Hi all, I have been told that my 1995 Dyna Superglide is due for a piston rings replacement at 60,000 kays. It has 62,000 on the clock and is running well. As this will involve spending at least $600. I thought I'd ask for opinions which would be greatly appreciated. I'm not really the mechanical type but have learnt heaps from this great forum. Cheers

Whoever told you that is your friend.
It is very good advice.
People get the idea that the engine does not need maintenance of that type, but it really does.
You could just run the engine until it is worn out, with a gradual drop in performance and oil usage along the way. But the running won't be as good, and it will likely cost more to repair.

But if you were to give the top end a freshen up before it is actually completely flogged, then you will quite likely reap the benefits on the next sixty being just as good as the first sixty.
You might even get a third run from it.

Think of your clutch cable. If it is correctly serviced, it will always be well lubed. You do not leave it until it is dry, and then lube, but rather refresh the lube before it dries, so that it is never dry.
Rings wear out. You don't leave them until the bike is chewing oil, you replace them before that, so that the bike never chews oil.


Any minute now someone will recommend a new engine.

I agree with DynaRider.
DO the maintainance BEFORE it gets out of hand.
As well as our superglide,2005 model, we also have 2 dragbikes that get freshend up every year regardless of whether they seem to need it or not.
Peace of mind from going this is far more prefferable to all the swearing & added costs that occur if you don't do it IMO.

If you are keeping the bike long term, it's probably good maintenance, however if you're planning to upgrade your bike within a year, don't bother. It's averaging about 4K a year at the current usage. I'm sure it'll last another year with regular oil changes.

Compression test ... forget the rest.

 Hey thanks for the replies, I'll let you know how it goes. I thought my alternator was dead after a low volt reading on the batt while the bike was running, took it to the guy who this morning rang to say all was fixed as it was just the plug from the regulator wire burnt out...point being he strikes me as honest whether he's right or wrong about rings...wasnt being pushy but he showed me some barrels that were badly marked at 70k Point taken too re compression test; good advice; cheers for now guys and thanks again

As a point of note...... a compression test is great for revealing actual failures, and totally useless in assessing average wear and tear.
You might want to bear that in mind.

Not many k's and they want you to replace your rings, I would have thought you get 100k plus out a set of rings at least. But if you don't change your oil and ride it like you stole it all the time maybe so. Those Harley engines don't rev hard at all, I hope mne goes for more than 60ks before it needs new rings.

the best thing is to do what you think is the right thing . 60k is really fuck all i think .it seems there is some good advice in here and some average avdice . it is your bike and your money !

Hilly, I guess it's new rings and labour which would include an inspection of whatever else was accessible once the barrels are off. I'd hope there was just ring wear and no need for a hone as thats what I thought rings working well would protect from but if so.... It seems to be a preventative thing. Btw I got the bike with around 35k on the clock and have changed oil with Mobil 1 every 450 - 500 kays. I try to look after it and would rather pay less now than a lot later if the move now re rings seems right.

 

If the rings are worn to the extent that they need replacing, then so too would the ring grooves on the pistons,,, and roundness of the cylinders.

You won't know how much wear has taken place untill you disassemble the top end and barrells and inspect them, measure the ring gaps once placed back into the cylinders and also measured the ring grooves on the pistons.

Can also then check and measure roundness of pistons and cylinders.

Remember, once the rings are removed the carbon in the grooves will be disloged and the matched seal will be lost.

Another thing to consider is, that if you install new (round) rings into a slightly oval cylinder, don't expect them to seal as well as the old ones that were worn to the exact shape of the cylinder !, I've seen excessive oil consumpion (burning oil) due to this.

If there is any wear there beyond tollerances then the least you'll be up for is a re-bore, pisons and rings.

Once you have the engine stripped down, inspected and measured you can then go ahead with plans on what is required.

Be prepared for a bit more than 600 bucks if you want everything to be tip top when it's re-assembled.

 

As far as the preventitive maintenace aspect of it goes,,,, yes, it is a good idea if you want to get a longer life out of the donk, 

I've done it several times to different engines and it's been beneficial,,,, but  always new pistons and rings, not just new rings on worn pistons.

And just a very very light cylinder hone.

(Honing doesn't fix ovality, it only changes the cylinder surface and if done very carefully can remove the ridge, if you're not using a ridge remover.)

Honed cylinders and new rings must be run in even more so than a new donk too. Make sure they're seated properly from the word go or you'll risk glazing and promote oil burning.

 

Dont forget your air cleaner

A dirty , damaged or poor quality air cleaner will shorten the ring and barrel life dramaticaly.

Dust is the biggest engine killer

I check and service my air cleaner inbetween services as well. And as required when riding through dust.

Oh Hilly, I meant 4,500 - 5,000 kays between oil changes.....not 4 - 5 hundred.....I think I need my own head changed or maybe a skull hone  
Again thanks to you and all for the advice, its really appreciated as is this forum generally. Cheers