Thursday 31 December 2015

This is the continuation of one of James Russell's articles that contains useful information.

Due to his opinion differing from mine in many ways, I have edited some things to suit my way of thinking.
All the information contained in this article does not just pertain to Harley Davidson Motorcycles, it can be presumed that it applies to all motorcycles, where not specifically implied.

I have been injecting James Russell's name into some places to show that was his opinion, not mine. Now if you read this it will be unchanged. Anything that is to credited to me will be in orange text, while the original text will be in blue.

“A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”

Part Eight.....

97. Question:
What socket is used to remove a bolt with many serrated sides. I have them on my brake calipers and the cylinder heads.

Answer:
A 12-point socket is used on these star-like shaped bolts.

98. Question:
My bike wobbles. What is causing it?

Answer:
If the front fork oscillates at high speed, the fork bearing is too tight or the rear swingarm bearings worn or a motor mount is broken. If the fork oscillates when slowing down the fork bearing is too loose or tire tread is cupped and worn out. Even shock mounts could be loose, rubber shock mount bushing has deteriated or the shocks have failed and need replacement. If the fork oscillates at low speed start looking for loose wheel spokes, worn wheel bearings, low air pressure in tires. Touring models have had wobble problems in the past where the engine needs additional support to the frame and aftermarket firms supply such fixes.

99. Question:
I soaked my new hydraulic valve lifters and adjusted them properly, but when the bike starts the lifters clatter loudly. What did I do wrong?

Answer:
Nothing. It can take up to a half-hour for the lifters to calm down and pump full of oil. Often, a sharp crack of the throttle will purge out any trapped air in the lifters. If the noise still will not go away? You may need to adjust them again if you have adjustable push rods. It is possible you may have a brand new defective lifter if the noise just refuses to quit or the lifter is too small for the bore and the lifters are rattling in the engine case. It is also possible the roller needle bearings have failed.

100. Question:
What sealant should I use on my crankcases?

Answer:
To assemble the crankshaft into the crank cases use ThreeBond 1194 case sealant.

101. Question:
My engine was increased in power, but it is hard starting even with compression releases. What is wrong?

Answer:
Many riders totally forget to upgrade the battery and battery cable after increasing cubic inches or compression. What you need is a new fine-strand battery cables. Terry Components makes them. Get a high-output battery too. If you still have trouble then get a stronger aftermarket starter motor/solenoid assembly.

102. Question:
My Harley has a oil tank. When I check the oil in the morning when engine is cold the oil is low. Where does the oil go?

Answer:
It is normal for the oil level to be below the center line of the oil tank when the engine is cold. This is because the hot oil has cooled and contracted. If you see the oil too low in the oil tank (aka oil bag) the oil level could have been low even when hot or the check valve in the oil p ump is failing letting the oil drain down into the crankcase. This is an easy fix and will not be expensive to repair.

103. Question: I installed new brake pads but they did not last long. What went wrong?

Answer: The brake pads may be racing pads? If so, they won't last for street use. Use a H-H sintered metal brake pad is okay and will last a long time. Carbon fiber (organic) brake pads also last a long time, but they dirty the rims. Another reason brake pads wear out quickly is because the brake caliper is dirty and can not shed heat. If you look at the back side of the brake calipers make sure that side too is clean as they are often coated in brake pad soot which is a heat insulator and will overheat the brake pads. Another cause of low pad life is buying inferior brand pads. If you do not lubricate the pad pins in the caliper the pads will freeze in place and rub too much when no brake lever/pedal pressure is applied. You could also need to bleed your brakes as air in the system will also keep the pads locked on the disk rotor wearing out both the pad and rotor prematurely. A heavily scored rotor will also wear down new pads quicker than normal. Just buy a new rotor.

104. Question:
My Harley has a oil tank. When I check the oil in the morning when engine is cold the oil is low. Where does the oil go?

Answer:
It is normal for the oil level to be below the center line of the oil tank when the engine is cold. This is because the hot oil has cooled and contracted. If you see the oil too low in the oil tank (aka oil bag) the oil level could have been low even when hot or the check valve in the oil pump is failing, letting the oil drain down into the crankcase. This is an easy fix and will not be expensive to repair.

