Bad first day
Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 348
Likes: 5
From: The mitten state
I would not put your problems down to "HARLEY" quality. Your 13 year old bike has been sitting too long. Starting a bike and not riding it long enough to get everything up to full temperature, is one of the worst thing you can do to an engine. Your primary chain breaking is also an example of sitting too long.
If this bike hasn't been ridden much since 1999! You also need a new rear tire! Old tires lose grip, and get hard even if there is tread on the tire!
I would change ALL the oil in both the engine and transmission, simply because it has been sitting too long! Check the aircleaner ( you never know what might have gotten in there during storage!).
I would also guess you are going to notice oil seepage as gaskets may have also dried out over all those years and not running.
Your experiences will not be typical of modern Harleys! There have been many improvements over those 13 YEARS.Amoung those changes,includ a NEW ENGINE design, new frames and many small improvements!
If this bike hasn't been ridden much since 1999! You also need a new rear tire! Old tires lose grip, and get hard even if there is tread on the tire!
I would change ALL the oil in both the engine and transmission, simply because it has been sitting too long! Check the aircleaner ( you never know what might have gotten in there during storage!).
I would also guess you are going to notice oil seepage as gaskets may have also dried out over all those years and not running.
Your experiences will not be typical of modern Harleys! There have been many improvements over those 13 YEARS.Amoung those changes,includ a NEW ENGINE design, new frames and many small improvements!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
It was given a complete service in May of this year,new fluids,all of them,a new rear tire,the front tire looked okay till I rode it back to my place,about 75 miles,then the dry rot appeared as cracks in the side walls.New filters,gas and air.It was ridden some every year since '99,this past year was the first it wasnt out at all,just started occasionally,oil was changed every year regardless of how much it was or wasnt rode.Thsi guy who has it now was going to open the primary and chamge the oil,but when he opened the inspection cover he saw I had fresh oil in there and was able to see the connecting rod that was binding and corrected that.I aint blaming him,I'm not blaming Harley,I know sitting has bad effects on a bike,I'm just hoping this aint the sign of things to come.I did ask him about that belt conversion someone mentioned.He didnt think it was a good idea.He says the belt is not as reliable as the chain,which he says in these engines is pretty much bullet proof,mine must have been hit with an armor piercing round.
That's not a JUST HARLEY problem....
bought a 2000 UC from a dealer who serviced this bike from day one...rode about 1 week the then throttle cable broke.....limped home.....but did the replacement myself........all's good>>>>>>you can buy anything now and it could throw craps before ya get home.....buy the service manual and get to wrenching.......
bought a 2000 UC from a dealer who serviced this bike from day one...rode about 1 week the then throttle cable broke.....limped home.....but did the replacement myself........all's good>>>>>>you can buy anything now and it could throw craps before ya get home.....buy the service manual and get to wrenching.......
Stokes, Nice to hear from a neighbor. My husband and I are also from upstate, Columbia county o be exact, and we drive 60 miles to use Zack's for any work we can't do ourselves. He can be a little pricey but he knows what he is doing (Got to say those Victory's in his shop are smart looking!)
If you're ever planning on riding a little further north, give us a ring. We're actually heading to Mnt Greylock tomorrow for a little spin and to see what Ronnie's HD has that we can spend some $$ on.
Enjoy your new ride - Once she is up and running smoothly.
DW
If you're ever planning on riding a little further north, give us a ring. We're actually heading to Mnt Greylock tomorrow for a little spin and to see what Ronnie's HD has that we can spend some $$ on.
Enjoy your new ride - Once she is up and running smoothly.
DW
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 67
From: Hooterville, Fl.
Don't worry about it man! It will get better. I have a 98 that I bought in 03. It had 6k miles on it and now has over 50k. Only minor issues with it. Most major was a stator and I call that minor. Check and replace all fluids and rubber and lube every thing and you have one of the best HDs ever made. Don't be discouraged. If you need any help, ask over in the evo section. Some great people there.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
A bike that sits too long is just like a car that sits too long. Crud is going to build up and eventually take something out.
This would be a great chance to become intimate with that EVO motor. Sorry that's how it played out for ya. It's not the brand. Time is a *****-....
This would be a great chance to become intimate with that EVO motor. Sorry that's how it played out for ya. It's not the brand. Time is a *****-....
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 5
From: Batesville Ga
Evos are very reliable bikes. Shovels can be a bit 'high maintenance' tho, and I personally don't believe it has much to do with AMF. The shovel came out in 66 and AMF didn't acquire HD until 69.
But a 14 y/o bike with an average of less than 700 miles per year has sat around too long. Starting it up and riding around the block each year really isn't going to do much. And anyone who only rides 700 miles isn't likely to have much maintenance done.
Oil change, filters, and tires isn't "full service" for a bike like this. Seals dry out and rot when sitting that long. Crud that builds up doesn't get washed out. Things don't get adjusted and checked.
Sounds like Zack knows his stuff so I'd stay tight with him. You'll likely run through a few more fixes - cables, fork seals, gaskets, and maybe some electrical come to mind - but once you get all the dried up old stuff repaired or replaced you'll have a very reliable bike.
Alternatively, I have a brother in Chatham who would be glad to take it off your hands. I can probably talk him into giving you a couple of hundred for it and even picking it up in Hyde Park (we were both born there).
But a 14 y/o bike with an average of less than 700 miles per year has sat around too long. Starting it up and riding around the block each year really isn't going to do much. And anyone who only rides 700 miles isn't likely to have much maintenance done.
Oil change, filters, and tires isn't "full service" for a bike like this. Seals dry out and rot when sitting that long. Crud that builds up doesn't get washed out. Things don't get adjusted and checked.
Sounds like Zack knows his stuff so I'd stay tight with him. You'll likely run through a few more fixes - cables, fork seals, gaskets, and maybe some electrical come to mind - but once you get all the dried up old stuff repaired or replaced you'll have a very reliable bike.
Alternatively, I have a brother in Chatham who would be glad to take it off your hands. I can probably talk him into giving you a couple of hundred for it and even picking it up in Hyde Park (we were both born there).
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 779
Likes: 4
From: Upstate New York
Mileage doesn't mean a heck of a lot. No one maintains a bike they don't ride. Throwing a cover over it for 13 winters isn't maintenance. Get it checked out by someone who knows what they are doing if you can't and don't complain about the money. Oh, better check the wires real good - mice love to chew on them. Have fun. It's your bike, make it special and it will make you special.
Like most woman I know (maybe its just me) bikes take some getting used to so very sound advice here, (buy a manual get to wrenching, do the fluids etc, check everything) the pride and understanding you will get from it all will make those rides all the more enjoyable, and everything posted above is true I cant for the life of me understand people having a bike and not riding it every day, my ride is transport plain and simple if I am going somewhere its on the bike ( we have two cars that I hardly ever drive the wife drives them all the time).
Hope it gets better and look at it this way at least you will have some stories to tell in those awkward pauses at the bar :-)
Hope it gets better and look at it this way at least you will have some stories to tell in those awkward pauses at the bar :-)