Infamous Water Pump Failure
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 194
Likes: 14
From: Florida
I have had two water pump failures on my 2014 FLHTK. One at 70K miles, one a year later at 92K miles. Both far away from home. Dealers in Bowling Green KY and Gand Junction CO got me in at the opening of their shops and out 3-4 hours later, which was much appreciated. ESP took care of the cost less deductible.
You can ride without the pump as long as it's not too hot out and your speed is up. The moving air will remove enough heat to keep things OK. In town, stop and go traffic, the engine will get hotter than one would like.
You can ride without the pump as long as it's not too hot out and your speed is up. The moving air will remove enough heat to keep things OK. In town, stop and go traffic, the engine will get hotter than one would like.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
If you take into consideration the $50 deductible with the ESP the actual saving you will enjoy by not preemptively installing the new water pump design is......drum roll.....$218. Is it worth $218 to avoid that 1,000 mile ride without a coolant pump in the middle of summer???
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
From: Beamsville Ont
Water pump failed on me during Laconia bike week, 2016 FLHTK with 40,000 km (24,000 miles) on it. Able to ride it from North Conway to Laconia HD where they took it in late afternoon. Had it ready for me next morning. An $800 touch but ESP covered it. They put in the new style pump as well, said it was better design than the original.
Hard to to understand why they are having so many failures from what the dealer says is a poor design and they are not putting out a recall......
anyway, dealer was good, only thing they didn't do is clear the trouble codes - had to do that myself. And ESP paid off (again).
Hard to to understand why they are having so many failures from what the dealer says is a poor design and they are not putting out a recall......
anyway, dealer was good, only thing they didn't do is clear the trouble codes - had to do that myself. And ESP paid off (again).
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 351
From: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Ultraman, just saw this. Message me. We do lots of long ride on the weekends. Did a day trip last Saturday to the Back of the Dragon. 480 mile day.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 33,045
From: King George, VA
2016RGU. My pump quit at about 61K miles this past March. Took it to Richmond Harley. They took three weeks to fix it. They claim they never heard of the pump being a problem. Installed the new design pump. 71K miles on the bike now, no problems.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 430
From: Northern NY
I have heard of people having the pump fail and continue to ride distance to get home etc. What is there to hurt? The coolant is just cooling the exhaust portion of the heads as I recall correct. With the pump broken does it not just become an air cooled ride like the majority of the line up?
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 7
From: Loganville,Ga
Coolant Pump
My coolant pump went out on my 16 Limited at roughly 42k on the way back from Daytona Bike Week. I was riding primarily back roads so felt ok riding it the 250 miles to my local dealer. Pulled in the parking lot and gentleman in front of me was there for the same thing for his 2014 Limited, his second pump. Didn't ask him what his current mileage was but he got the one pump they had in stock so I had to wait 10 damn days to get my bike back.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 33,045
From: King George, VA
I have heard of people having the pump fail and continue to ride distance to get home etc. What is there to hurt? The coolant is just cooling the exhaust portion of the heads as I recall correct. With the pump broken does it not just become an air cooled ride like the majority of the line up?
When my water light came on I rode the bike home about 15 miles. No problem.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,083
Likes: 5,325
I have heard of people having the pump fail and continue to ride distance to get home etc. What is there to hurt? The coolant is just cooling the exhaust portion of the heads as I recall correct. With the pump broken does it not just become an air cooled ride like the majority of the line up?
Last edited by GalvTexGuy; Jun 18, 2019 at 05:11 PM.