88 to 95 upgrade

[IRONMAN]

I'm thinking of purchasing this upgrade kit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TC88-...-/360091343029

Just wondering if anyone has, or knows someone who has bought one. I'm considering it as it's not a ton of $$$. Just wondering what results I can expect and if it's worth doing just this and not cams, tensioners, etc.
Oh, I ride a 2004 Roadking Custom.

Thoughts?

[knuckleheader-]

Bigger is better, do it w/ tensioner upgrade

[TalonChief]

Hmmm, Taiwan Ted cylinders and SE pistons. I would be a bit concerned about the final hone on those cylinders matching the pistons.

Edit--looked it up in the VT catalog and is says the pistons are fitted. Debrix sells that kit (VT 11-2619) for $419.

You could probably come out cheaper boring a set of used jugs and buying SE pistons outright if you play it right.

Upon further reading, the $419 price is for molly-coated pistons. There is a non-coated 9.3:1 set that sells for $335, VT 11-1515.

[PeaceKeeper]

Go slow, do your research. Talk with JD or some other very knowledgable folks on this board. If your only doing a 95 you dont need cylinders, only pistons and a fited bore and hone. I would be careful and skeptical of something that cheap on ebay. If you are going to open it up, do it right and get advice from those who have done it.

[Xkvator]

i have a set of black cylinders matched to SE flat tops...pa glazier had them bored for me, with his torque plates...

dont need them, since i got rid of the '06...and i dontthink i have that much invested...

I'm in Austintown, Ohio during the week...except i'm on vac. & Holidays the next couple weeks till after New Years...

PM me if interested...

[MegaGlide]

I love this place.

[TalonChief]

Ironman, if you're not interested in Xkvator's offer, I most definitely am..... My rear piston is slapping around like bulldog with it's head stuck out the truck window. No good machine shops in the area, so a ready-made solution appeals to me.

[Ancient Iron]

"My rear piston is slapping around like bulldog with it's head stuck out the truck window"

I like that analogy.

[IRONMAN]

Thanks everyone. I really want to make a good decision on this. TalonChief and Excavator, go ahead and work something out. Sounds like TC has an immediate need. I won't be starting in on mine until mid January.

Peace!

[jasilva]

Don't buy one of those cheap kits from fleabay. You can pick up SE cylinders, cast flat top pistons, cams and gaskets from Lakeshore HD(Jennie is probably even cheaper) for around $500-600, throw in the cam plate upgrade and you can still get it done for less than 1k. I've built three 95" bikes in the last two years that produce 100/100 with 2-1 pipes and stock 06 heads for $1100 each in parts.these were a little over the 1k price because they had Andrews cams and were converted to the later style hydraulic tensioner set up. People talk up using seasoned cylinders but unless you have a good machinist handy and are looking to squeeze that last hp or two it's really not worth the time and effort. Hundreds of thousands of HD engines on the road that started life with unseasoned cylinders and they run fine. Plus the SE big bore cyls. use a plateau hone that breaks in nicely. As far as pistons, cast is the way to go unless you want to do extended warm ups or have a real hi compression engine or plan to spin it over 6500 rpm.

[Sonic]

Cant remember Make but I have a 95 build 9:1.3 compression. Weisco Flat tops....400 for the set. Also an Andrews 26g cam. Happy with that set up.

[y2kflhr]

I sent my jugs to zippers for the bore and piston fit on my king

[pa-glazier]

If you want to use your seasoned cylinders I can have them bored for less that $100. A local machine shop uses my torque plates and bores the cylinders to fit your pistons. They finish things up with a nice plateau hone.

[DAK47]

I almost think the 25284-08 is a mandatory upgrade on the spring loaded cam chain tensioners, plus the kits with the new style oil pump have a suprisingly good price point! Maybe the Mothership is feeling a little guilt....
Check out my tensioner shoe from the spring loaded setup, thats 30K...

Cheers,
Dirk

[Bone Stockman]

I would recommend the Andrews tensioner upgrade over the Harley one.