Cupola Dumb Questions From FNG
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Southwest Florida
Cupola Dumb Questions From FNG
1. I've got about 300M on my new Super Glide and in 4th, 5th and 6th gears, when it's 'Lugging' just a bit I get a little bit of noise from what sounds like the primary case. Could be from anywhere, but I suspect it's from there. It's not terrible, doesn't sound like it's gonna fly apart or anything. Sounds like, maybe, the primary chain is bouncing around a tad. Or not.
Is this fairly normal? I don't remember these sounds from my 84' FLHTC. But, then again, I don't remember a lot of things. It's been 20 years since my last ride, so maybe I'm seeing (and hearing) ghosts.
2. Also, the gas guage doesn't seem to be accurate. At all. I put 100M on it since my last fill up and the guage is trying to tell me it's empty. Would you guys and/or gals bother the dealer with that or is it pretty normal for these gas guages to not be accurate? I'm sure it's a simple float and if the tank is two pieces (it has to be, I think) I could see where the guage would be a total WAG (wild-assed-guess) most of the time.
I'm sure you all get tired of holding newbies' hands but if you're really bored.............
Is this fairly normal? I don't remember these sounds from my 84' FLHTC. But, then again, I don't remember a lot of things. It's been 20 years since my last ride, so maybe I'm seeing (and hearing) ghosts.
2. Also, the gas guage doesn't seem to be accurate. At all. I put 100M on it since my last fill up and the guage is trying to tell me it's empty. Would you guys and/or gals bother the dealer with that or is it pretty normal for these gas guages to not be accurate? I'm sure it's a simple float and if the tank is two pieces (it has to be, I think) I could see where the guage would be a total WAG (wild-assed-guess) most of the time.
I'm sure you all get tired of holding newbies' hands but if you're really bored.............
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 205
From: ORYGON
WELL I CANT really say anything about the noise except try not to lug the motor. you are correct on the gas gage, works for some, not for most. best just to use your trip gage and go by miles for when its time to gas up, for me its about 140 miles
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
The noise while "lugging" the motor is most likely the compensator slapping around in your primary. It's there to do that. My recommendation would of course be to not lug your motor. (No offense intended)
As for the gas gauge, ignore it. They never work very well. If you want to try and fix it, you an pull the float out and tweak it a bit/adjusting until it reads close to accurate but with only a 5 gallon tank there really isn't much accuracy anyway. Your best bet is to go by your trip meter. Reset it when you fill up. Ride until you get worried, refill and note how much you put in. Adjust your fuel stops according to how much is left in the tank. Or strap a 1 gallon tank to your bike and ride until empty. Then you'll know how far you can go.
As for the gas gauge, ignore it. They never work very well. If you want to try and fix it, you an pull the float out and tweak it a bit/adjusting until it reads close to accurate but with only a 5 gallon tank there really isn't much accuracy anyway. Your best bet is to go by your trip meter. Reset it when you fill up. Ride until you get worried, refill and note how much you put in. Adjust your fuel stops according to how much is left in the tank. Or strap a 1 gallon tank to your bike and ride until empty. Then you'll know how far you can go.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
As mentioned, use your trip odometer for gas gauge.
As to the sounds, it could be you are just very aware of sounds since it is a new bike, but, if you are lugging the motor, it will sound different. Do you get the same noise if you bring the RPMs up?
As to the sounds, it could be you are just very aware of sounds since it is a new bike, but, if you are lugging the motor, it will sound different. Do you get the same noise if you bring the RPMs up?
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Southwest Florida
The noise while "lugging" the motor is most likely the compensator slapping around in your primary. It's there to do that. My recommendation would of course be to not lug your motor. (No offense intended)
G: None taken. I appreciate you taking the time to address dumb questions from a new guy. If I down shift, the noise goes away. If I apply throttle it goes away once I reach a certain speed. My bad. I'm getting used to riding the new machine. It's quite different from my old 77 SG (4-speed) and my old 5-speed FLHTC.
As for the gas gauge, ignore it. They never work very well. If you want to try and fix it, you an pull the float out and tweak it a bit/adjusting until it reads close to accurate but with only a 5 gallon tank there really isn't much accuracy anyway. Your best bet is to go by your trip meter. Reset it when you fill up. Ride until you get worried, refill and note how much you put in. Adjust your fuel stops according to how much is left in the tank. Or strap a 1 gallon tank to your bike and ride until empty. Then you'll know how far you can go.
G: On the older bikes, they had a 'reserve' so that if you had to switch the reserve on, you needed to start looking for fuel. Is the low fuel warning light on the new FI models somewhat accurate or are we taking a chance on having to push a VERY heavy motorsickle down the road?
