Old Timer with 800K + Riding miles
#12
08-17-2009, 04:22 PM
Road Warrior
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South of Raleigh, and west of the coast, NC.
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Excellent story.....I believe I remember reading about Dave Willet in HOG magazine several years ago. Sounds like a good meeting you had with those two gentlemen. Kudos to them!
#15
08-17-2009, 05:06 PM
Cruiser
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Location: warminster pa
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#18
08-17-2009, 05:25 PM
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That's the stuff of legends. In our world of celebrity stupidity and the ongoing worship of pro-sports figures that have all the morals of raw sewage, it is refreshing to hear about guys like these two. Ditto on the Rodeo cowboys that Foodog brought up. Those guys don't make jack-$hit, travel like crazy and get busted up riding broncs and bulls. They're lucky to make what a rookie in the minor leagues might make.
Imagine 800,000 miles plus of asphalt rolling under your feet. That would take you nearly six years of full time riding (at 40 hrs a week and 65 mph!). Gawd...
Imagine 800,000 miles plus of asphalt rolling under your feet. That would take you nearly six years of full time riding (at 40 hrs a week and 65 mph!). Gawd...
#19
08-17-2009, 08:43 PM
TTT
Hey thanks for all the nice replies. I knew you guys would appreciate these two fine gentlemen.
I found the following online regarding "Old Charlie"
David Willett notched 417,888 miles on his 1987 FLT during a 12 year period. Understand that he had to average 95 miles per day (every day) for 12 years to get to that mileage. H-D gave David a new 1999 FLHT in exchange for his bike. “Old Charlie” rests in state in the lobby of the Capitol Drive plant.
Note that David purchased the extended 5 year warranty.
Accurate records were kept of both service and warranty repairs for “Old Charlie” as follows:
Cam and tappets were replaced at 60K miles and again at 200K miles.
The final drive belt was replaced three times - 114K, 218k and 359K.
Stator and voltage regulator were replaced at 189K under warranty
Clutch plates were replaced at 264K
At 264,831 miles the engine cases were replaced under warranty. A cast metal bearing support in the drive side case let oil migrate from the engine into the primary at the rate of 1 quart per 1000 miles. At the time compression readings were 155 psi in both cylinders, 10 pounds less than new. Measurements showed there was about .002" cylinder wall wear at the top. The rods and wrist pins were tight, and the valves and guides showed only modest wear, although the cam lobes were worn. Cylinders were bored to fit .005" over sized pistons and new rod bearings, valves and guides were fitted.
Front fork seals replaced at 371K
Original - wheel bearings with re-packing at every tire change
Original - front brake rotors and calipers, front and rear brake master cylinders, hand controls, ignition plate and rotor/trigger, tach and all chromed parts.
Original - The sheetmetal parts and frame retain their original paint, as did the saddlebags. Only the fairing lowers had been repainted.
The transmission itself is original except for a shifting fork replaced under a recall.
The clutch throw-out bearings were replaced twice during the 12 years.
The rear shocks are still original.
Hey thanks for all the nice replies. I knew you guys would appreciate these two fine gentlemen.
I found the following online regarding "Old Charlie"
David Willett notched 417,888 miles on his 1987 FLT during a 12 year period. Understand that he had to average 95 miles per day (every day) for 12 years to get to that mileage. H-D gave David a new 1999 FLHT in exchange for his bike. “Old Charlie” rests in state in the lobby of the Capitol Drive plant.
Note that David purchased the extended 5 year warranty.
Accurate records were kept of both service and warranty repairs for “Old Charlie” as follows:
Cam and tappets were replaced at 60K miles and again at 200K miles.
The final drive belt was replaced three times - 114K, 218k and 359K.
Stator and voltage regulator were replaced at 189K under warranty
Clutch plates were replaced at 264K
At 264,831 miles the engine cases were replaced under warranty. A cast metal bearing support in the drive side case let oil migrate from the engine into the primary at the rate of 1 quart per 1000 miles. At the time compression readings were 155 psi in both cylinders, 10 pounds less than new. Measurements showed there was about .002" cylinder wall wear at the top. The rods and wrist pins were tight, and the valves and guides showed only modest wear, although the cam lobes were worn. Cylinders were bored to fit .005" over sized pistons and new rod bearings, valves and guides were fitted.
Front fork seals replaced at 371K
Original - wheel bearings with re-packing at every tire change
Original - front brake rotors and calipers, front and rear brake master cylinders, hand controls, ignition plate and rotor/trigger, tach and all chromed parts.
Original - The sheetmetal parts and frame retain their original paint, as did the saddlebags. Only the fairing lowers had been repainted.
The transmission itself is original except for a shifting fork replaced under a recall.
The clutch throw-out bearings were replaced twice during the 12 years.
The rear shocks are still original.
