the components is reached and assembly or run time proves the research wrong.
Question: Does anyone know of another route to seek some factory support on this issue?
(rant on)
I’m frustrated by not having premium manufacturing ethics behind a product that uses premium status as a selling point, and a product that carries a premium price tag. This is by far not the end of my voicing my dissatisfaction on this matter, but it is the end here. I’m sure Big Dog will have a trailer or booth at Bike’toberfest in Vegas, the phrase “How do ya like me now” comes to mind when I think of visiting them.
(rant off)
Now I’m Irish and stubborn to a fault, so maybe I’m just throwing more money into this bike and I should be looking to walk away. ( NOT GONNA HAPPEN ) I’ll muddle through all the issues, because I do love it.
So where do I go from here assuming no factory love.
I’ve read the adding compression thread, got it. I guess I also want to drop a .600 cam in it. Of course match the springs. I’m also kind leaning on changing the valve size back to the true S&S variety, I know less about this, I’ve only seen one thread so far.
So in a concise list I’m looking to:
1) Head rework to repair valve guides
2) .600 cam
3) Zero the deck ( 10.5:1 target )
4) Valve springs
5) Valve sizing changed
6) Change TP to S&S rocker boxes
7) Hone cylinders
8) Replace rings
Question: Am I missing something I should consider at this time?
Question: Based on all the work to the heads, should I price a new set from S&S?
Question: Are there rocker box options that I should make sure I get?
Question: What machine shop / Engine builder in the southwest should I call?
Thanks for all the effort in the things I’ve read and learned from so far, and thanks in advance for your feedback on this.
~Mayhem
Luckily i do have the extended warranty and will take it in in a few weeks... Just wonder if they are still swapping the TP rocker boxes out for the S&S. We shall see when the weather turns colder..
