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jshurak · 07-01-2008, 04:03 AM

hi, i just bought a 98 sportster from a dealership. They serviced it right then and there so I could ride it home. When I got home a friend came over to check it out. We were going over the engine and we notice that (please forgive the layman's terms!) that there is an opening at the top of the v twin blocks(?). Is this normal? Thanks

oh, hey, my name is Jeff, this is my first post!

sachiwilson · 07-01-2008, 06:17 AM

Ok, let's get some definitions down here to see if we can figger out what you're talking about. On a Harley, from bottom to top you are looking at the crankcase, two cylinders, and cylinder heads. Ok? A "block" is a car term. So given that, where is this opening? Is it in the crankcase or somewhere else? On which side of the bike? How big is this hole and what does it look like?

pushrod · 07-01-2008, 06:18 AM

Jeff,

Since you rode the bike home, whatever it is you are referring to is probably normal. Especially if there is no oil coming out of the opening.

And yes, the engine is supposed to shake real bad/good.

Please don't put 'drag pipes' on it.

jshurak · 07-01-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachiwilson

Ok, let's get some definitions down here to see if we can figger out what you're talking about. On a Harley, from bottom to top you are looking at the crankcase, two cylinders, and cylinder heads. Ok? A "block" is a car term. So given that, where is this opening? Is it in the crankcase or somewhere else? On which side of the bike? How big is this hole and what does it look like?

Again I'm sorry for the layman's terms! I'm going to refer to them as 'openings' instead of 'holes' from here on out. 'Holes' is a bit misleading as the openings are part of the engine. If you were to take the tank off and look at the engine from a birds eye view:

Code:

-------- --------
|  _   | |  _   |
| | |  | | | |  |
| |_|  | | |_|  |
|      | |      |
-------- --------

The rectangular openings in the middle. They're supposed to be there, but I guess my question is, are they supposed to be open? I looked at pictures of Honda engines and these openings were plugged up. Other shots of Harley engines were open as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pushrod

Jeff,

Since you rode the bike home, whatever it is you are referring to is probably normal. Especially if there is no oil coming out of the opening.

And yes, the engine is supposed to shake real bad/good.

Please don't put 'drag pipes' on it.

There is not oil coming out. We'll go ahead and say that shake is 'good'!

I have no plans for drag pipes.

Again, thank you both for your replies.

Kenneth_Moore · 07-01-2008, 12:27 PM

They are supposed to be open. Have fun!

sarnali2 · 07-01-2008, 12:45 PM

It's normal, It's so you can get a little more cooling out of the hottest part of the engine. It's called a venturi effect, as you're moving the air flow across the openings helps to pull a little more heat away from the cylinder head............

er...I mean OH MY GOD NO !!!! DON'T RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IT WILL EXPLODE!!!!!!!!! immediatly crate up and ship the motorcycle to Sarnali c/o Sarnali's Top Secret Fortified Mountain Compound, Bonney Lake, Wa......

send the freight bill to Ken Moore, c/o some nasty shack in a fetid swamp, Florida USA...

I'd wear gloves if I were you.......

jshurak · 07-01-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

They are supposed to be open. Have fun!

Awesome! Thank you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarnali2

It's normal, It's so you can get a little more cooling out of the hottest part of the engine. It's called a venturi effect, as you're moving the air flow across the openings helps to pull a little more heat away from the cylinder head............

er...I mean OH MY GOD NO !!!! DON'T RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IT WILL EXPLODE!!!!!!!!! immediatly crate up and ship the motorcycle to Sarnali c/o Sarnali's Top Secret Fortified Mountain Compound, Bonney Lake, Wa......

send the freight bill to Ken Moore, c/o some nasty shack in a fetid swamp, Florida USA...

I'd wear gloves if I were you.......

Kenneth_Moore · 07-01-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarnali2

send the freight bill to Ken Moore, c/o some nasty shack in a fetid swamp, Florida USA...

I'd wear gloves if I were you.......

My swamp is dank, NOT fetid. Y'all come on by, the gators are hungry!

pushrod · 07-01-2008, 02:53 PM

Jeff,

If you haven't noticed, there be a feisty lot hereabouts...

And don't worry about asking questions. They say there is no such thing as a stupid question.

Well, on MO there is, and we revel in them!

Not that yours was anything other than a 'noob' question.

So, come back soon and tell us how much fun you are having on the Sporty!

07-01-2008, 04:03 AM	#1
jshurak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 10	engine question hi, i just bought a 98 sportster from a dealership. They serviced it right then and there so I could ride it home. When I got home a friend came over to check it out. We were going over the engine and we notice that (please forgive the layman's terms!) that there is an opening at the top of the v twin blocks(?). Is this normal? Thanks oh, hey, my name is Jeff, this is my first post! __________________ --Jeff

07-01-2008, 06:17 AM	#2
sachiwilson Women Riders Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,609	Ok, let's get some definitions down here to see if we can figger out what you're talking about. On a Harley, from bottom to top you are looking at the crankcase, two cylinders, and cylinder heads. Ok? A "block" is a car term. So given that, where is this opening? Is it in the crankcase or somewhere else? On which side of the bike? How big is this hole and what does it look like? __________________ Frappé LaRue Safety Queen Are you a Rounder? Sarnali: "what could be more useless than arguing with a deaf female lawyer????"

07-01-2008, 06:18 AM	#3
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,478	Jeff, Since you rode the bike home, whatever it is you are referring to is probably normal. Especially if there is no oil coming out of the opening. And yes, the engine is supposed to shake real bad/good. Please don't put 'drag pipes' on it. __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.

07-01-2008, 12:27 PM	#5
Kenneth_Moore Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VIsiting the GIft Shop in the Pit of DIspair Posts: 7,118	They are supposed to be open. Have fun! __________________ www.kennethmoore.org

07-01-2008, 12:45 PM	#6
sarnali2 Aging Cafe` Racer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sittin' down by my window, lookin' at the rain. Posts: 8,132	It's normal, It's so you can get a little more cooling out of the hottest part of the engine. It's called a venturi effect, as you're moving the air flow across the openings helps to pull a little more heat away from the cylinder head............ er...I mean OH MY GOD NO !!!! DON'T RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IT WILL EXPLODE!!!!!!!!! immediatly crate up and ship the motorcycle to Sarnali c/o Sarnali's Top Secret Fortified Mountain Compound, Bonney Lake, Wa...... send the freight bill to Ken Moore, c/o some nasty shack in a fetid swamp, Florida USA... I'd wear gloves if I were you....... __________________ "Carpe` Throttelum -Loud Suits Save Lives" "All the BMW riders in the room, I want you to leave. Now. Out. " Last edited by sarnali2 : 07-01-2008 at 12:47 PM.

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07-01-2008, 02:53 PM	#9
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,478	Jeff, If you haven't noticed, there be a feisty lot hereabouts... And don't worry about asking questions. They say there is no such thing as a stupid question. Well, on MO there is, and we revel in them! Not that yours was anything other than a 'noob' question. So, come back soon and tell us how much fun you are having on the Sporty! __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.