nova wrote:

Doright wrote:I have a 97 EVO engine I don't have the Cam problem, I have heard the horror story's and seen the parts before on the Cam deal. I'm not sold on on the problem or the cure myself to each his own and if your in there fine but if they are working well I myself can keep pulling the cover to inspect them every so many miles they say to check them.

Sounds like a hell of a fun ride, Last big ride I did I took off for northern CA Eureka area.
Havn't done a run like that in forever now though.

The problem is the tensioners start to disintegrate sending little orange bits of plastic through your oil passages to the point where it will frag your engine. The cure for those that have crank run-out in spec is gear drive or for those that don't, a hydraulic set up like the 96'ers have. I'll never own a Twinky unless it had gear drive.

The Tensioner guide deals I have seen come out at my Buddy's Harley shop
(he does a lot of em its been whats what has kept his shop open the past few years)
Out of a few dozen I have seen they don't even look as worn as the ones pictured above & I have only seen one with a broken spring!
The material they use for the chain guide tension foot is the same material used in thousands of cars and trucks all over the world and ya they do ware a little and ya that material does go into oil witch is sucked up through the oil pick up and oil pump it is then routed through the oil filter first then the rest of the engine.
It is true that there is an oil filter bypass and at hi engine rpm & hi oil pressures & some oil does bypass the oil filter but there is still some oil filtering going on but these engines don't live at constant Hi rpm, The oil Pump pick up foot has a screen on it to trap bigger particles that could get trapped in oil passages or cause damage the pump. its very highly unlikely that enough material would be created fast enough to clog an oil pick up before it would be seen In between inspection time periods this is why Harley never issued a recall or made it a warranty issue or designed a gear drive. the gear drive is an aftermarket piece made by another company.
Not to mention the crank work that should be done when you go gear drive and how critical the gear lash adjustment is, really for $400 you can get better tensioners made from a superior foot material from Harley Davidson but why do it before its time? again its just me but I chose to listen to Harley Davidson on this issue and not all the Hype. This again is why Harley never issued a recall for the problem the part is designed to ware for a reason, The use of a newer material on new parts is for customers concerns about ware.

I wish people were so worried about their cars and trucks with their engine chain tensioners My shop would be full of work. and by the way I have never seen a chain drive guide where it was ever bad enough to cause an engine failure chain stretch and jumping a tooth yes broken springs yes failure of the tensioner whether it was a spring tension type or Oil pressure type yes.

Give my Buddy JB a call he is an family owned independent and has done hundreds of these he is a full believer in the conversion He is very friendly and doesn't mind talking on phone tell him Dennis said to call.
He does a lot of Trike conversions as well as full custom builds from mild to wild any thing that keeps his customers happy and keeps his doors open including a free barbeque on most Saturdays and promotes several local rides each year for a charity.

JMAR Customs
1271 S Highway 160, #C
Pahrump, NV 89048
(775) 751-2266

http://www.pahrumpmotorcycle.com/#!gallery/cee5
https://www.facebook.com/JMarCustoms
http://www.yelp.com/biz/j-mar-customs-llc-pahrump-2
http://www.mechanicadvisor.com/nv/pahrump/jmar-customs
http://www.bbb.org/southern-nevada/busi ... p-nv-79714

'68 Coronet R/T wrote:Hey Nova,
I have heard that roller chain drives are also acceptable for bikes outside the crank run out tolerances. Do you have any experience with them?

That is the only thing that will work for cranks outside the tolerances for gear drive....the only experience I have is at Canada's only authorized Harley trg facilty, I don't own one, have bought and sold a few but I'm an EVO guy all the way .

This what I cut my teeth on fresh out of A&P school
Always always trust the manufacturer for reliability and dependability.

Might could fit one in a Trike.

I have Been dreaming about doing that ever since I first worked on it, at 2500hp its just a tad to big Its just one of the coolest air cooled motors I have ever worked on though.

I do 51000lb thrust jet engines now but they just don't have the same appeal for me that a big ol Fire breathing radials has their just plain cool.

The last two 2014 Indians I painted were for life long Harley riders. They'll never get on or own another H.D. again.

Scott,
I saw an Indian for sale recently and it was one sweet running machine.
Haven't seen a 2014 yet though.

2014 Indian was completely redesigned and is nothing like it's inferior predecessor.

If you got enough money and time you can do anything
oh and know were to find an old radial, not trying to hi jack just thought it was cool
Definitely the bike you wanna ride in cooler weather winter months.


[img]http://thekneeslider.com/images/radialmotorcycle2.jpg[img]

http://images.motorcycle-usa.com/PhotoGallerys/oshkosh-hot-1.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=075k7Fwui6Y

Whats the info on the New Indian?

Okay, I finally wrapped this thing up.
Installed new saddlebag guards, luggage rack and one saddlebag latch. It was a hurried job and could have turned out much nicer but its still way better than when I got it. Plus I like the straight black look over the factory pin stripes.