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.
“Words are what men live by… words they say and mean.”
Part Seven.....
91. Question:
What should I look for when buying a used Harley-Davidson?
Answer:
For a new one print out my article on How to Buy a Cruiser Motorcycle. It has a list of items to help you make the right choices and avoid accessory parts conflicts. As for a used Harley-Davidson motorcycle it can be a real mine field. With all the defects they have, how do you know which have been fixed and which are just waiting to you to buy it and have it fail repeatedly? It is just awful out there! The only way to address this issue is to buy the bike from a dealer with an extended warranty. And even then, the fine print on these extended warranties only cover major engine failures related to oil starvation (which is a TC engine failure risk due to the cam chain tension issue) but even that fine print within the fine print may weasel them out of fixing certain defect-caused failures. Frankly, I would be terrified to buy a used Harley. Just too many things can go wrong. Now if you are a mechanic you won't mind, but the average rider does not know about these horrible defects or how to fix them. The rider is "blinded" by the silence... nobody wants to dare talk about these engine defects too much although they are mentioned over a period of time in the V-Twin related magazines. Consider what it would cost you to keep having to pay to fix your used Harley and buying a new Harley with a factory warranty. Both are expensive, but the latter gives you peace of mind. If you are wise you will do everything in your power to buy a new Sportster model and customize that bike to fit your needs. Power is not a problem, you can hop the engine up (pistons, cams, heads, etc.) and gear it for cruising (bagger accessories and sprocket ratio changes). You can fit the bike to your frame with alterations. People customize those big Twin-Cam bikes spending big money only to discover the engine is a masterpiece of total failure. It will fail, no doubt about it, but its the price many riders will pay. I got rid of all my big bikes and went down in size to the 1200 Sportster and saved a bunch of money and I have more fun riding the Sportster than I did with the larger displacement heavier bikes. You need to get past that thinking that small is inferior and girly while large is ego manly tough and cool. The Sportster will not break down on you. In time, you will come to the same conclusion as I have. What good is riding if you can't afford to ride? What fun is riding if your engine keeps failing? Is it cool and wise to sink money into a money pit? If you have big money to spare, then fine, buy a new Harley every year or two and you'll be okay. I did that for over 10 years and I spend tens of thousands of dollars for what? All I did was enrich motorcycle dealers. It is horrible to own a motorcycle and find out it has a myriad of engine defects. It is much nicer now when I bought the Sportster 1200 Custom. However, I will keep my eye on the new Polaris Indian. I think this is the beast that is going to win over many, many, riders. Reliability is going to be superb as per the Thunder Stroke engine design, but price will be the deciding factor to how many HD riders will jump ship to the new Indian or the new Victory by Polaris.
James Russell has a checklist that you may find interesting &/or useful. Instead of reprinting it here, I will just give you the link.
http://www.jamesrussellpublishing.biz/motorcycleadvice2.html
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?
- 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
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
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