Re-Doing The Top End

Sep 20, 2009
4,577
299
NE Ohio
Name
Mike
Dad has 50,000 miles on his 09 Triglide right now, the rear cylinder leak down became more than we could live with >10%. So we decided to change things up a bit. Had another set of cylinders laying around which were sent out and bored to maintain the present 103" engine. Sent a spare set of heads out and had some port work done, and swapped out the Wood TW-555 cams in favor of some Head-Quarters HQ-525 cams.

The victim being stripped.

victim_zps328513f6.jpg

Plenty of carbon on the pistons, didn't remove the carbon. Was interested to see if just moving the breathers to external would clean things up some.
pistons_zpsb69ba6ee.jpg

Nice shiny new piston installed and ready for action.
Newpiston_zps950f512f.jpg

Cam chain tensioners were in decent shape for 50,000 miles, put new ones in while I had it apart.
camtension_zpsaf2d3d4e.jpg

The read cylinder head looked crappy, notice all the burnt off powder coating. This sucker doesn't get enough air back there.
rearhead_zpsab2271dc.jpg

Here is the front head, much nicer.
fronthead_zpsafd06574.jpg

This is the combustion chamber on one of the ported heads, had Big Boyz head porting http://www.bigboyzheadporting.com/ do the work. I had them cc the combustion chambers and mill the heads to get 85cc. They had to take .010 off the front and .013 off the rear. This should give 10.1 static compression using a .030 MLS head gasket.

Head_zps98559712.jpg

Decided to do away with the Automatic Compression releases and use good old manual ones.

Head1_zpsabd66d5b.jpg

Using a slick new tool for installing the pushrod tube clips, I got tired of the old screwdriver trick. This thing is the bomb.
Tool_zpsf51c1d57.jpg

Getting close to having it all back together and running.
 
Man M3 you fellows aren't bashful to take on projects. I hope to meet up with guys this year in Maggie Valley. I'm trying to incorperate that with Sandusky Speedways Old Timers weekend in Sept. for my annual trip back to Ohio.
 
Man M3 you fellows aren't bashful to take on projects. I hope to meet up with guys this year in Maggie Valley. I'm trying to incorperate that with Sandusky Speedways Old Timers weekend in Sept. for my annual trip back to Ohio.

I'm planning on being in Maggie, I have a room reserved and vacation scheduled. We're definitely not bashfull:). I've been fiddling with engines since I was young, the best was helping build and tuning this little beast.

CSP_8940.jpg

A couple winters ago I decided to built a 120" engine for my 06 Ultra Classic http://www.triketalk.com/forum/thre...-120-quot-Build-(Lots-of-Pictures)?highlight=
 
I'm planning on being in Maggie, I have a room reserved and vacation scheduled. We're definitely not bashfull:). I've been fiddling with engines since I was young, the best was helping build and tuning this little beast.

View attachment 25133

A couple winters ago I decided to built a 120" engine for my 06 Ultra Classic http://www.triketalk.com/forum/thre...-120-quot-Build-(Lots-of-Pictures)?highlight=

I too am envy of your talent. I have to depend on a local mechanic but he is good. I know doing it yourself certainly saves a lot of money! I am just a old worn out metal finisher.
 
there is alot to be said for doing your own work. you know its done right for one thin g and you know the quality of materials and work. I , tooo, wish I had the workspace, tools and expertise to work on mine. Funnny, I used to tear dowm my Bultaco and Ossa dirt bikes with no problem , all the way to the bottom ends using a spanish manual but the Harley scares me to work on it.
 
I'm planning on being in Maggie, I have a room reserved and vacation scheduled. We're definitely not bashfull:). I've been fiddling with engines since I was young, the best was helping build and tuning this little beast.

View attachment 25133

A couple winters ago I decided to built a 120" engine for my 06 Ultra Classic http://www.triketalk.com/forum/thre...-120-quot-Build-(Lots-of-Pictures)?highlight=
Your a fellow racer! You went straight & I went in circles. Did you drive that "rocket" too?
 
Your a fellow racer! You went straight & I went in circles. Did you drive that "rocket" too?

My brother owned and drove it, I had the fun of wrenching on it. I learned a whole lot about blowers and mechanical fuel injection while tuning this little rocket, it made 1,700 hp on a mild tune up. He was running conservative 6.70 sec 1/4 miles @ 200 mph. He ran the IHRA Top Dragster class, the name of the game was quick bracket racing, so consistency was paramount. The funny thing is some of the things we ran on his engine found their way onto Pro Mod engines.

- - - Updated - - -

there is alot to be said for doing your own work. you know its done right for one thin g and you know the quality of materials and work. I , tooo, wish I had the workspace, tools and expertise to work on mine. Funnny, I used to tear dowm my Bultaco and Ossa dirt bikes with no problem , all the way to the bottom ends using a spanish manual but the Harley scares me to work on it.

