Hydrolock Update

[Bigun]

I have been scraping together the coin to get my Valk fixed after the Hydrolock finally hit the dealerships estimate of total cost and dropped the bike off. After a couple of hrs I received horrible news. The back of the right side of the engine block was trashed to the point that it has to be replaced and the quote to fix her went up to $4,000. Looks like a call to Pinwall for a short block is in order and I now have a winter project. Just bought the bike in March put 5,000 miles on her and now this. Yeah The only differance in the Valk and the GW is in the carbs and heads correct? I mean post 98 1500 GW's I may be able to get a low mileage motor, a total from a local establishment if all I have to do is swap heads, triggerwheel  and put the carbs on her and throw it back together I may be in luck.

[John Schmidt]

You may not need an entire engine, that would be mighty unusual. Often the back cover(don't have access to a parts breakdown just now to show you) in addition to some internal parts would be needed, but not the entire engine block. And $4000 is ridiculous, this is one time I wish you lived nearby. Others that have experienced this dilema might chime in on this, but telling you the engine block is shot I feel is wrong on the part of the dealer.

[Jess Tolbirt]

for 4 grand you could buy another bike,,,

[FLAVALK]

It's not terribly unusual for the rear case to break during hydro-lock. Usually it's just the screw/bolt bosses that break but it's the same difference. Get a couple of estimates from independent shops. Unless parts have gone completely through the roof, repair, including the rear case, should be more like $1,200 - $1,500 depending on how bad they want to bend you over.  

[Bigun]

It's not terribly unusual for the rear case to break during hydro-lock. Usually it's just the screw/bolt bosses that break but it's the same difference. Get a couple of estimates from independent shops. Unless parts have gone completely through the roof, repair, including the rear case, should be more like $1,200 - $1,500 depending on how bad they want to bend you over.  

1200 was the initial estimate.

[BamaDrifter64]

Sorry...but in my opinion the dealer is raping you...without Vaseline...

Dave

[R J]

I see you are from Perry, where did you take the bike, Garvis in Des Moines?

If so call Storm Lake Honda and ask them about whether that back 1/2 needs replaced.     I bought my bike off of Garvis and for service, I wouldn't trust him across the street..............   When I 1st got it, I had some warranty work done, they screwed up 6 other things.    Storm Lake fixed everything under warranty for me...........   That was the last time MGM has ever been in a bike shop, except Cycle Clinic to install a few tires.    He was my car tire installer until someone sued him for something the owner did and won.

Storm Lake, I trust.......   He has some good tech's........

[Bigun]

I see you are from Perry, where did you take the bike, Garvis in Des Moines?

If so call Storm Lake Honda and ask them about whether that back 1/2 needs replaced.     I bought my bike off of Garvis and for service, I wouldn't trust him across the street..............   When I 1st got it, I had some warranty work done, they screwed up 6 other things.    Storm Lake fixed everything under warranty for me...........   That was the last time MGM has ever been in a bike shop, except Cycle Clinic to install a few tires.    He was my car tire installer until someone sued him for something the owner did and won.

Storm Lake, I trust.......   He has some good tech's........

I bought the bike at Nishna Valley Cycle they were the closest Dealership that had a Interstate, unfortunately they are also 70 miles away. Garvis was the closest Honda dealer, now I'm going to rent a trailer and head out to Nishna Valley, If they wont help me out It was apparently stored wrong last winter and they had it . Then I will get with storm lake. I'm leaning toward Just finding a short block and tackling the job myself.

[franco6]

I never understood why someone would take their bike or car to a dealer for repair or to anyone ,unless it was warranty work . save the money buy some tools  a shop manual and get started.
you ll be surprised how simple it all is .just need time 

[Grumpy]

Shame you are not in my area, I have a spare engine. No carbs, alt or starter, but otherwise a complete motor with 41,000 miles on it. I bought it a couple years ago for a spare from a bike that was totaled. Motor ran fine before it was pulled. I would sell it for $475, but shipping is outrageous. Fix it your self, dealers are a rip off, personally I have repaired 3 bikes that were hydro locked, max 2 days to drop the motor, repair and reinstall.  One note, important fix the problem that caused the hydrolock in the first place, would not want the same thing to happen again. As to the gold wing motor, heads are different (hydraulic lifters ) and the internals in the rear case are not the same. It would work, but would lower the value of the Valkyrie.

