This past August, a few weeks after Sturgis, we got a call from our friend, Norm, on his way home from a long, winding trip to and from Sturgis. After covering several thousand miles, several breaks-downs, mishaps, and the typical delays one might expect on a three-week trip, Norm called to check in and mentioned he’d heard a weird noise coming from his primary and was going to take it easy and limp it back to our garage where there were the proper tools to check it out. A little while later he pulled up in the driveway and right away we could tell that the noise wasn’t coming from the primary, it was coming from the lower cam chest area. Norm mentioned that as he rode, the noise increased and he too noticed that it wasn’t coming from the primary.

Norm’s bike is an ‘02 Fat Boy (carbureted) and had just crested the 60,000 mile mark. As we rolled the bike up on the lift we asked him when was the last time he had checked the cam chain tensioner shoes. Norm had this look of deep thought, and replied, “Actually never.” Now to his credit, Norm does most of the upkeep and maintenance on his bike and for 60,000 miles he hasn’t had any major problems. The bike fires right up and just goes every time he gets on it. Many people out there are the exact same way with their bikes. It’s kinda like the dentist. We all know we should go in for regular checkups once every six months, but we usually wait until there’s pain or something unexpected happens like getting your front teeth knocked out in a bar fight, before we pay a visit to Dr. Scrivello. But as they say “preventative maintenance, is the best maintenance.”

inline_mediumwraptextrightHere’s some of the major S&S components Norman ordered to freshen up the heart of his ‘02 Fat Boy. 97ci Big Bore kit ($725): cylinders, pistons, (and not shown rings, and head gaskets). Norman’s bike is carbureted so he picked up an S&S Super E Carb kit ($527.80): carb body, intake manifold, backing plate, hi-flow filter, and the iconic tear drop air cleaner cover. Quickie Push Rods ($196.60). High Performance Hydraulic Tappet Set ($248.35). Push Rod Covers ($127.80). 583 Gear Drive Easy Start Gear Drive Cam Kit ($795). Shotgun Slash-Cut Slip on Performance Mufflers ($403.60).26441870/tech/1003_hbkp_ss_97ci_big_bore_kit_part_11003_hbkp_01_z+ss_97ci_big_bore_kit_part_1+.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: S&S 97ci Big Bore Kit Part 1- Hot Bike Magazine