"I pulled you over for Speeding. Do you have any idea how fast you were going?"

Regardless of what you ride, even if you don't ride at all, EVERYONE is welcome here.

Mr. Motorcycle


I am

My photo
I live at 1 Frozen place in, Minnesota, United States
My real name is Mark. For many years now my wife has called me Mr. Motorcycle. When I started my Blog I was looking for a catchy blog name, so I went with it. I'm happily married and I'm also a father of 6 children. I have two human offspring, one dog, two cats and one custom Harley. I believe that makes 6 children. When I'm not doing my real full time job, or going for a ride, I like to do art, custom paint jobs, and of course BLOG. If you would like to contact me, my e-mail address is phonetically spelled for avoiding spammers. (I actually do use the number 1 in the beginning.) 1mrmotorcycleATgmailDOTcom

*****This is my Bliss*****

*****This is my Bliss*****
Depending on your settings, Click, or Double Click on the image for full size photo.
The photo above is my ride :
"Kenny" started life as a stock '97, 883 Sportster. It's been a work in progress since the day I bought it many years ago. Its mostly custom with a built, "slightly juiced up" 1200 motor.
The Metal Fabrication, bodywork and custom paint was done by me.

How the Hell did I come up with a name like Kenny for my bike you ask?...... Most people who name their rides, go with chick names. I of course had to be different. I think bikes look tough, cool and masculine; not feminine. Plus, my father "Ken" has helped make me who I am today. Therefore with a little twist on the name, my bike was named "Kenny".

KUSTUM PAINT

KUSTUM PAINT
Come check out my custom paint! Click on the logo above to go to my custom paint blog.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Knocking me on my ass. More money out of my wallet.


My engine is making Loud noises at normal operating temperatures only. It's time for me to get some new lifters. I read that if a lifter develops a loud noise when engine is at normal operating temperature, but is quiet when engine is below normal temperature, it indicates an excessively fast leak down rate or scored lifter plunger, and it is then recommended to recondition or replace lifters.

Well folks this is what I've got to do this winter. While the bike will be disassembled, since I don't have adjustable pushrods, I will be adding some S&S adjustables and covers as well. And well you know the foot bone is connected to the ankle bone is connected to the shin bone.

They say when you change your cams, you have to change the lifters. It doesn't necessarily hold true vise versa, but isn't a bad idea. Besides, if you were ever going to do the cams, now is the time, since I'm already going to be in there adding Jim's tappits right? The adjustables will allow me to do this kind of thing in the future without having to take the top end apart. Hopefully, I won't need to get back in there after this one for quite some time, but you never know. Now is the time to add an ounce of prevention incase something like this happens again down the road. I guess I look at it as insurance. If I never need it great. If I do, great. Additionally, by adding these S&S parts & Jim's lifters (tappits), I'll not only be able to get rid of the damn knock, I'll gain a bit of performance as well. I guess this means I need to custom paint something for someone quick to help support my habit.

10 comments:

MeanDonnaJean said...

I reckon that's the price ya pay when ya gotta hankerin' for hogs....yer hands are always gonna be steadily hard at work...season-to-season 'n then some!

Tony said...

I feel for ya, I'll prolly be getting my cylinder re-sleeved this winter, last winter a complete bottom end...course my little bike is much simpler;),,but you throw in my son's 3 bikes, my wife's buggy, my rock buggy...I'm always in the garage it seems:( I suppose it ain't all bad.??

MeanStreak said...

Man, that bites! I try to look at breakdowns and repairs as opportunities for upgrades, the unexpected expenditure still sux though!

Ride safe!

FLHX_Dave said...

Well, this is why I have put 35,000 on my ride in less than 18 months. So I can upgrade! Whooooooo!....oh wait...I don't have any money right now.

I always find a way to screw myself. At least I had fun doing it.

Since you will have it apart...for the most part, maybe you should think about a few more upgrades while you are at it. I'm starting to look at my cam chain tensioners right now. I'm not waiting until they screw up.

Well, look at the bright side. No one can say your not a biker...most guys I know don't ride enough to encounter such a problem. Ride on!

mq01 said...

sorry you ran into a must do fix. but hey, i went adjustable on an old firebird of mine and LOVED it. of course you have to start tweaking performance on everything once you open 'em up...but its all in love ;)

Big Daddy said...

When it comes time to pick cams....put a lot of reasearch into it...check and double check.
The tendecy to go "bigger" isn't always better.
The stock cam profiles that harley uses in it's sportys is pretty damn close to Ideal.
Most cam makers won't tell you that.
Better gains will be made in exhaust configs,intake manifolds and ignition and advances.
If you wonder if perhaps the Ol "Big Daddy Caveman' knows his stuff on sportys......
Give Dr Wrench and FLH Dave a call
to see if his bikes haul...LOL

Danny said...

Will you be doing step by step updates as you do all of this work?

Mr. Motorcycle said...

MeanDonnaJean,
Yeah, If you ride em, you will fix em.

Tony,
It's a good price to pay. Those of us who share these woes, share the joy of what goes into having to have them.

MeanStreak,
I agree, If I can get something done that I've always wanted to do for a fraction of the price because the labor's almost already paid for by the "other" problem that got you in there the first time, it's a bonus. Still sucks though, I agree.

FLHX Dave,
Although I ride some, It doesn't compare to what you do. I only wish I could sometimes. Regarding $. I wish I had more of that too. Unfortunately the budget at my house does not include bike repairs, or upgrades. If I want to ride, I gotta figure out a way though. It keeps getting worse.

Mq01,
I love tweaking performance, unfortunately, I never seem to have the money set aside when this kind of shit happens. The opportunity is there, the money isn't, for even the lifters, and certainly not for the other tweaks I'd love to do. We'll see what happens.

Big D.,
By now, I'm sure you got my e-mail with all of my questions and advise requests. Thanks for your 2 cents. I respect your opinions on Sporty performance.

Danny,
Maybe step by step updates by my mechanics work, but likely only a final on what I decide to do, did, and how much difference it makes.
Maybe, if I can get the right coaching, I might attempt some of this myself. We'll see. It' seems like a lot to me. I'm handy, but I'm no mechanic.

Willy D said...

I’d take that bit of advice Big D gave you. Stock Sporty cams are about as good as it gets. My ’84 Sporty will run well over 100 with two-up w/stock cams. Of course the carb, exhaust and sparky maker has been changed. As for the adj. pushrods; you didn’t put them in the day after you bought it?

Mr. Motorcycle said...

Willy D.,
Never even thought to put adjustables in. I have very little clue what needs to be done, and why when it comes to performance, etc, except for the little bit I've learned along the way since I started paying to have mechanical mods done on this Harley. Everything else I'v ever ridden before has always run stock, except for cosmetic appearances. I'm slowly learning.