Thank you Steve for standing behind your work! (GMR) : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Mo-Dog · 07-17-2008, 10:34 PM

Late last year Steve (GMR) upgraded my 05' RK from a 103" HD kit to a 107 GMR kit. We'll, I had problems with the build never really sealing up well...excessive blow-by and heavy oil consumption. I was frustrated and posted some of my problems on line to get advice and Steve called me and said he would do anything to make it right. Of course, I was really pleased at his stepping up to the plate and standing behind his build.

I sent Steve the short-block and he sent the balanced crank back East for evaluation and they installed new bearings and reworked everything. The R&R camplate went back for the machining upgrades. All of the labor and shipping was on Steve's nickle. He bored the case, reassembled and re-lashed the gear drive and sent the short block back to me along with a pre-checked and adjusted (ring gaps, etc.) Axtell 117" kit. These upgrades were of course on my nickle. I put everything together and got it back into the bike and it now has about 600 miles on it.

What a torque-monster! It starts right up, even when hot, and runs like a hopped-up muscle car. Of course I checked the oil color and consumption right away to look for any signs of poor engine seal up and it looks great. I've now done three oil changes at 50 miles, 150 miles and 500 miles and the closed-loop T-Max Ecm is really learning fast. Yesterday, I did about a 2' wheelie (2-up) by accident just goosing the throttle a little while taking off. Pretty cool on a RoadKing! My S.O. gave me some sh*t for it right afterward and then proceeded to commend me on the great build!...just like she was supposed to do...)

Bottom line...Steve(GMR) stood behind his build although the root cause of the problem was probably related to integrated components. I cannot say enough about how much I appreciate his support...Way to go Steve!!!

Colonel Sanders · 07-17-2008, 11:25 PM

He's always done right by me. I dropped and dinged a wristpin from my 124" kit the day I delivered the parts to the shop

and he had a new one overnighted the very next morning. And then there was the time UPS lost my freakin' heads that Steve had sent me!

He somehow pulled another set out of his arse and had 'em on the way in only a couple of days.

And, I can honestly say that he's never been one to try and sell me stuff I didn't need just to make a few more bucks even though he probably could have.

Lastly, the two packages he's put together for me have met and exceeded every goal and expectation I had.....and I'm not easy to please.

Abnmarine · 07-18-2008, 03:37 AM

Another happy customer here. He has always been patient to answer my many questions no matter how stupid they were. My 98" build turned out great and he is now building me a 124" so that I can have a sig like Colonel Sanders

partycrasher · 07-18-2008, 05:48 AM

That's great to hear. Builders stepping up to the plate to get the job done right is the proper thing to do!! Well done GMR. Might i ask--how much down time was involved, and what was the cause of the oil blow by?

Totenkopf · 07-18-2008, 07:37 AM

thanks for sharing that Mo-Dog!

AZFXSTB · 07-18-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Totenkopf

thanks for sharing that Mo-Dog!

x2, Steve/GMR has always come through for me as well...and I'm a tight wad when it comes to getting things done by someone else and it has NEVER been a problem for Steve and he is always a phone call away to help!!!

p.s: still plan on getting you the case and crank next month Steve.....

hduc2005 · 07-18-2008, 12:27 PM

way to go GMR did right by my kit too

Harleypingman · 07-18-2008, 01:53 PM

Glad it worked out for you and props to GMR/Steve.

Before you posted here about the 107" issues, did you contact Steve for help?

Mo-Dog · 07-18-2008, 02:58 PM

We never really found the smoking gun but observed poor ring seal, high leak-down numbers, wear on one side of both pistons on the inside where the rod connects (crank assembly issue?), ink-black oil - could be gasoline contamination probably caused by blowby, high oil consumption - 1 qt in 600 miles, etc. Steve sent the crank back for complete work-over and the camplate back to R&R for additional venting machine work. It took several weeks because of third party schedules. Boring the case and reassembly went fast. Fortunately I have a second bike so no withdrawl issues. I did post some of my problems on-line while I discussed them with Steve...such as leak-down numbers and oil consumption to get an idea of what other's were experiencing. The issues didn't seem to affect the performance much so I wanted to find out what the definition of a "problem" really was...It's all good now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by partycrasher

That's great to hear. Builders stepping up to the plate to get the job done right is the proper thing to do!! Well done GMR. Might i ask--how much down time was involved, and what was the cause of the oil blow by?

otterbob · 07-18-2008, 08:55 PM

Steves a great guy and his headwork is amazing. Hes got my business for engine work from now on.

CaptVic · 07-18-2008, 10:34 PM

Steve at GMR build me a killer 124". Steve its running better all the time. Got 2700 miles on her and the only one that get in front of me is the ones I want there.

DAMADMAN · 07-19-2008, 12:05 AM

I have to agree. Good Guy, Has given me a lot of phone advice. If only I wasnt so stubborn. Thought for sure my cams were aligned, But like steve said check it and make sure your not off a tooth. when i finnally gave up and was ready to throw the cams in the trash, I found out i was off a tooth.

route66paul · 07-19-2008, 12:24 AM

I have called him about 3 different issues and he was very patient with me and would NOT sell me what I thought I wanted because he said that it wouldn't do the job I wanted. He recommended easy fixes each time that didn't cost much and he made NO money. Thank you Steve! I am sorry if this means you get a sh!tload of stupid calls next week.

berserker · 07-19-2008, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptVic

Got 2700 miles :

Not bad mouthing Steve. But 2700 does jack to soothe my confidence.

2700 miles is the problem with HD, they build bikes that they know people won't ride.

claydbal · 07-19-2008, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berserker

Not bad mouthing Steve. But 2700 does jack to soothe my confidence.

2700 miles is the problem with HD, they build bikes that they know people won't ride.

captvic rides! he has like 25000 miles on the 07, and scattered the last motor at 138 mph (GPS). he also has an 08 ultra ye is racking the miles on. its just that the 124 is fresh.

i would say that if steves build can take vics abuse, (2700 miles would have shown a problem), then he built vic a damned good motor!