Welp, after Saturday's 150 Mile cruise I think my "gently ran" (being facetious)
88 cubes is throwing in the towel.
To be honest after blowing three transmissions I'm surprised it lasted almost 50,000 miles.


I went out yesterday, got around the block and heard a bad sound. My immediate thought was front wheel bearing. So I stopped, noise gone, went to pull out, low idle, there it was. No noise at idle or higher RPM yet, but definitely what sounds to me like a metal on metal sound at low RPM.
I think the bottom end is toast, maybe wobbling the connecting rod's, who knows.


In any event, it's decision time.

 

Has the cam chain tensionor upgrade been done?

 

That was my first thought. I had the SE Cam Chain Tensioner and Oil Pump Upgrade at 30k, and my bike has 52k, still runs strong. It will be interesting to see what the OP says. I'm always surprised how many dealers don't know if their used bikes had an upgrade.

 

I did my 05 at 40 K and it was still running like a Swiss watch when I sold it with 112,000 miles on it.

 

Not upgraded, replaced September 2019 at around 40,000. The stock tensioners were surprisingly in great shape.
Crank run out was checked, 002.

While in there I had my guy upgrade the cams, went with Woods TW6 (if I remember correctly without pulling out the invoice)

Its been running like a top until I heard that yesterday.

 

I know it was a crap shoot with the original style tensioners. I’ll be curious as to what the issue is.

 

How the hell do you go thru three transmissions in 50k miles?

You using the clutch at all?

 

Entirely possible the compensating sprocket nut is loose- that would cause an abnormal sound. The torque procedure was modified around the same time your bike was new, so it would be worth checking. New torque procedure is 75 foot pounds plus 45°with Red Loctite. If it came loose, inspect the alternator rotor splines for thickness and/or damage.

 

Yes Sir, I read about this compensating sprocket nut. No matter what I am going to have it checked out.

What kinda sucks is my trusted mechanical Friend moved to Hayward Wisconsin.

Can anyone suggest a reliable, straight talking Gentleman whom works on these?


I'm in Jonesborough Tennessee.

 

Can't help with a Tennessee tech but agree with rigidthumper considering the noise presented without warning and is a fairly common issue with the pre '06 compensators; certainly worth a look see.

JMHO but should the problem turn out to be the lower unit, I can think of several better options than the 120R which has had issues of it's own. Why not rebuild what you have?