105. Question:
I installed new brake pads but they did not last long. What went wrong?

Answer:
The brake pads may be racing pads? If so, they won't last for street use. Use a H-H sintered metal brake pad is okay and will last a long time. Carbon fiber (organic) brake pads also last a long time, but they dirty the rims. Another reason brake pads wear out quickly is because the brake caliper is dirty and can not shed heat. If you look at the back side of the brake calipers make sure that side too is clean as they are often coated in brake pad soot which is a heat insulator and will overheat the brake pads. Another cause of low pad life is buying inferior brand pads. If you do not lubricate the pad pins in the caliper the pads will freeze in place and rub too much when no brake lever/pedal pressure is applied. You could also need to bleed your brakes as air in the system will also keep the pads locked on the disk rotor wearing out both the pad and rotor prematurely. A heavily scored rotor will also wear down new pads quicker than normal. Just buy a new rotor.

106. Question:
I have battery problems. Sometimes it charges and other times it does not. What causes this?

Answer:
The problem could just be the cooling fins on the rectifier voltage regulator is dirty. Clean the fins so the unit can shed heat properly. Pull the electrical connector and clean the contacts. Look for contacts that are not touching due to a pulled-back connector. Check the ground strap on the battery's negative terminal on the battery and the frame ground. Clean the connections with light sandpaper. It is possible you have an alternator problem, but load test your battery first as that is likely the cause of trouble. Any dealer can load test a battery. Check the alternator leads as you did with the voltage regulator. If you can smell any burned wires that will lead you to the culprit. A service manual will be your best friend, so consult with it.

107. Question:
Where should I install the oil filter magnet on the oil filter?

Answer:
Anywhere is fine. Does not matter if it is on the side of the oil filter or on the end cap. You can buy any magnet at Lowes hardware store. You do not need a super powerful magnet sold at dealerships. The particles being captured are "dust" not chips of ferrous metal. The magnet will not capture non-ferrous dust particles, but thankfully these metals are soft and not damaging to an engine.

Well that covers this edition of Advice. Hope you are finding some of it helpful.

11 Things You May Not Know About Hells Angels Legend Sonny Barger!

1. Sonny’s actual birth name is Ralph Hubert Barger.

2. In 1955, Barger dropped out of high school and enlisted in the army. He was dishonorably discharged when superiors realized he was only 16.
3. Barger became a founding member of the Oakland, California chapter of the Hells Angels on April 1st of 1957. He was 18 years old.

4. Barger was one of several Hells Angels who were reportedly paid “$500 worth of beer” to provide security at a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California (1969) that resulted in at least four fatalities and a number of injuries.
According to Barger, the Hells Angels were never officially hired to police the venue. 5. During the early seventies, it was revealed that the Hells Angels had been buying up all the illegal firearms around Oakland, with Barger personally turning those firearms over to police in an effort to keep them out of the hands of fringe groups like the Black Panthers and the Weather Underground.

6. Barger spent four and a half years in Folsom State Prison as a result of a 1972 conviction for narcotics possession.

7. Barger spent a year in prison after being convicted on Federal racketeering charges in 1979.

8. Barger’s larynx was removed in 1983 (the result of throat cancer), which is why he breathes through a medical blowhole in his throat.

9. In addition to appearing in several films – as well as the Sons of Anarchy television show – Barger is the author of five books.
10. Barger spent nearly four years in prison (1988-1992) for conspiring to blow up an Outlaws clubhouse in Louisville, KY.

11. Barger is not a fan of Harley-Davidsons. He rides them in accordance with the Hells Angels image, but has claimed he prefers motorcycles that are built by foreign companies like Honda and BMW.

That's all for now

Hang in there.....
J D Redneck.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE ADVICE - Part Seven.....

91. Question:

What is your opinion of installing an upgraded Screaming Eagle compensator?

Answer:

I would first get rid of the automatic primary chain tensioner and revert back to the old manual adjustment system because the auto unit keeps tightening the primary chain and that added stress will wear and destroy the compensator and crankshaft and clutch/transmission case bearings along with the chain and chain gear teeth. If you have a 110c.i. engine or larger you should upgrade the compensator (stock 110+ Harley-Davidson engines already have the upgrade). People are running into trouble with installing SE compensators failing which I am led to believe it is the auto chain tensioner that is the real culprit causing these failures. These problems did not occur until the new auto chain tension system was installed. Do the math.

