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Originally Posted by ArizonaJim The UCE uses a roller bearing at that location and the connecting rod is now made of steel.
I mention this because the new bearing and steel rod are much more durable and less likely to ever need repair or replacing. |
Jim, purely by anecdotal real life evidence (personal and biking circle), regardless of what should or should not be or happen on paper, this is sadly diamterically opposite of what realy happpens.
The Machismo LB500 (as the UCE 500) also has a needle roller bearing big end with forged con rod. And the LB500 big end (as does the UCE 500) grenades way more often and far earlier in the operational life than the humble floating bush-ed big ends of the Standard 500 CI engines.
It does not end there.
While rebuilding the big end of the CI Standard 500 is a relatively simple and inexpensive affair, with many very nice and durable alternatives available for the floating bush (which can either be bought or machined in any half decent tool shop - from a variety of meterials ranging from humble white metal to more exotic alloys), the big end of the LBs (and UCEs) is a different story altogether.
If the steel inner core of the big end of the con rod is scored or has gone out of circular (as usually happens and very often and very quickly once the bearing cage grenades), it is usually bad enough to not be salvageable by machining. Result : New con rod needed.
If by happy chance you can salvage it, the I.D. now becomes too large for the standard sized bearing. And since different bearings are not available, you go hunting for the correct oversized sleeve with the correct surface hardening. Result : You get it - finally - if you are lucky. Please note these are all after market parts. None of this is available from the company (their solution to rebuilding the crank is a modular one - i.e. buy a new crank assembly - maybe leave out the flywheels if you are lucky and have the right contacts).
Then you source the bearing (a feat in itself - and not something you can machine yourself) and then start rebuilding, machining, and balancing your crank.
The cost of the rebuild (assuming you are blessed and get all required parts - and on time) is easily many times that of the CI floating bush big end.
As is the off-the-road (OTR - a term coined by RE for their parts dispatch department, and which they seem to love) garage time for the two bikes.
My 2007 LB500 big end grenaded at around 35,000 kms. I was one of the lucky ones. Most go at as early as 7-15,000 kms. My 2002 Std 500's factory big end is still going strong. Both bikes were and are ridden equally hard and long. They say the roller bearing big end is more tolerant of abuse and can pull much higher rpm's. Well, not true. I pull similar rpm's on both my Bullets. And the LB big end grenaded.
That should say volumes.
Technology is supposed to make things better, and life easier.