"Top end rebuild"

[SteveH]

Hello all, I'm brand new to your forum & here's my first post. I have an '04 1200C. I often ride wit a guy that has an '05 1200C, although his has significantly more miles on it (near 30,000). Recently, he has been having trouble starting it, it stalls, blowing some smoke - blueish white & black. Ultimately, he was told by different mechanics (dealerships) that he needs the "top end rebuilt". What exactly does this mean? Is this common for roughly 30k? Thanks, Steve

[Bigs]

Valve seals could be shot. In '05 they had some valve seals that were not very good. In my '05 1200C I had a bad valve seal to start off with. It would carbon up the plug pretty bad. Had them replaced with the newer type valve seals and since then no problems.
   Bigs

[SteveH]

I figure it must be something like that. There aren't many components to a V-twin, I'd just like to know what typically goes wrong. It will give me an idea of what I need to do when mine acts up.

[mayor]

yea, I'm with Bigs on this one.  I really doubt the rings are shot with all the more miles that's on it.  I would be kinda curious of what the mechanics were referring too.  30k on an EVO engine isn't anything like 30k on a ironhead.   

[SteveH]

I'd like to know what the mechanics were referring to, too. I went with my friend, who knows where to put the gas and nothing more. He asked me to go along, to try & filter out the ABSOLUTE BS. I was able to speak with the mechanics in person, and when I asked the mechanic what a "top end rebuild" entails, he no longer wanted to talk. Same thing from a total of 3 mechanics at 2 dealerships. I actually got the impression that when they realized that I had a basic understanding of how the internal combustion engine works, they no longer wanted to talk. It was if they had taken a vow of silence. One guy's best explanation was "It's way too complicated, best left to a professional. Stick to oil changes if you really want to work on it". I'm not sure if he was deliberately trying to insult me, but I replied "Way too complicated? it's like a large lawnmower engine". Then he really scared me when he said "Sir, out V-twins have nothing in common with lawnmower engines. They both burn gas, and that's about it". Also, my friend was quoted at just under $2,300.00 from either dealership. To whom it mat concern, I know there are many talented HD mechanics. However, I would not permit one to open my engine for anything all.