Lifelong Dream to come true - first Big Dog Motorcycle

Energy One

BDOGBavaria

New Member
Is there a dedicated American Ironhorse forum or would this be the best exchange platform here?

Super excited about it all. Are these S&S engines still built? They are amazingly simple, and basically like my ktm 2-stroke: really simple crank, and conrod and main bearings are simple roller bearings (not plain bearings that are pressurized).

Are there any significant upgrades that one should consider? Oil pressure on these is low / 30PSI or something? Are there any plain bearings that are pressure fed in these engines?

I would love to take them apart 100% and look at each part and put it back together but I unfortunately do not have the time.

Also, there is this big discussion on the left hand and right hand side gearboxes. Is it correct that the bikes with the left hand side drive are not well balanced? Is the center of gravity of the engine in the center of the bike? I heared that these engines are often not mounted in the center of the bike?

Would love to get some input.
 

Mickmorris

Well Known Member
Supporting Member
Does anyone know which exact engine type is used in the American Ironhorse Texas Chopper? I know it has 111 CUI displacements. I am looking for a workshop manual with all the tolerances and specifications.

View attachment 139992
My ‘03 Texas Chopper has a S&S107 with a.600 cam. Not sure when they started with the 111 S&S. Maybe’05.
 
Last edited:

BDOGBavaria

New Member
Got a reply from S&S:

That is a V series engine
We offer all the parts for it in our online catalog and you can purchase them from our website's 84-99 section.
We still offer the V111 also a V124, but the 124 would require tuning and possibly a new ignition system.
The M8 engine will not work in that chassis.
 

mleach72

Well-Known Member
Got a reply from S&S:

That is a V series engine
We offer all the parts for it in our online catalog and you can purchase them from our website's 84-99 section.
We still offer the V111 also a V124, but the 124 would require tuning and possibly a new ignition system.
The M8 engine will not work in that chassis.
Yes, the V is the designation for the evolution engine family. The only upgrade I can think of is the cam. I would imagine that the 111 in the Ironhorse bikes has the 546 EPA cam like the 111 in the big dog bagger. Ironhorse would have been subject to the same EPA laws that big dog was. The cam of choice would be the 585. That's what cam was in the 111 if you bought the engine directly from S&S.
 

BDOGBavaria

New Member
Team, did what you suggested. Test rode them. Got the Texas Chopper. I am amazed how easy it is to move around and handle. The high handle bar is essentially like a lever that allows you to handle a large weight easier. Riding them all is equally as difficult, but I liked the Texas Chopper by far the most.

1781814036928.png
 

Attachments

BDOGBavaria

New Member
I really, really love this thing. I have a few questions here now and I hope you are not offended that I am asking.

1) I wanted to test the limits, braking as hard as possible with the front. You can lock up the tire, I am a bit amazed that these brakes work so well. I certainly did not expect that. When breaking hard, the fork bottoms out, and you feel a hard "clonck clonck clonck" - I thought that the fork bearings were loose but that wasnt it. I guess it is just the fork bottoming out. Good that I know what to expect now if I ever need to break hard.
 

BDOGBavaria

New Member
3) I feel the pain of the frame, taking all the vibrations. I have done lots of vibration engineering and decoupling at work. I completely understand the hard mounting philosophy but my head is thinking about the welds and attachments on the frame. To be honest, I feel physical pain and my head continously images cracks forming and increasing. Is there anything one can do on the engine mounts? I dont want to complain, happy with it all, just exploring and asking questions.


1781814340028.png

1781814353713.png

I found a second hand frame that appears to be the same frame than the Texas Chopper frame. Who made these frames? Does anyone have CAD files for it? Are there any frames that allow these S&S engines and these Baker gear boxes to be mounted on rubber mounts? I understand this is difficult, because both are separate units.
 
Top