[Bigun]

I never understood why someone would take their bike or car to a dealer for repair or to anyone ,unless it was warranty work . save the money buy some tools  a shop manual and get started.
you ll be surprised how simple it all is .just need time  

Simple I live in an apartment because the X got my house and Garage in the divorce then lost it to the bank. If I still had my man cave I would do it myself. I no longer have access to a garage with power so I am at the mercy of repairmen. Thinking the landlord might have an issue with me repairing my bike in my living room.

[GOOSE]

bigun....if you take it to that dealer, and let them charge you 4-5k, you won't have to worry about putting a gold wing motor with hydraulic lifters in as a replacement..............that dealer is going to put a solid lifter in your rear......do it yourself.

[Bigun]

bigun....if you take it to that dealer, and let them charge you 4-5k, you won't have to worry about putting a gold wing motor with hydraulic lifters in as a replacement..............that dealer is going to put a solid lifter in your rear......do it yourself.

It wouldnt matter I cant afford to stick that kind of money into the bike at this time anyway. $1200-1500 yes it would hurt but I'd get it done $4,000 no way not unless it came back at 145+HP.

[dalai-lama]

Having just went through this on a bike I bought that had hydrolocked.  Total cost of parts and home made tools was about $500 including a new rear case.  I figure I had about 8 to 10 hours of labor including removing and re-installing the motor and I had never done this before.

the dalai

[John Schmidt]

Too bad I don't still live in my old home town Ft. Dodge. You could just shoot straight up 169 about 50 miles, we'd have it up and running before you had to punch in Monday morning.   

Hmm....Perry, Iowa. Have some VERY fond memories of a farm gal that lived NE of town. My old '48 Dodge could actually make that run in under an hour....going south. For some reason it always took longer headed back north, a couple times it even turned around after 20 miles or so and went back south....usually before I hit the turn at Ogden. That girl could flat drive a Farmall! 

[Bigun]

Too bad I don't still live in my old home town Ft. Dodge. You could just shoot straight up 169 about 50 miles, we'd have it up and running before you had to punch in Monday morning.   

Hmm....Perry, Iowa. Have some VERY fond memories of a farm gal that lived NE of town. My old '48 Dodge could actually make that run in under an hour....going south. For some reason it always took longer headed back north, a couple times it even turned around after 20 miles or so and went back south....usually before I hit the turn at Ogden. That girl could flat drive a Farmall! 

LOL We all have our farm girl stories. Actually I havent figured out how to change the Perry on my screen I was there when I signed up for this site but the Girlfriend booted me out when the bike went down. Now living in Ankeny

[judd]

I have been scraping together the coin to get my Valk fixed after the Hydrolock finally hit the dealerships estimate of total cost and dropped the bike off. After a couple of hrs I received horrible news. The back of the right side of the engine block was trashed to the point that it has to be replaced and the quote to fix her went up to $4,000. Looks like a call to Pinwall for a short block is in order and I now have a winter project. Just bought the bike in March put 5,000 miles on her and now this. Yeah The only differance in the Valk and the GW is in the carbs and heads correct? I mean post 98 1500 GW's I may be able to get a low mileage motor, a total from a local establishment if all I have to do is swap heads, triggerwheel  and put the carbs on her and throw it back together I may be in luck.

Man that's a tough one and as you have already stated you have nowhere to do it yourself, I think I'd  be tempted to part it out on that auction site and use the cash to buy another.  Going by some of the prices that parts are going for there,  I think these bikes may be worth more in pieces than they are as a whole.

[Hoser]

Check with the Iowa chapter.  Here is a link.  hoser
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iowavalkyrieriders/

[Bigun]

I have been scraping together the coin to get my Valk fixed after the Hydrolock finally hit the dealerships estimate of total cost and dropped the bike off. After a couple of hrs I received horrible news. The back of the right side of the engine block was trashed to the point that it has to be replaced and the quote to fix her went up to $4,000. Looks like a call to Pinwall for a short block is in order and I now have a winter project. Just bought the bike in March put 5,000 miles on her and now this. Yeah The only differance in the Valk and the GW is in the carbs and heads correct? I mean post 98 1500 GW's I may be able to get a low mileage motor, a total from a local establishment if all I have to do is swap heads, triggerwheel  and put the carbs on her and throw it back together I may be in luck.

Man that's a tough one and as you have already stated you have nowhere to do it yourself, I think I'd  be tempted to part it out on that auction site and use the cash to buy another.  Going by some of the prices that parts are going for there,  I think these bikes may be worth more in pieces than they are as a whole.

If the bike was paid off I would probably do just that but I've only had it since March, put 5,000 miles on it and my riding season is done. Going to call Pinwall tomorrow and see if they have a good short block, My heads are still good and I can transfer everything else off of my bike.