How many miles

glider · Oct 13th, 2009, 08:02 AM

The balanced engines balancers are driven off the crank by a sprocket that is pressed on. It's entirely possible that the sprocket has shifted position on the crank but the right side of the engine case has to be opened up to verify this to see if it has shifted.

awall · Oct 13th, 2009, 09:16 AM

I have a freind with a early 90's UC with 430,000 miles on it. He says he has only rebuilt it 2 times. I find that hard to believe but he is a Harley mechanic and has been for over 30 years.

BOWHIKER · Oct 13th, 2009, 09:20 AM

I have a question regarding the a and the b motors . Why did harley make one balanced or rigid mounted and the other rubber mounted . What are the advantages and or disadvantages of each . From what i can tell the rubber mounted have a little more torque .

Jack Klarich · Oct 13th, 2009, 10:16 AM

Its all about the vibration The B motor is suppose to vibrate less how much can u take

Breeze3at · Oct 13th, 2009, 01:39 PM

The reason for the "A" and "B" motors is the frames. The conventional rubber mounting of the engine can't be done on the softails because of the softail shock configuration. Thats also why softails still have oil tanks under the seat, while the others are under the trans.(where the softail shocks live).

softailhog · Oct 13th, 2009, 02:06 PM

Breeze is right, the frames are completely different. HD wanted to design a bike with the "old-school" look of the hardtail but with rear shocks. So they hid the shocks underneath to give the frame that old look. To go along with that the engine needed to be bolted directly to the frame so they developed the "B" or "balanced" engine to reduce the vibration that was transmitted to the rider through the frame/bars/footboards. Having ridden many a mile on a '49 Panhead hardtail with no rear shocks and the seat bolted directly to the frame I can tell you that this was a good idea! They kept the original engine (often referred to as the "A") in the other bikes with the rubber engine mounts which don't need the balanced engine. Which begs the question why not put
a balanced engine in rubber mounts and get the best of both??

abselite · Oct 19th, 2009, 10:42 PM

I have an 05 Fatboy w/88B. Is it wise to have a tach installed? I don't have a clue when I'm at 3000 nor any other RPM. Don't know how far I can lug it down.

glider · Oct 20th, 2009, 07:33 AM

A tach is always a good thing if you can't judge the RPM's of the motor by ear. If you just listen to the motor and keep it in the range where you don't feel the harsh thumping of the motor in the bars, you will usually be safe. If in doubt downshift.

abselite · Oct 20th, 2009, 10:41 AM

Thank you. I think I will have a combo tach/speedo installed.

Oct 13th, 2009, 08:02 AM	#11
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 21,062 My Mood:	Re: How many miles The balanced engines balancers are driven off the crank by a sprocket that is pressed on. It's entirely possible that the sprocket has shifted position on the crank but the right side of the engine case has to be opened up to verify this to see if it has shifted. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me! Last edited by glider; Oct 13th, 2009 at 08:07 AM.

Oct 13th, 2009, 09:16 AM	#12
awall Warming The Wheels Ride: 2009 FLSTC Join Date: Jun 5th, 2009 Location: Springfield, Mo Posts: 67	Re: How many miles I have a freind with a early 90's UC with 430,000 miles on it. He says he has only rebuilt it 2 times. I find that hard to believe but he is a Harley mechanic and has been for over 30 years.

Oct 13th, 2009, 09:20 AM	#13
BOWHIKER Warming The Wheels Ride: 2009 night train Join Date: Sep 8th, 2009 Location: ANKENY , IA Posts: 57	Re: How many miles I have a question regarding the a and the b motors . Why did harley make one balanced or rigid mounted and the other rubber mounted . What are the advantages and or disadvantages of each . From what i can tell the rubber mounted have a little more torque . __________________ Live Long Ride Hard

Oct 13th, 2009, 10:16 AM	#14
Jack Klarich Community Guru Wannabe Ride: 2007 Streetbob Join Date: Sep 25th, 2009 Location: Jax. Fl. Posts: 876 My Mood:	Re: How many miles Its all about the vibration The B motor is suppose to vibrate less how much can u take

Oct 13th, 2009, 01:39 PM	#15
Breeze3at Community Star Ride: 2007 Electra Glide Classic Join Date: Aug 18th, 2009 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 687 My Mood:	Re: How many miles The reason for the "A" and "B" motors is the frames. The conventional rubber mounting of the engine can't be done on the softails because of the softail shock configuration. Thats also why softails still have oil tanks under the seat, while the others are under the trans.(where the softail shocks live). __________________ I'm catching up on all those naps I didn't take as a child.

Oct 13th, 2009, 02:06 PM	#16
softailhog Play The Throttle Ride: 2002 FLSTC Join Date: Aug 21st, 2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 225 My Mood:	Re: How many miles Breeze is right, the frames are completely different. HD wanted to design a bike with the "old-school" look of the hardtail but with rear shocks. So they hid the shocks underneath to give the frame that old look. To go along with that the engine needed to be bolted directly to the frame so they developed the "B" or "balanced" engine to reduce the vibration that was transmitted to the rider through the frame/bars/footboards. Having ridden many a mile on a '49 Panhead hardtail with no rear shocks and the seat bolted directly to the frame I can tell you that this was a good idea! They kept the original engine (often referred to as the "A") in the other bikes with the rubber engine mounts which don't need the balanced engine. Which begs the question why not put a balanced engine in rubber mounts and get the best of both?? __________________ The only thing better than lunch is FREE LUNCH!

Oct 19th, 2009, 10:42 PM	#17
abselite Start The Engine Ride: 2005 Fat Boy Join Date: Oct 8th, 2009 Location: Mount Vernon, WA Posts: 22 My Mood:	Re: How many miles I have an 05 Fatboy w/88B. Is it wise to have a tach installed? I don't have a clue when I'm at 3000 nor any other RPM. Don't know how far I can lug it down. __________________ "Captain, the German's are building a road on the east. They will have you surrounded! Lieutenant, we are paratroopers. We like being surrounded." Band of Brothers

Oct 20th, 2009, 07:33 AM	#18
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 21,062 My Mood:	Re: How many miles A tach is always a good thing if you can't judge the RPM's of the motor by ear. If you just listen to the motor and keep it in the range where you don't feel the harsh thumping of the motor in the bars, you will usually be safe. If in doubt downshift. __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Oct 20th, 2009, 10:41 AM	#19
abselite Start The Engine Ride: 2005 Fat Boy Join Date: Oct 8th, 2009 Location: Mount Vernon, WA Posts: 22 My Mood:	Re: How many miles Thank you. I think I will have a combo tach/speedo installed. __________________ "Captain, the German's are building a road on the east. They will have you surrounded! Lieutenant, we are paratroopers. We like being surrounded." Band of Brothers

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How many miles

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