Yesterday......high 70 degrees & partly sunny here in beautiful Metro
Detroit...GREAT riding weatheer for the July 4th holiday......and...

Combined freeway/city ridin' for a little less than 100-miles bike started
to use fuel (93-octane Shell) like CRAZY!

No missing or detonation...started great...warmed up good. Ran strong.

Freeway speeds @ 70-MPH with slight wind and on/off surface streets
45-ish....nothing out of the ordinary.

Used ALMOST 1/2 tank of gas! WTF?......

Got back late so no time to check anything out....this afternoon I plan
to pull plugs & inspect/clean/gap as needed...pull air filter & inspect MM
EFI throttle plates for "something" and clean as needed......

Also noted cold idle fell to less than 900 RPM.
Hot start OK.
Warm idle seemed low also.....a little...at this point I was gettin' kinda
angry so back on freeway and twisted the bitch for all it had. I thought
"maybe" it would blow-thru any foreign objects not needed...I dunno...

Plugs (NGK #3932 @ .040" gap) & "stock" OEM HD air filter about 200
miles ago...

ALL 3 fluids changed w/filter @ dealer less than 200 miles ago.


Still gettin' used to all the NOISEY chatter of these twimke motors.



2001 Electra Glide Classic...ALL STOCK....except for Frankenstein
trike kit (shipped out Spring 2011) conversion....51,250 miles......

I just really like this scoot...but this fuel thimg has me a little pissed.


Any ideas?......I'll post an update later today after I inspect the
induction system for any foreign objects and/or any "material" that should
not be hanging around...


Wish me luck......I'll be back...


Oh yea....mufflers have a good amount of black (oil?) deposits...

Might be runnig a little rich???


Thanks...




-

 

Make another run...

This time, fill the tank, and mark mileage. After the ride, (preferably about same distance or a little more), fill the tank again. Do the math to get a more accurate fuel consumption. Your tanks is not symmetrical. Top half of tank does not hold as much fuel as bottom half. Do the math, then get pissed and tear it up if you like...

 

a 5 gal fuel tank..."almost" half gone after ~100 miles of runnin' 70mph = ~40 mpg (and on a trike, no less). Not so sure I understand your issue

 

Same thought... if it is a trike your pulling more weight, head wind, cross wide will cause some MGP numbers to change up. I'm an ultra & I don't even bother to watch the MPG's I'm in & out of traffic & up / down the rpm's it is almost pointless.

 

If you live in Detroit, you have worse problems than fuel mileage.

Actually, your MPG sounds pretty normal to me.

 

Pulled plugs = look fine & gap spot-on.
Pulled air cleaner assembly = everything good.

Went & topped-off tank...took 3-gallons!....gauge..?......now I know.

MAYBE I rode a little more than 100-miles...so i guess that still comes out
to ~ 40-mpg....my mistake...still gettin' used to everything......oops!

Went for short ride (6-miles) & stopped @ light...everything went DIM
then bike shut-off...?...NOW check engine light is ON!......did not come
on until bike shut-down....NO wierd noises.

WAITED 3-HOURS for tow & ins. co. could not find a flatbed at
11:00PM until 3:00 AM....walked home. Stated holiday weekend was
issue...???...

Supervisor called back @ 3:45AM & found tow....will resume recovery
this morning & get her back home.


Guessing....maybe voltage regulater failed....battery?......dunno......

Though I inoticed dim lights last part of freeway cruise, maybe...

Just want her back safe & sound so I can begin diagnostics.


I'm sure I'll figure it out...with all the help I'm getting here, THANK YOU!


Frankenstein kit is 34" hotrod rear axle with Dana-30 differential and
Ford 9-inch axles, new swingarm, and mufflers. Retains OEM rear fender
with light/turn signals and plate mount. Weight ~ 150-LBS.

Still have (stored) OEM rear tire/wheel, bags & bars, OEM swingarm and
mufflers.


This sucks....but...I'll survive. Now I have something to do for a few
days.


Yes....the "D" does have its issues. Fortunatly I'm located is a suburb just
far enough outside of the city to have a safe & happy life.




Gotta figure out if I can pull any codes.


Will update when I get her home.....to be continued....wish me good luck.



