Hitchcocks Forum

On a recent trip to the far north of Scotland my 2008 EFI Electra started to grumble. When I accelerated sound OK and decelerated OK it just made the noise when cruising.

A couple of hundred miles from home it started to miss, I stopped and the noise had got much worst and was now grinding a little. I tried to limp to Fort Bill but it gave up the ghost. It was suggested at the time it sound like the top end.

I have since had a look at under the rocker covers and that seems fine. I removed the sump plug to drain the oil and it looks like Dennis the Menaces hair! Covered it filings.

Never stripped a bike down before so I'm looking for some ideas and tips from some of your fine enthusiasts on what you think it may be.

Sorry to read of your problems, doesn"t sound too good i'm afraid.

When it gave up the ghost did it misfire and stop or did it seize up? are the filings magnetic steel or non magnetic alloy...

It does sound a bit like a main bearing run without oil and/or just breaking up.. sorry.

Something similar happened on my Lightning a couple of years ago. The timing side main bearing had broken up. There were magnetic and non magnetic filings in the oil. The non magnetic filings were from the loose rollers munching away at the crankcase. If your problem is the same, it's engine stripdown time.

Hi guys-----------TOM TUC, alas from what you've told us so far it def.seems that something has broken up inside and been circulated with the oil..IF, repeat IF that proves to be the case then prepare yourself for some MAJOR SURGERY !!! which normally translates into lots of this stuff>>>>>>>>>>>> ££££££££££...Is this what you meant by "Dennis the Menaces hair ?}------ ---------------------------------------------- must say that's a new one on me but it does seem to fit the bill !!------------- Again, going only by what you've said so far ( especially your zero experience with engine dismantling etc) you might want to consider looking for a replacement engine ????----------Worst case scenario is that EVERY BEARING SURFACE within the engine might have been damaged, or at least effected by the circulating "grinding paste"eg}---rockers,piston/cylinder, oil pumps, which will mean a FULL strip and EVERY COMPONENT washed, air-blast dried, measured and assesed for future service.................It WON'T take just 5 mins, that's for sure !! ( Does the Electra EFI have a common gearbox ??? If yes then factor that in as well)..... As GWILLY quite rightly said----------"Sorry"......I hope it's not as bad as all that, but it COULD be, so just be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best---- OK ??.... Best of luck --- Alan R

Gwilly,Barry and Alan, thanks for your posts so far. Can't say they thrill me but I appreciate your thoughts and input. Tomorrow I will post a photo of the plug and you'll see what I mean. How do I tell the difference between magnetic steel or non magnetic alloy? The bike did not seize it just mis-fired and then stopped moving forward. Still makes me sad when I think of it.
The oil thing does have merit though as I was a bit low about 400-500 miles before and I got it topped up in Wick.
I don't mind having a go at stripping it down as I am long enough in the tooth to cope, it's just annoying that it happened at the start and not the end of summer!!

Thanks again,

hi tom tuc comiserations i,ve recently rebuilt a 58 plate efi with chocolate bigend syndrome i think you,ll find out what i mean ,i was not particularly impressed with the efi lump much prefering the less complicated semi unit to the unit style engine its still fairly simple but if youve never stripped a bike down good luck beware of cheap & nasty electrical connectors when removing your lump as they are to put it mild sh..abby atb paul

Hi Paul, just visually the UCE's certainly don't look as robust as the old cast engines. Be interesting to see how they stand up to rebuilding, they look more like a throw away thing

Hi guys-------------TOM TUC, have a look at this}--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyIgEmRfd8E ------------------------------------ ps, brush-up on your Spanish !!!

Thanks Alan R, looks like it's mas que nada from here on in. Good to see what the UCE looks like once it's split open. My Spanish is scetchy at best but I think he said his wife makes a mean paella!

Hi Tom do not want to be negative but on my 350 bullet when it started making strange noises and I drained the oil and found metal bits in the oil , ended up as a major strip down and found that the main bearings had started turning in the engine casing , resulting in virtually replacing the engine and all its components, I hope your problem is not as severe but I think you would be wise to strip the engine and check the working parts as you go .