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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 01:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Anybody know who can make these on custom order? So far the only place that I've found that will custom build them for you is Paeco, and they want $1500 per rod. I'm in no rush as this is just research for future reference, but I've seen sets for import cars go for $1100, so I would think I can find some place that's least slightly more reasonable. I would consider $800-$1000 per rod fair.
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Jramsey
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 03:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Why?

Besides Ti and needle bearings don't get along.

(Message edited by Jramsey on January 22, 2009)
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Ratbuell
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 07:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ti seems to be getting along with my knees, hip, and ankle pretty well ; )
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Court
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 08:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My bet is that "custom made Titanium rods" and "fair price" are mutually exclusive. $1,500 sounds cheap when contrasted to the things like Ti axles and so forth.

Have you got them designed?
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Natexlh1000
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 08:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I read that Titanium is stretchy too. You can't just copy the steel part.
That huge amount of money you were quotes is probably fair if they applied this factor in.
If I were trying to lighten up an engine, I would start with the valves
and pushrods first.
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Spiderman
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 09:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

WHY?

Because there is more of a market for the import kids. Therefore the sell more and are able to spread out the investment monies, where as say Buell/H-D rods may be a one time shot OR a very limited run therefore the R&D, investment, tooling are spread over a far shorter distance causing the price jump...

(think of it like this a generic Yamaha Joe Rocket jacket would be 300 bucks but a custom one off Buell Joe Rocket jacket would be 1500 bucks)
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Jramsey
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 09:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My "why" was meant why put a set of of $2,500 rods in a $2,500 engine.

Other than bragging rights, because you can't see them and they don't last.
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Buellistic
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 10:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Bottom Line is this BICYCLE(tractor) ENGINE was never meant to turn the required PRPM's
get the MAX. HP'er out of it(them), therefore no rods will stay in them ...

Want the bottom end to last, make your RED LINE 6500 RPM ...

(Message edited by buellistic on January 22, 2009)

(Message edited by buellistic on January 22, 2009)
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Spiderman
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 10:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My "why" was meant why put a set of of $2,500 rods in a $2,500 engine.



My response was directed at his question of price on import vs custom made not your initial response of bearings...
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 11:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

This would be no ordinary tractor engine. I've already sources titanium valves, spring retainers, pushrods, and wrist pins at fair prices. $1500 per rod I suppose could be fair but I'm curious if there are any quality manufacturers that can do it cheaper, but with the same level of workmanship. The import sets I was talking about were $1100 for a set of 4, which breaks down to $275/ea. Custom ordered or not, $1500 is a big jump from that.
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Oldog
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 11:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Phelan

What in the name of hob are you getting ready to build?

a racing engine?
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Spiderman
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 12:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Rule number one when working with internal engine parts, do not outsource to the lowest builder.
Prime example, Detroit's roads and freeways...
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Sleez
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 01:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

i have a contact, i need to find out if his builder can make them. i will find out in a few days.
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 01:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Spidey, point taken; I can wait LOL. I don't plan on starting it til the summer anyway.

Jim, a very powerful but durable "sport-touring" Delphi EFI $10,000 tractor motor : D. 1250 cc on S&S cases (regular, not SA), with a 6 speed. The Delphi EFI conversion eliminates the option of using S&S crank or Carillo rods.
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Texastechx1
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 02:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Phelan you are absolutly NUTS! LOL

keep us posted on the build when you start
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Sleez
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 03:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

can someone give me the basic dimensions of the rods?

thanks
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Court
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 03:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

>>>>a very powerful but durable "sport-touring" Delphi EFI $10,000 tractor motor


Kinda what I was working toward on my S2. The build critera were reliablity and touring. . . my instructions "I could care less about horsepower, it was 52RWHP when I sent it to them, but I want it PERFECT . . i.e. no "+/- .0001", but nuts on."

It is and it's 111RWHP.

