I had a brand spanking new 84 FXEFB and it didn't hold a candle to the 94 FXD evo I had. It was better than the 63 FLH pan but the horror stories are well founded. They are hell on gaskets and the top end needs rebuilding far more frequently than a evo or a twin cam. Each new engine that Harley has introduced has been far more reliable and requires less routine maintenance than it's predecessor. I loved my pan, but the shovel was better. I loved the shovel, but the evo was better. I loved the evo but the twin cam is better. Well, the jury (me) is still out on that one, but after 15 years of twin cam ownership, I'm leaning toward the twin can being better.

Owners doing their own work is the primary reason I never buy used. Take a guy that has never held a wrench in his life, sell him a Harley, and all of a sudden he's a mechanic with a crescent wrench and a hammer that is skilled enough to change cams etc. My niece is a tech and a majority of her work involves fixing something the owners tried to do themselves and did incorrectly. The older the bike and the more owners it has passed through, the bigger the problems it has. Just read these threads and you can see for yourself how much misinformation and bad advice is flying around from guys that think they know what they are doing but really don't. A Harley forum is a great place to answers to your problem, but it is hard to find the right answer when it's buried under a ton of crap.

 

Similar to the sign that used to hang in my grandfather's machine shop (where I pretty much grew up).

It read; "The only tool we loan belongs to OUR TOM CAT. He always brings it back!"

 

I found out years ago how "valuable" a Chiltons manual was, when, following its direction, I tried to remove an axle nut from the front end of my '75 Trident. The manual stated it had "left hand threads." It didn't. It cost me a new axle after I clamped it in a vice grips and marred the axle trying to turn the nut the wrong way......

 

I've watch so many "Instructional videos" on youtube and just laughed and laughed at the way some of those idiots do things.

You want to see a video that had me shaking my head in amusement, watch the Preditor Motor Mount installation video on their web site...The guy doing the install is a fool and has no idea what he's doing.

Good motor mount/terrible video.

 

I started riding in Mar. 1956. That same week is when I first started to work on my bikes. No dealers and no independents.

No service manuals, no lifts and very minimal tools. Very minimal knowledge of lefty loosy except when it wasn't. Park on the gravel drive and put the stand down. Lay on gravel and drain the oil onto the rock. If I was lucky I could have a big piece of cardboard to lay on. Kept that one going for two years then another one until today and 60 bikes later.

Now I have a bike floor jack, a high lift floor jack, a lift table and a four post car lift with holes drilled to mount a Condor wheel chock if needed. There are three big floor tool chests with a top chest for each and several smaller chests for special tools. At least 14 service manuals and a couple of supplemental ones for CVO's

Wide range of tools from various sizes of torque wrenches, micrometers, dial indicators, depth gauges, calipers of various sizes, multiple sets of sockets in standard, deep well, SAE and metric. Same for wrenches. I find that if I have at least 4 of anything I am likely to find where I put it.

A variety of power tools electrical and pneumatic. Chop saws, vises, hydraulic press, drill press, tire changer and whatever size hammer that I need to fine adjust something.

80% of human learning is by trial and error not schooling. I just open something up and see what's going on. When my dad got the first power mower when I was about nine, I took it apart and had it back together and running before he got home from work one day.

The dealer only sees my vehicles for warranty and recalls. And even at that I have done some of them as it was easier than making an appointment going there and waiting for them.

Doing your own work is very satisfying and I feel it is part of having a motorcycle to know how it works and caring for it.

This was my 10 UC coming down on the 4 post lift from having an oil cooler install. The picture doesn't show but a fraction of the 1,500 sq. ft. garage.

 

Looks like @ 75 with 60 years of experience and money, you're doing just fine..
Good for You..

 

I prefer a carbed bike because that is all I have ever owned. Love doing my own work, too! My 16 year old Harley runs just fine and I know every little "quirk" about the bike......and when something isn't right with it.