Has the MoCo resolved its crankshaft issues?

[ceraaa42]

I say, buy the 08'.

I then say, buy the warranty package that adds another 5 years to the factory 2 with the tire and wheel coverage. It should be about $1200 (what I paid). Then do the stage I and don't modify it any further.

Chris

[route66paul]

Originally Posted by muleskinner

I'm not going to stand up for the MoCo when they are wrong or putting out bad products with poor workman ship, but I also refuse to buy into the hype that any HD bike manufactured after 2002 is junk. I got off of a 2005 Honda ST1300 that makes the 2008 HD motorcycle technoligy look like something from the 40's. But, I wanted the old technoligy look and feel. I wanted a bike I could work on to personalize. If I had wanted a perfect, needs nothing, modern motorcycle I would have stayed with what I had.

So far I like my new street glide. It's a nice bike. So far I've had NO problems with it. My wife's 2005 road king custom is also a nice bike that she has had NO problems with. The people on the street that ride late model, post 2002 Harleys I speak with like thier bikes also. The dealer seems to not have the problems to the extent that some say are out there. So I say the later than 2002 HD bikes are most likely no better or worse than the pre 2002 HD bikes. But that is just an opinion and like ass holes, everyone has one.

Now if a precieved problem with crank shaft run out or shift is going to stop you from buying a new HD bike, then so be it. But in my humble opinion, you are the one that is loosing out. The new bikes are nice and a LOT of folks are buying them. But far be it for me to say you should not just go find a nice clean pre 2002 HD bike and be happy with it.

But, in the mean time, I will be out riding my nice clean, well running, new 2007 HD stage one Street Glide down the road. And most likely like everyone else that rides HD bikes, down the road I will be taking the engine apart and putting high performanc parts into it. So when my crank breaks, I will then build an engine that puts out more HP. That's what we do. That's why the MoCo is making the big bucks. Otherwise we would all be riding modern water cooled metric bikes like the smart folks do. How boring!

You are right, if you want a new bike buy one. But if I were buying used, knowing what I know now, it would be 2002 or previous.

Originally Posted by ceraaa42

I say, buy the 08'.

I then say, buy the warranty package that adds another 5 years to the factory 2 with the tire and wheel coverage. It should be about $1200 (what I paid). Then do the stage I and don't modify it any further.

Chris

This is correct. Those cranks have gone out on many stockers. The Moco is playing the numbers game. With so many riders only riding 2000 mi a year, they can get away with warranting them for 5 years(for an extra charge, that is).

[sanfam93]

So anyone know the average life of the crank? if so how many miles
. I have 12k. I do think my bike vibs more thenit should.

[DoomBuggy]

This thread is cracking me up. To be honest the last good motor HD made was the Panhead. Why, cause I had one. Then the shovel came out and everyone said, what a load of crap. They were all leaky junk with two left flywheels and as soon as you stroked them they blew up. The only way to build them was as a Pan/Shovel hybrid. Then the Evo came out and lord the HD gods really screwed the pooch with that one. Wasn't really an HD motor at all, didn't breath right, could not make any power and the cranks would let go when you built them. At that point I got out of bikes for a while. Now you kids have your TC engines and I hear that the 88 was the last good TC engine and the new 96 TC engine is junk, does not run right, has no power, and when you build them the crank will explode. The thing that I don't understand is why there aren't more one legged riders from all these exploding cranks, lol. I love my 96, and see it as a solid straight line improvement over that old Panhead. The very thing that keeps me on a Harley instead of a metric.

But that's just me, Harry

PS: On the ride into work yesterday I saw a BMW on the side of the road with a huge puddle of oil under it, looked to me like he blew his crank!

[davidtn]

I got a 02 Road King...how much am I bid for it?

[Doug Cook]

I have under 10,000 miles on my RK. Just returned from a 3K trip to Badlands, Custer State Park, Yellowstone, Tetons. Just before I got home, had a flickering oil light at idle. Once home, turned bike off for about 2 hours, when restarted constant oil light.

Long story short, twisted flywheel, .035 runout. Flywheel took out the oil pump. Cost to repair, no enhancements 3 grand. Add 103 crank, pistons, billet oil pump, cam gears, 5K.

