Here's the deal, I had a wreck a couple of months ago and totaled my '89 FXR. I loved the bike and the engine just rocked. 145# cranking pressure at 7000' of elevation, with less than 19,000 miles I had plans for this bike. Long story short, it's totaled and I replaced it with a mint '93 FXRS-Convertible. It's also low mileage, 12,800 on the clock verified by the paperwork (dealer service reciepts etc.) the previous owner provided. This bike is as close to showroom new as any 20 year old bike I've ever seen but there's a small problem. I rode the bike before purchase and thought it was slightly doggy, didn't start easily and so on but figured it's been sitting in a heated garage for 6 years so what can you expect. Got it home and rode it some. Not much cause I'm still recovering from head/neck injuries from the crash, still, I knew it wasn't running great so I warmed it up and ran a cranking pressure check. 95# front and rear is the best she'll manage. No wonder it's not popping right off on a push of the button. The old girl needs help obviously, but what kind of help and why?

I had plans for an EV27, lifters and EZ pushrods this winter but knowing this I'm thinking of doing the entire top end for a nice streetable 80" with compression. What direction would you all take? Who would you use for a valve/port job and also to fit the new pistons to the cylinders? any suggestions? things I'm missing?

 

Sounds like to me,all you need is a set of rings.Put that cam you want in there too and replace the cam bearing with a Torrington.

 

It might be your compression rings aren't seating fully from gunk (old oil) built up on the cylinder walls after six years of sitting in a heated garage. If the oil rings are good (the bike's not smoking) I'd run it some more and see if the compression readings begin to rise. Also, if you have access to one, a bore-scope can give you a peek at those cylinder walls.

 

I haven't done a leakdown test so I have no idea where the problem comes from. I suspect rings also but figured the headwork wouldn't hurt.

The previous owner only rode a couple thousand miles a year for a brief period and then parked the bike. Would that treatment cause the low pressure or was this engine just built on a Monday after a long weekend? Thanks!

 

Like NickD said, ride it and see if it gets better.The heads have hardly any miles on them.They should be good.

 

Thanks Nick and Mike. The bike doesn't smoke and it's running really lean, the carb still has the plug on the idle mixture screw so I'll be addressing that as soon as I'm able. Timing isn't in favor for putting miles on the bike, unfortunately I'm not in riding condition just yet, I had steroid injections into my neck Friday, hoping that does the trick, plus I've got massive headaches since the concussion, till those go away I won't be riding. F'ing cagers...

 

Is the Air cleaner and ignition stock? Hope you feel better soon.

 

It's got an aftermarket AC and the ignition is an S/E, coil and module both...

Thanks, it's my first accident on a street bike in more than 40 years. The landings are a lot rougher than I remember... ;-)

 

Well like they say "You'll never forget". The only bright side is you have all winter. Unless you are lucky and live South or West.

 

We don't bounce like we used to!!!