Road Trip Maintenance?
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
https://timpharley.com/
very cool dealer in UTAH!
I too, used to be the maintenance ****. LOL. The Navy drilled that in my head. ( I just read your signature! ) For what its worth, you can go 10K between services on synthetic oil. Extended oil changes are a thing I have practiced for more than a few years. Your tranny can go 20k, your engine and primary 10k. I don't think I have ever drained my tranny and its been dirty. Unless your riding in the country its like your air filter never gets dirty and can go 50k. I have let the primary go for 15k but that was too long. While I didn't lose any functionality, the primary fluid (Amsoil) looked like pepper soup. Anyway, make sure your axle bolts and belt are tight and ride. While the forums do a good job of slaying HD, they are a great motorcycle. ride ride ride...
very cool dealer in UTAH!
I too, used to be the maintenance ****. LOL. The Navy drilled that in my head. ( I just read your signature! ) For what its worth, you can go 10K between services on synthetic oil. Extended oil changes are a thing I have practiced for more than a few years. Your tranny can go 20k, your engine and primary 10k. I don't think I have ever drained my tranny and its been dirty. Unless your riding in the country its like your air filter never gets dirty and can go 50k. I have let the primary go for 15k but that was too long. While I didn't lose any functionality, the primary fluid (Amsoil) looked like pepper soup. Anyway, make sure your axle bolts and belt are tight and ride. While the forums do a good job of slaying HD, they are a great motorcycle. ride ride ride...
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
I don't recall how many miles you have gone so far, but if it's over 30k I strongly recommend that you jack up the rear, lay on the ground, and look at the outer and inner surfaces of your drive belt for cracks or missing treads while rotating the wheel.
I have had to do a tire because I'm too cheap to not use it to the recommended limit, I have had to do a front neck bearing because it was improperly installed at the factory and was full of grit, and I have had to do a compensator, and a battery. No complaints from any of those issues other than the fact that I can do the work for 1/5 the cost (except for tires... I don't do tires). I did my own drive belt, for example, after discovering missing teeth before a long trip. Not a simple thing, particularly, but I sure saved some bucks... especially if I had had to use my HOG "free" tow to a dealer <arrggghhhhh>.
I have ridden bikes long enough to appreciate such things as chains... easier and more compact to carry with you!
I have had to do a tire because I'm too cheap to not use it to the recommended limit, I have had to do a front neck bearing because it was improperly installed at the factory and was full of grit, and I have had to do a compensator, and a battery. No complaints from any of those issues other than the fact that I can do the work for 1/5 the cost (except for tires... I don't do tires). I did my own drive belt, for example, after discovering missing teeth before a long trip. Not a simple thing, particularly, but I sure saved some bucks... especially if I had had to use my HOG "free" tow to a dealer <arrggghhhhh>.
I have ridden bikes long enough to appreciate such things as chains... easier and more compact to carry with you!
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
Thank you Sir, I appreciate the offer. Very familiar with your area, we usually do a family vacation every year at the Bird-In-Hand Family Inn on IIRC 340. Love Amish Country...thanks again!
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
Thanks for the input everyone, I appreciate the tips and especially the offers of help. First leg with my Club will take me to Nashville, probably totaling 1600 or so miles by the time I split from them. After that I'm planning on heading South and West before turning North and eventually East towards home. That entire loop to home should be minimum another 4500 miles, that's without side trips or sightseeing. I'm thinking I'll play by ear and monitor the bike, If I get into an area and need some service I'm sure I can ask here on the Forum and someone will direct me to a recommended dealer or Indy. I always use Syn 3 for the engine, Formula+ in the primary and Bel-Ray in the trans, all readily available at any Harley dealer. A bit nervous as a lot of my riding will be solo and in very unfamiliar areas but it's something I've been wanting to do and now is the time, the clock is always ticking. Thanks again!
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 31
From: New Brunswick, Canada
if youre worried about the dealer oil change. visually you can tell if the oil filter has been changed and its easy to check if its tight, plus its not hard to make sure the oil level is good and the plug is snug. 30 sec check over after the service and you'll be on your way
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 229
From: Saskatchewan
I have yet to have an issue with a dealer oil change while on the road. I generally just do the engine oil on the road leaving the more detailed maintenance for when I'm at home. I have also been known to go a "little" past the milage on all my vehicles once in awhile too. The dealers have also been more than happy to do the oil change with no appointment and at most I had to wait an hour to get in. Just like the service manager does a scratch and dent inspection before it goes in, I inspect the same when it comes out. I also double check the oil level, filter and drain plug for tightness before I leave their parking lot. One dealer even washed the bike after riding for 4-5 days in rain and didn't charge me a penny, it was in bad need of a cleaning.
Even though most people here are against dealers they wouldn't stay in business long if they were that bad. If you don't support dealers they, and the motor company, will not be around for long.
Even though most people here are against dealers they wouldn't stay in business long if they were that bad. If you don't support dealers they, and the motor company, will not be around for long.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,576
Likes: 7,953
From: Long Island, New York
I have yet to have an issue with a dealer oil change while on the road. I generally just do the engine oil on the road leaving the more detailed maintenance for when I'm at home. I have also been known to go a "little" past the milage on all my vehicles once in awhile too. The dealers have also been more than happy to do the oil change with no appointment and at most I had to wait an hour to get in. Just like the service manager does a scratch and dent inspection before it goes in, I inspect the same when it comes out. I also double check the oil level, filter and drain plug for tightness before I leave their parking lot. One dealer even washed the bike after riding for 4-5 days in rain and didn't charge me a penny, it was in bad need of a cleaning.
Even though most people here are against dealers they wouldn't stay in business long if they were that bad. If you don't support dealers they, and the motor company, will not be around for long.
Even though most people here are against dealers they wouldn't stay in business long if they were that bad. If you don't support dealers they, and the motor company, will not be around for long.
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 67
Likes: 29
From: Schaumburg, IL
Highway miles are the easiest as long as you're not pounding the crap out of it or it's 100+ degrees out. Don't worry about going over a little, just put it high on your list to do when you get back. 
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
I've done almost 7k on every trip from here to Yellowstone/Sturgis and just changed the oil when I got back. Done this 5 times with no issues.
I do check the oil every other day and top off as needed. Trans more than anything
Good luck on your trip!