Talked with the HD mechanic, he has done 4 cranks in the last 2 months. I would say there is a definite quality problem.

I like my Harley, fun to ride, but there is no doubt the quality is just not there.

[Hoot Gibson]

Originally Posted by DoomBuggy

PS: On the ride into work yesterday I saw a BMW on the side of the road with a huge puddle of oil under it, looked to me like he blew his crank!

Did ya stop and tell him he shoulda bought a Harley??? LOL...

HDs are fashion accessories. You guys actually ride em??? Hmmmm...

BTW, I love my '07 RK. Best running motorsickle I ever had. Close to 15,000 miles and no problem.... Yet.

[pittguy]

They upped the specs-problem solved for them since most owners will be out of warranty.Hey Hoot my 07 runs great too but also has almost .003" runout.Check yours if you have time and tell me how you still feel.

[claydbal]

Originally Posted by pittguy

They upped the specs-problem solved for them since most owners will be out of warranty.Hey Hoot my 07 runs great too but also has almost .003" runout.Check yours if you have time and tell me how you still feel.

dayeeeeem pitguy, you gota good one!!!

[NHMongo]

Originally Posted by DoomBuggy

PS: On the ride into work yesterday I saw a BMW on the side of the road with a huge puddle of oil under it, looked to me like he blew his crank!

He probably blew his final drive. BMW is having a major problem with those right now and refuses to admit it. A buddy of mine blew his on his GS with less than 12K on the clock. I have heard of many failures first hand not just on the web. Just goes to show you anyone can have issues.

[sanfam93]

Originally Posted by DoomBuggy

This thread is cracking me up. To be honest the last good motor HD made was the Panhead. Why, cause I had one. Then the shovel came out and everyone said, what a load of crap. They were all leaky junk with two left flywheels and as soon as you stroked them they blew up. The only way to build them was as a Pan/Shovel hybrid. Then the Evo came out and lord the HD gods really screwed the pooch with that one. Wasn't really an HD motor at all, didn't breath right, could not make any power and the cranks would let go when you built them. At that point I got out of bikes for a while. Now you kids have your TC engines and I hear that the 88 was the last good TC engine and the new 96 TC engine is junk, does not run right, has no power, and when you build them the crank will explode. The thing that I don't understand is why there aren't more one legged riders from all these exploding cranks, lol. I love my 96, and see it as a solid straight line improvement over that old Panhead. The very thing that keeps me on a Harley instead of a metric.

But that's just me, Harry

PS: On the ride into work yesterday I saw a BMW on the side of the road with a huge puddle of oil under it, looked to me like he blew his crank!

So how would one check a for run out?

[Coolmaker]

Originally Posted by sanfam93

So how would one check a for run out?

Do a search and read allot. It will become clear. There are many threads on this...

[Hoot Gibson]

Originally Posted by pittguy

They upped the specs-problem solved for them since most owners will be out of warranty.Hey Hoot my 07 runs great too but also has almost .003" runout.Check yours if you have time and tell me how you still feel.

I don't want to know. Gonna trade it next spring for whatever. Don't know yet. Till then, crank runout be damned.....Full speed ahead!!!

[bcnasty]

Like Pittguy, I measured mine when I installed the cams. The runout was at .003. Must be where they start. I love the way my 07 runs and with the money I have spent on improvements it suits my needs. However, that does not change the fact that many have been loosing cranks. The dealers are blaming engine breaking and all the same crap we heard from cam bearings in 99/2000 bikes. I expected a few issues with it being a new model year and have been saving money in a rebuild fund so when it does go I will build it back bulletproof , I hope ! All in all my biggest gripes have been geared too tall, fuel mileage sucks. Other than that this baby will flat out roll on the highway and like every other one before it puts a smile on my face. Ride it like I stole it and then rebuild it proper has been my motto with Harley motors for 30 plus years of riding.
BC

[dynadad]

Originally Posted by claydbal

i make lots of money thanks to the chinese cranks in 07-08 harleys. it is typical to see stock 96 inch motors with almost no oil pressure, vibration, and pinion runout over .012-- HD's latest adjustment--many of these motors have less that 10.000 miles and were ridden like grandma. fact is---- they are junk.

BULL **** !!!!! TELL US ANOTHER ONE