G: None taken. I appreciate you taking the time to address dumb questions from a new guy. If I down shift, the noise goes away. If I apply throttle it goes away once I reach a certain speed. My bad. I'm getting used to riding the new machine. It's quite different from my old 77 SG (4-speed) and my old 5-speed FLHTC.
As for the gas gauge, ignore it. They never work very well. If you want to try and fix it, you an pull the float out and tweak it a bit/adjusting until it reads close to accurate but with only a 5 gallon tank there really isn't much accuracy anyway. Your best bet is to go by your trip meter. Reset it when you fill up. Ride until you get worried, refill and note how much you put in. Adjust your fuel stops according to how much is left in the tank. Or strap a 1 gallon tank to your bike and ride until empty. Then you'll know how far you can go.
G: On the older bikes, they had a 'reserve' so that if you had to switch the reserve on, you needed to start looking for fuel. Is the low fuel warning light on the new FI models somewhat accurate or are we taking a chance on having to push a VERY heavy motorsickle down the road?
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
Grendel, as the saying goes, the only dumb question is the one not asked. Knowledge is power and it is best used when shared.
With the sound going away if you downshift, I'm more inclined to believe it's the compensator. Basically what you have is that while the motor is lugging, it is surging between applying power through the primary and the primary going slack which causes the compensator to ramp up and down creating a clacking sound.
As for the reserve on carbed bikes, yeah we don't have that on FI unfortunately. The fuel low light on these bikes is actually a best guess from the ECM based on past tanks and riding style so it is fairly accurate. On my bike, which I pretty much just commute on nowadays (silly youngins), my light comes on at about 160 miles on the tank. I know for a fact that I can go 194 miles to empty with the way I ride, so that's basically close to the old carb style reserve. If you want to look at it that way.
Your best bet is to calculate your MPG the way you ride and then calculate your range from there. You'll be within 10 miles with this method.
With the sound going away if you downshift, I'm more inclined to believe it's the compensator. Basically what you have is that while the motor is lugging, it is surging between applying power through the primary and the primary going slack which causes the compensator to ramp up and down creating a clacking sound.
As for the reserve on carbed bikes, yeah we don't have that on FI unfortunately. The fuel low light on these bikes is actually a best guess from the ECM based on past tanks and riding style so it is fairly accurate. On my bike, which I pretty much just commute on nowadays (silly youngins), my light comes on at about 160 miles on the tank. I know for a fact that I can go 194 miles to empty with the way I ride, so that's basically close to the old carb style reserve. If you want to look at it that way.
Your best bet is to calculate your MPG the way you ride and then calculate your range from there. You'll be within 10 miles with this method.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
By "lugging", do you mean below 2000 RPM's? If so, does it make the noise when you roll on the throttle a little at low RPM's? If so, it may be pre-ignition (or pinging). First and formost, do not run the motor below 2000 RPM's. If you are getting the pinging when accelerating at even higher RPM's (say around 2400) you may be using too low octane gas. Higher octane gas reduces pinging.
Regarding the gas gauge - I am fortunate because on both of my bikes, the gauges are usually so full of moisture I can't see them. My wifes bike has no gauge. Like everyone else has said, rely on the odometer.
Regarding the gas gauge - I am fortunate because on both of my bikes, the gauges are usually so full of moisture I can't see them. My wifes bike has no gauge. Like everyone else has said, rely on the odometer.
Last edited by rh8234; Apr 27, 2010 at 02:16 PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
Yea no sweat....make it your new awareness goal though not to lug.
Especially a new motor but really any motor.....
Keep the rev's up and try to never bog her down like that. At times we all I think (in different senerios) wind up lugging here or there until we shift out but you really want to get it through your mind now that lugging is not good for this motor.
PS- It's not a dumb question....enjoy.
Especially a new motor but really any motor.....
Keep the rev's up and try to never bog her down like that. At times we all I think (in different senerios) wind up lugging here or there until we shift out but you really want to get it through your mind now that lugging is not good for this motor.
PS- It's not a dumb question....enjoy.
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Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Southwest Florida
By "lugging", do you mean below 2000 RPM's? If so, does it make the noise when you roll on the throttle a little at low RPM's? If so, it may be pre-ignition (or pinging). First and formost, do not run the motor below 2000 RPM's. If you are getting the pinging when accelerating at even higher RPM's (say around 2400) you may be using too low octane gas. Higher octane gas reduces pinging.
Once I get it broke-in to the point I feel comfortable, I'm putting some V&H Twin Slash slip-ons on it, along with a tuner and a Hi-Flow A/C. That should help. It's just too darned quiet. In my Owners manual, on page 28, it states flatly, "Your motorcycle has Catalytic Converters."
Where they are, it doesn't say. I assume they're in the muffler body. I would think they'd have to be.
Thanks a pantload, EPA. Bunch of freaking weirdos.
