Been a while since I last reported, I'll try and sum up:
I got the cylinder heads back from the machine shop and installed them. Hooked everything back up and the bastard started right up. Why should I have an intake valve problem in 17k miles?
It didn't stick though, after 175 miles it began to balk again on restart. S&S asked me to, once again, hook up to the UBS port and send "THE DATA" to them. I waited around a week for no response then after ten days came an email, not from Tech support but from Marketing. It was a kiss off. After 16 months of frustration S&S marketing informed me that the fellow who had been helping me shouldn't have been and was fired, that S&S designed the motor to Morgan specs and if there was a problem I should "work with Morgan" about it.
This is an echo of Morgan's first advice to me, "take it to a Harley mechanic". S&S wants Morgan to handle it and Morgan expects Harley to handle it.
The marketing guy tried to ease things by including a "CONFIDENTIAL" document. This came from an exchange of communications between S&S and Morgan years ago. It included a listing of suggested measures to take as: stronger cranking battery. new filter etc. All but one of the suggestions were things I'd already done at my own or somebody else's inspiration. None had ever before been offered by S&S or Morgan. He meant well but it just angered me the more. Where was this list during the last 16 months of back and forth? It took you 16 months to mention all this? Aside from that the "Confidential Document" amply shows that starting and restarting are long standing issues with 3 wheelers. Who knew?...
The only item on the list I've not yet tried is switching out the Ford starter motor, which I guess I'll try. Any advise on how to and what to replace it with will be appreciated.
I am more and more of the opinion that S&S and Morgan deserved each other and that their very generous customers deserved better of them.
I closed my response to marketing by complimenting everyone on the marketing plan:
1. Pump the product as the newest, the best, the brightest.
2. Sell the product by the pallett load.
3. Deny all responsibility.
Congratulations, I said, The Sachler Family probably admires you.
MarkR, This experience must be very frustrating but is unfortunately common.
Function lets this product and the customer down....