I used to be nervous about working on my Harley engines, I had a guy who knew the racing engines I was working on. He told me it was silly when I didn't think much about building a $35,000 racing engine yet not wrench on my Harley. He told me it was like working on the lawnmower, it's a little more complicated that that, but not much. Get some tools and a service manual and it isn't that terrible.

I've kind of taken it a little extreme, I have a separate double stack tool chest just for motorcycle tools and of course the table lift.
 
Dad has 50,000 miles on his 09 Triglide right now, the rear cylinder leak down became more than we could live with >10%. So we decided to change things up a bit. Had another set of cylinders laying around which were sent out and bored to maintain the present 103" engine. Sent a spare set of heads out and had some port work done, and swapped out the Wood TW-555 cams in favor of some Head-Quarters HQ-525 cams.

The victim being stripped.

View attachment 25105

Plenty of carbon on the pistons, didn't remove the carbon. Was interested to see if just moving the breathers to external would clean things up some.
View attachment 25106

Nice shiny new piston installed and ready for action.
View attachment 25107

Cam chain tensioners were in decent shape for 50,000 miles, put new ones in while I had it apart.
View attachment 25108

The read cylinder head looked crappy, notice all the burnt off powder coating. This sucker doesn't get enough air back there.
View attachment 25109

Here is the front head, much nicer.
View attachment 25110

This is the combustion chamber on one of the ported heads, had Big Boyz head porting http://www.bigboyzheadporting.com/ do the work. I had them cc the combustion chambers and mill the heads to get 85cc. They had to take .010 off the front and .013 off the rear. This should give 10.1 static compression using a .030 MLS head gasket.

View attachment 25111

Decided to do away with the Automatic Compression releases and use good old manual ones.

View attachment 25112

Using a slick new tool for installing the pushrod tube clips, I got tired of the old screwdriver trick. This thing is the bomb.
View attachment 25113

Getting close to having it all back together and running.

Awesome photos/write-up!! What do you expect to get with the cam change?? Don't much about either but kinda interested in what differences you expect. Would think maybe moving the torque curve a little to the left (off idle??).

Roger
 
Dad has 50,000 miles on his 09 Triglide right now, the rear cylinder leak down became more than we could live with >10%. So we decided to change things up a bit. Had another set of cylinders laying around which were sent out and bored to maintain the present 103" engine. Sent a spare set of heads out and had some port work done, and swapped out the Wood TW-555 cams in favor of some Head-Quarters HQ-525 cams.

The victim being stripped.

View attachment 25105

Plenty of carbon on the pistons, didn't remove the carbon. Was interested to see if just moving the breathers to external would clean things up some.
View attachment 25106

Nice shiny new piston installed and ready for action.
View attachment 25107

Cam chain tensioners were in decent shape for 50,000 miles, put new ones in while I had it apart.
View attachment 25108

The read cylinder head looked crappy, notice all the burnt off powder coating. This sucker doesn't get enough air back there.
View attachment 25109

Here is the front head, much nicer.
View attachment 25110

This is the combustion chamber on one of the ported heads, had Big Boyz head porting http://www.bigboyzheadporting.com/ do the work. I had them cc the combustion chambers and mill the heads to get 85cc. They had to take .010 off the front and .013 off the rear. This should give 10.1 static compression using a .030 MLS head gasket.

View attachment 25111

Decided to do away with the Automatic Compression releases and use good old manual ones.

View attachment 25112

Using a slick new tool for installing the pushrod tube clips, I got tired of the old screwdriver trick. This thing is the bomb.
View attachment 25113

Getting close to having it all back together and running.

M3, well done.
What are you using for external breathers? I had my cleaner off to clean the K&N and saw more bypass than I like seeing coming out the rear head bolt hole. Thought about doing some type of external so I can monitor it a little easier.
Tks
 
Awesome photos/write-up!! What do you expect to get with the cam change?? Don't much about either but kinda interested in what differences you expect. Would think maybe moving the torque curve a little to the left (off idle??).

Roger

You are correct, I'm expecting a little more bottom end torque. I bought these cams for the 2010 I used to have, I've been Jonesing to use them. I've always had pretty good performance out of the Head-Quarters cams I've used in past builds.

- - - Updated - - -

M3, well done.
What are you using for external breathers? I had my cleaner off to clean the K&N and saw more bypass than I like seeing coming out the rear head bolt hole. Thought about doing some type of external so I can monitor it a little easier.
Tks

I modified a stage 1 back plate and installed a breather tank, here is the write up I did on it http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/20453-Breather-Tank-Install?highlight=.

- - - Updated - - -

Love the push rod clip tool. ThumbUp

Like I said, its the bomb. I used to use a small screwdriver, I can install and remove the clips in half the time with the new tool.
 
I can't wait for the weather to break so I can ride it. At the present time I am still recovering from my third knee surgery. It certainly will be nice to hear it run. I also am looking forward to Maggie Valley. Had a blast at the last rally and met a ton of nice folks.
 

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