Did you know?

Most mechanics complain riders still do not maintain their bikes and many repairs would be unnecessary if only riders performed basic maintenance.

Like what?

Lube cables so they do not fray and break.

Lube drive chain.

Change oil.

Check tire pressure.

Replace brake pads before they begin to "squeal" to stop expensive rotor damage.

Check oil levels and look for oil leaks.

Clean the air filter.

Keep drive belt or chain at proper tension.

Amazingly, expensive repairs occur due to neglecting these simple items.

92. Question:

How much pinion shaft run out is permitted to install gears on my TC engine?

I am presuming that he is talking about the gear driven Oil pump upgrade for the TC engines.

Answer:

No more than .003" is the rule. Who you buy the gears from will tell you the precise figure for their gears. You will need to have your crankshaft straightened and balanced if you exceed this run out. You could install the HD hydraulic system, but no cure is going to fix this nagging problem no matter what you do. You could just keep the stock system and just check the condition of the shoes each 20,000 miles. If you learn to do it yourself all the better.

93. Question:

Can I powder coat cylinders, cases and heads on an engine?

Answer:

No. Keep it on the exhaust pipes and the frame. The Horse Magazine Issue #128 March/April, page 41, did a heat test and what did they find? Painted temperature kept the parts at 169F degrees. Powder coat was an astronomical 430F degrees! That's hot enough to cook the oil in the engine to Jello.

94. Question:

I bought a new battery from a dealer and it failed in two months. The charging system on my bike is fine and it is secure. What is going on?

Answer:

Check the shelf life of the battery. I bet an old, old, old, battery was sold to you. Also, check the coded dates on motorcycle tires. Many shops have outdated tires and the rubber is old and the tire wears out much too fast. Dealers and small shops too like to buy deep-discounted inventory from other dealers going out of business and much of the inventory is "junk" and they pass it on to the unsuspecting. Nice guys, huh?

95. Question:

I need to know. Is safe to use aftermarket oil filters?

Answer:

My advice is to always stay with the factory oil filter in or out of warranty, it does not matter. All it takes is one mistake or filter defect to totally ruin your engine. Do aftermarket motorcycle specific oil filters ruin engines? You bet they do! A lot of riders found out the hard way. Never use a car, truck or other brand of motorcycle oil filter on your engine. The factory designed the filter to flow the correct amount of oil and maintain proper oil pressure at all times. You change the filter to aftermarket and these parameters can change to your detriment. All for what? To save a few dollars? And, good luck trying to get those aftermarket filter companies to pay for your engine repair... they won't. Even though many claim they will pay to rebuild your engine they will fight you tooth and nail and even if you win your court case it will be eight years before you get a dime. So, why not just support your bike manufacturer who made your bike? Why should we enrich other companies that do not support you and only steal profits from the people who make our motorcycles? I say, be safe and support your Harley-Davidson dealer/mfg. The wrong oil filter may not blow the motor right away, but if oil pressure and flow is not correct all-of-the-time you are damaging the engine and you will not even know it, until one day, it just throws a bearing or a rod through your crankcase, seize valves in the guides to crash a hole in a piston, etc. Is it worth it? No way. I always stay with the factory oil filter.

In my opinion, I find that Amsoil, as well as K&N filters work very good. Be careful of what you use as the newer bikes utilize a tighter micron count than the old ones. If you use a tight micron count on an old bike which does not have the oil pressure, then you will have an oil flow problem.

96. Question:

One shop said I need to change oil every 2,500 miles and other shop says 5,000 miles.

Who is right?

Answer:

As you can see, one shop changing the oil will earn twice your business as the other would costing you a reduction in wallet thickness. The owner manual is a good starting point. However, checking the oil visually is a better indicator. If you can still see through the oil on the dip stick you are okay. Once the oil becomes so black you can no longer see the dip stick itself, it is time to change the oil. Some bikes do need to change the oil more often due to combustion gas blow-by past the piston rings which contaminates the oil turning it black and acidic. I use the perpetual oil change method so the oil never gets dirty and only need be changed each 5,000 miles.