-

 

Arrived at location, bike safe and just as I left her...

NO lights, nothing on raido display, switched to "run" & stabbed start
button = just a couple grunts........

No garage right now...been pouring rain all night & this A.M.


Making diagnostic & procedure "list" for when rain stops.



Now.....waiting...



-

 

OK...back at it, been busy with "stuff"......ya know...


Man......did this problem take some twists & turns...

Now I know "how" to read the fuel gauge...one down...

Battery has low voltage....DEKA 400CCA battery, everything was clean
and connections all good, couldn't find a date on it tho.


Pulled battery and put on bench...VOM reads 5.5 Volts....OK, got that
figured out.
Dealer wants $175.00 for battery...ouch.

On a whim, called Batteries & Bulbs, new franchise locally....they got a
Duracell Ultra Platinum AGM battery, 400CCA....printed a 10%-off coupon
(ha!) from their website and got out the door for $130-and change!

Put everything back together tonite, reset alarm key-fob, fired right up
and nice idle around 1000-rpm...or so.


Rode out for about 8-10 miles for just a short rip...

Everything looked & sounded great.


Except the voltmeter seemed to be reading right at 11-ish.

Dammit!...read ~13-ish with the weak battey.

Gonna run some tests on the voltage regulater, try an AC output
check. Don't know what else to look at...???...


Then go over all connections and make sure grounds are clean & tight.


Just love buyin' a used scoot from somebody that don't know squat
about bikes....


Wish me luck.






-

 

New battery, no check-engine light, everything seemed right.

Checked battery again with hand-held voltmeter and read 11.67 volts with everything off and cables attached.

Trike ran good...sounded good...execpt OEM in-dash votlmeter reading
~11-ish+ to 12-ish+ at hi-idle and while cruisin' & runnin'...

Stop at light, clutch pulled-in & transmission in nuetral = ~6-7-ish volts
and idle fell to ~650-700 rpm.


I think I need to start testing the voltage regulator and some tests on
the altenator (stator & rotor) and AC output....right?


I'm ready to just order an entire charging system and get to a good
"starting point" with this bike. Piece of mind?...maybe...

All H-D shows on the web is;
45-AMP UPGRADE ALTERNATOR ROTOR KIT
Includes:Primary cover gasket, rotor, rotor spacer and oil seal
Kit Number: 29999-97B
$269.95

I already have a 45-amp system since new...
Does not include voltage regulator or stator. There is another $300+ in
parts....and might need some labor.

Looked at a few "aftermarket" systems (voltage regulator & rotor & stator)
and prices are right around the same as, or LESS, than the MoCo.


Anybody know anything about the 3-phase systems available?

Cycle Electric 80-Series 50-Amp Three Phase Kit.
CE-84T-99 will upgrade all 1999-2003 FLH-FLT to 50-amp three phase.
Produces 32-amps at 1000-RPM and 50-amps at 2500-RPM!
$459.99 ---
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/360-424#

Kit includes the Screamin’ Eagle Big Twin Compensator upgrade!


Looks good to me...any coments?


OR... could it be that this gauge is just gonna read ~11-ish+ to 12-ish+
volts when everything is working as it should? Few more tests will tell
I guess...


Thanks.

 

Got up early the Friday morning of Labor Day weekend and looked
outside......and......STOLEN!

......from Wixom Michigan....on Pontiac Trail between Beck & Wixom
Roads.

Planned on installing new battery and getting ready for riding all
weekend...

Bike was parked & UltraGard cover on when last seen.

Original seat is a little bit "rough" and well worn.


2001 Harley Davidson FLHTCI Electra Glide Classic - EFI

Frankenstein Trike conversion kit. SERIAL # F950. (stamped into right-side star-plate on rearend)

NO saddle bags. American Eagle 15" X 8" chrome wheels.

Large rear FL-Style fenders are solid blue paint!

Hi-Way pegs turned-IN on crash-bar.

Approx. 51,500 miles.

Bike did not have battery installed when stolen!

Luxury Blue Metallic Clearcoat & Diamond Ice Metallic Clearcoat
(Blue and Silver)


Man....this has been one really crappy summer.


Thanks for everyones help...