Zelda The Welder
Member
So I have 90K miles, with a 96" bored, top end rebuild at 48K on my 2002 Twin Cam Ultra. Recently the noise in the bottom end became impossible to ignore. I talked with a friend who said, no big deal, cam tensioners probably gone, just have a mechanic put in new kit, and get back to riding. However, I could find only one guy willing to look at my "old bike". He agreed that it probably was just going to take putting in the new cam kit.
However, after removing the cover and looking, he lets me know that I probably need a new engine, and as long as the tranny is getting opened up, I should also get a six speed kit. This because there is quite a lot of debris in the oil and something took a chunk out of a sprocket in the oil pump. (See photos) He's guessing the debris has gotten up into the cylinders and valves, ruining them. The bike doesn't smoke, has normal oil pressure and normal throttle power.
Needless to say, a $4000 repair estimate jumped to a $12000 repair estimate. I don't want a new bike- this one has rode me around the US and Canada many, many times and is my bike. But, reality is that the frame is fatigued and I'm not sure we are going to tour again. Currently it is my daily rider to work. That all on top of not knowing this mechanic and the quality of his work.
However, after removing the cover and looking, he lets me know that I probably need a new engine, and as long as the tranny is getting opened up, I should also get a six speed kit. This because there is quite a lot of debris in the oil and something took a chunk out of a sprocket in the oil pump. (See photos) He's guessing the debris has gotten up into the cylinders and valves, ruining them. The bike doesn't smoke, has normal oil pressure and normal throttle power.
Needless to say, a $4000 repair estimate jumped to a $12000 repair estimate. I don't want a new bike- this one has rode me around the US and Canada many, many times and is my bike. But, reality is that the frame is fatigued and I'm not sure we are going to tour again. Currently it is my daily rider to work. That all on top of not knowing this mechanic and the quality of his work.