This is a matter of choice. Some riders like to change the oil at a specific time regardless of need, while others do it when they believe it is necessary.

It also depends on riding habits and environment. If you are hard on your engine with jack-rabbit starts and high revs through the gears, then you will need to change oil more often, also city riders should change more often then highway riders. Some riders who pamper their rides and only ride hiway can get up to 10,000 km to an oil change.

Well I think that will cover Part Seven.....

Still lots to go..

Are Harley Davidson motorcycles made in the USA?

Harley-Davidson has four factories in the United States, none of which are in Milwaukee...

York, PA: Manufactures Touring, Softail, and CVO models

Tomahawk, WI: Manufactures sidecars, saddlebags, windshields, and other parts

Kansas City, MO: Manufactures Sportster, V-Rod, and Dyna models

Menomonee Falls, WI: Manufactures motors and transmissions

Manaus, Brazil: The factory there opened in 1998 and continues to produce Harley models for the Brazilian market.
Bawal, India, plant, the complete knock-down (CKD) facility that has been assembling bikes since 2011.

Harley Parts:

h-d filters are made by Purolator

the new forged wheels come from Alcoa.

The new fuel injection is a made by Delphi which is GM (Delco was it's old name)

Lower cases and cylinders are cast by Mercury Marine Illinois)

electronics (Module) are now made by Delphi,

forks and shocks are from Showa USA! http://www.amshowa.com/

Starter motor - manufactured in Marryville TN

Brakes - Vadlex - Ohio

bearings, INA

Dunlop tires are made in the USA

Harley Davidson, Inc. employs some 8,000 people at Corporate headquarters are in Milwaukee, Wis.

Menominee Falls - builds big twin engines and transmissions

Wauwatosa - manufactures Sportster and Buell engine and transmissions

Tomahawk - a plastic-forming and painting facility for saddlebags, fairings,Tour Packs, sidecars

and windshields.

Franklin - parts and accessories distribution center.

Willie G. Davidson Product Development Center, Milwaukee - Engineering and Purchasing Departments.

York Pennsylvania - production of Softail and Touring bikes

Kansas City Missouri - production of Dyna, Sportster, and V-Rod bikes

Several misc parts are made in China

Current brake calipers are from the Italian company Brembo

Most of the wire harnesses are made in Mexico

You will have to make that decision for yourself!!

Well, that's it for this edition..

Hang in There.....

J D Redneck

The Biker Lifestyle

Like this?

Thursday 31 December 2015

Happy New Year!

Saturday 12 December 2015

Today's News....

What's in the news Today.....

4 bikers shot in Waco with gun type police use

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/4-bikers-shot-in-waco-with-gun-type-police-use/ar-BBnt5qY?li=AAggFp5

Three members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club sentenced following violent assault in Hereford

https://westmercia.police.uk/article/15162/Three-members-of-the-Outlaws-Motorcycle-Club-sentenced-following-violent-assault-in-Hereford

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Winnipeg-police-RCMP-working-together-on-biker-gang-surveillance-361579791.html

Twin brothers and former Hells Angels bikies sentenced over drug trafficking operation run from Brisbane locksmith

Rebels bikie Darren Wallace may have been executed because he didn’t want to surrender his motorcycle

Thursday 10 December 2015

News from around the World.....

Here is some of what is happening in the Biker World lately!

Harley-Davidson Love Ride Raises Cool Million for Veterans

FIRST RIDE: S&S Dragon

The Motorcycle Shows – 2016

What to read when you're not riding

"Do it for the babes"

Reading Toy Run: More than 2,000 bikers took part in annual charity ride

Former gang member becomes professional Calgary Santa

Motorcycle Club Logo Caused Concern at Christmas Parade

Longshore worker fights to get security clearance back

Mystery biker appears in court in wheelchair

Vietnam Vet Biker Killed by Police in Hostage Standoff

Wednesday 2 December 2015

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE ADVICE - Part Eight.....

11 Things You May Not Know About Hells Angels Legend Sonny Barger!

Tuesday 1 December 2015

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE ADVICE - Part Seven.....