When Barney was built every single piece of the engine, save the cases, was replaced.
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Oldog
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 03:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Dude with all that 'tanium and aluminum you are going to have to safety wire a rock to the thing to keep it from floating away
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 04:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Lee, I don't know the dimensions, but they will be stock dimensions. I believe the base will be different since their design is based off an '04-up Sporty crank. That's the most accurate way to get the teeth right for the crank positioning sensor to read, which also needs to be fitted in the cases. Either Dark Horse Motor or Denver Crank will lighten, assemble, and balance the crank (haven't decided who), as well as perform the modifications necessary to install it into the cases.
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 05:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Court, if your bike was at Aaron's in '06, then I've seen the beaut in person : ) .
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Slc4me
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 08:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

why not run aluminum?
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Jramsey
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 08:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"why not run aluminum?"

Aluminum/Titanium rods are fine in a babbitt (insert type) bearing motor.

Needle bearings (small diameter straight rollers that have no inner or outer race) with a Rockwell hardness of 62+ on the C scale would eat the Al/Ti rods before the oil temp got high enough to leave the driveway.
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 09:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Because titanium in the same strength is a lot lighter, which means mo' powa! Court I forgot to mention that NRHS will do the final assembly of the motor and the headwork. I'm also looking into adapting the controls and throttlebody from an '08-up Ultra so that I can utilize the Delphi's ability to run Cruise control and fly-by-wire (cableless throttle).
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 09:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Way to throw a wrench in my spokes Ramsey! LOL just kiddin'. I don't remember which it was exactly (it's written here on the forum somewhere, I just have to find it) but the person who told me how to modify the late crank to fit said something about modifying either the case or the crank (again, I can't remember which) to fit timken bearings. Could this have been to replace the needle bearings? Bear with me, I'm not knowledgable about bearings.
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Court
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 10:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

>>>Court, if your bike was at Aaron's in '06, then I've seen the beaut in person

You'd probably recognize it if you saw it . . . there aren't that many (like 1) green S2's running around.

: )
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 11:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That was it then, though FMJ's new S2 is Green as well. Probably not Amazon Green, but maybe ninja turtle green : p.
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Phelan
Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 11:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If it's not the needle bearings that I will be replacing, why not install a chromoly ring in the center of the rods to keep the titanium from being worn by the bearings?
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Jramsey
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009 - 12:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Not trying to throw a wrench in your spokes, but at one time'85-'97 as the largest manufacturer of Dirt Modifieds/Late Models in the U.S. I've seen literally tons of money spent for naught.

I spent more than my fair share on my daughters JR. Dragster '95- '99 that she "we" finally got into the low 8's at 70+ mph in the 1/8 and we were slugs.

But she was happy as it was a father/daughter project building/racing the car and she has the utmost appreciation now for anyone who races bikes or cars or works in the trade.

The only thing is now her oldest son who turns 8 in April(the NHRA's minimum age in the restricted 11.90 class)has the bug and his moms Dragster is in shrink wrap in the barn loft.

Sorry for the Hijack but IMO use your Buell for its intended purpose which is having the most fun you can while still wearing your clothes.
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Tom_b
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009 - 02:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

agree with jramsey. use it abuse it. ride it for what it is.
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Phelan
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009 - 03:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I can understand where you're coming from, and I do ride it use it and abuse it for what it is... to me. I probably ride more than half the people on this board (~15,000 mi/yr), and I love my S2 (Priscilla), but I am one who looks at every vehicle like a blank canvas. I am one who looks at other people's modded vehicles and looks for ways to make it match better. I usually keep the thoughts to myself to stay our of a fist fight or argument but I obsess on the vehicle until I move onto the next. I sit staring at my bike for hours sometimes just admiring the bodywork and looking for little details that I could do to make the bike better at every angle. I am a perfectionist and a visionist when it comes to my bike. I think of what it could be and then I strive to make it that.
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Jstfrfun
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009 - 07:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A little OCD there Ross?
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Phelan
Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009 - 08:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Aboutas little as a big block in a pinto ; ) .
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