14 Ultra (mostly) Engine Issues
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 184
From:
Well I know this will sound crazy to some but lugging a bike is 10 times harder on the engine and tranny than riding at a good pace. It will beat the bearings out of the rods or do what just occurred to 01XLH, not pointing a finger at you but just stating what can occur. I know my bike now has a sweet spot around 2800 to 3000 where the engine seems like it's at one with itself if that makes sense, sure it will pull at 1500 rpms but it's not good on the internals much.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 330
Likes: 16
From: Colorado
NOW, with the advent of Direct Injection is where the problem comes in on our newer vehicles. Gone is the "atomized charge" of fuel/air mixture in the actual intake to suck those nasty vapors out as fully as before. Now you are left with residual vapors (containing high charges of oil, nitrates, etc.) floating around in the intakes, condensing, creating pools, picking up more debris, continually growing and growing. That is where the catch can model comes into play on the modern vehicles. So no, that 2000 model Honda Civic does not need a catch can. But say you have a 2015 Audi, maybe you will be ok depending on how you drive, but a catch can would be a worthwhile and inexpensive investment. Most of today's vehicles are going to be fine through the warranty period, then after that, the manufacturers just do not care. We will see LOTS of head work needed on these direct injection vehicles in the near future. Hell, we are already starting to see it.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 1,488
From: SW Washington State
Everyone should agree that engines need to vent their crankcase. I will say that all home made Breather systems are not created equal, some may actually be harming the engine by not allowing proper ventilation. I took a look at the piston tops of my 2014 Road King with about 20,000 miles and found them clean. I see no need for an external breather on my bike.
Last edited by sixguns; Mar 27, 2016 at 09:11 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 328
From: Southern Utah, USA
I bought my 2014 FLHTK in Sept. of 2013. The first one the dealer or the the public had even seen at that location, with the twin cooled 103. When I test rode it, it already had 80 miles...I suspect those first 80 "test" miles" were pretty brutal. It burns NO oil between changes (5k miles) and gets > 40mpg and as high as 52 mpg.
Moral to my story, This frigg'n bike runs SO GOOD I'm doing no engine mods...and still puts a HUGE smile on my face every time. I'm not messing with success.
SORRY for your problems but the Rushmore is an amazing engine for me...
Moral to my story, This frigg'n bike runs SO GOOD I'm doing no engine mods...and still puts a HUGE smile on my face every time. I'm not messing with success.
SORRY for your problems but the Rushmore is an amazing engine for me...
Last edited by plongson; Mar 27, 2016 at 09:01 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 567
Likes: 1
From: Southeastern KY.
I just had a bad set of jugs for some reason the bottom was bigger than the top. It was all fixed under warranty and seems fine now. My wife has a RG that has ran perfectly with no issues at all so I don't think you should worry.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,224
Likes: 3,049
From: St.Louis Mo.
Make that X3 ... I'm not even standing in line to get on the catch can train, I think it's bs no matter what pics are thrown all over the internet. Every car/bike/truck manufacturer out there have been venting crankcase vapors into your intake probably as long as I've been alive with no ill effects. Does Aunt Sally's bone-stock Honda Civic with over 200,000 miles on the clock that still runs perfect have a catch can? ...no. What will make you ill is the awful stench from venting it to the atmosphere. I have an old GS 1100 that I bought years ago with a 4-1, carbs jetted with ind. filters and crankcase/breather hose just dangling on top of valve cover without any kind of filter or catch can ... runs like a raped ape, but STINKS to high heaven since the vapors are no longer being burned. Also embarrassing to ride because it looks good/sounds good for what it is, BUT you roll up on a light and people look at you like ... How can he ride that smokey/stinky pos? lol. Is that the picture you want to paint when you're out on your pristine Harley? ... no thanks, that's one more reason why my GS has been collecting dust now.
OP says he doesn't ride hard ... not pointing fingers and too many other unknowns here, but his (no offense) easy riding style may have contributed to this from day one ... especially if the bike was broken in that way "by the book" and never ridden hard ... that right there can cause incomplete ring seal. Every engine NEEDS to be flogged once in a while and there's no better time to do it (and the ONLY time) than when it's brand-new, 0 miles right off the showroom if you want good ring seal. Once the engine is broke-in, it's too late ... all the flogging in the world won't seal the rings, you missed the bus Gus. If you don't believe what I'm preaching, check out MotoMan's break-in procedure ... http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm . Study up on this and put it to use when you get your bike back ... once it's up to operating temp first. I would insist to your dealer that YOU be the one to take the maiden voyage so you can break it in right because you know the bike better than them anyhow.
There is a wealth of info and pics there, very interesting read if you haven't checked it out yet. The funny thing is ... I had already been using his method long before I came across his write-up only a few years ago. I have always followed the old saying "If you want it to run like a p u s s y, drive it like one" and I certainly don't want mine to run like that, so I run it hard at least a couple times every ride. He speaks the truth and it really does work ... every brand-new vehicle I have owned has always ran great, nothing broke and never burned any oil in between changes. Nothing wrong with riding easy, but you have to let'r rip once in a while. Our engines are like us in a way, if you don't exercise all those parts from time to time, they go to hell like your's did.
Sorry for the long story and no disrespect to you 01XLH ... I just hate to see a new bike that someone slaved for with such low miles with troubles like this. You should be out enjoying it today instead of being depressed it's in the shop. Keep us posted and remember to LET'R RIP this time around!
OP says he doesn't ride hard ... not pointing fingers and too many other unknowns here, but his (no offense) easy riding style may have contributed to this from day one ... especially if the bike was broken in that way "by the book" and never ridden hard ... that right there can cause incomplete ring seal. Every engine NEEDS to be flogged once in a while and there's no better time to do it (and the ONLY time) than when it's brand-new, 0 miles right off the showroom if you want good ring seal. Once the engine is broke-in, it's too late ... all the flogging in the world won't seal the rings, you missed the bus Gus. If you don't believe what I'm preaching, check out MotoMan's break-in procedure ... http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm . Study up on this and put it to use when you get your bike back ... once it's up to operating temp first. I would insist to your dealer that YOU be the one to take the maiden voyage so you can break it in right because you know the bike better than them anyhow.
There is a wealth of info and pics there, very interesting read if you haven't checked it out yet. The funny thing is ... I had already been using his method long before I came across his write-up only a few years ago. I have always followed the old saying "If you want it to run like a p u s s y, drive it like one" and I certainly don't want mine to run like that, so I run it hard at least a couple times every ride. He speaks the truth and it really does work ... every brand-new vehicle I have owned has always ran great, nothing broke and never burned any oil in between changes. Nothing wrong with riding easy, but you have to let'r rip once in a while. Our engines are like us in a way, if you don't exercise all those parts from time to time, they go to hell like your's did.
Sorry for the long story and no disrespect to you 01XLH ... I just hate to see a new bike that someone slaved for with such low miles with troubles like this. You should be out enjoying it today instead of being depressed it's in the shop. Keep us posted and remember to LET'R RIP this time around!
Last edited by hardheaded; Mar 27, 2016 at 09:48 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 144
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
09 Ultra stage 1 with 116,000 trouble free miles. Dont vent to atmosphere and never had it apart so cant say how much carbon is on top of the pistons but the plugs look new with 40-50k on them. Doesnt burn any oil and runs every bit as strong as my 14 Limited with 8000 miles. Used the motoman breakin procedure with a few heat cycles. Fuel Moto breaks there's builds in on a dyno, dont see a need to baby them for 500-1000 miles.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 320
From: Vancouver, WA
I believe that NOT overfilling the oil is more important than external breathers. I go with 3 qts at oil change and it's just above half on the normal range on the dipstick. It's never dropped more than 1 square between changes so I know it's not pulling excessive oil through the breather.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,224
Likes: 3,049
From: St.Louis Mo.
09 Ultra stage 1 with 116,000 trouble free miles. Dont vent to atmosphere and never had it apart so cant say how much carbon is on top of the pistons but the plugs look new with 40-50k on them. Doesnt burn any oil and runs every bit as strong as my 14 Limited with 8000 miles. Used the motoman breakin procedure with a few heat cycles. Fuel Moto breaks there's builds in on a dyno, dont see a need to baby them for 500-1000 miles.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 337
Likes: 30
From: SLC, UT
09 Ultra stage 1 with 116,000 trouble free miles. Dont vent to atmosphere and never had it apart so cant say how much carbon is on top of the pistons but the plugs look new with 40-50k on them. Doesnt burn any oil and runs every bit as strong as my 14 Limited with 8000 miles. Used the motoman breakin procedure with a few heat cycles. Fuel Moto breaks there's builds in on a dyno, dont see a need to baby them for 500-1000 miles.
I only have about 6500 miles on mine and she runs like a top. I did the FM header with a PV5, AC and CVO take off mufflers... I love how it runs now. I'm hoping she'll go at least 100k without any major stuff.
The BMWs were literally so bad that it got to the point that I was actually planning my trips to keep me as close as possible to the dealers - and with BMW that ain't that close even when you try. I was pretty much always just waiting for the next thing to go wrong and strand me. With the Limited I don't even think about it anymore. Just fire it up and go.
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