Twin Cam Motor Problems
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
I changed oil and filter at 300, 500 and then made the mistake of letting the MoCo put Syn3 in at the 1000. Rode the bike home, jumped in the truck went to the store and bought Mobil-1 Vtwin and changed it out the next day. Syn3 is crap... anyway... mine has been hot enough several times, to go into 'parade mode'.. run a good synthetic and don't worry about the oil cooler.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 203
Likes: 7
From: Arizona
I changed oil and filter at 300, 500 and then made the mistake of letting the MoCo put Syn3 in at the 1000. Rode the bike home, jumped in the truck went to the store and bought Mobil-1 Vtwin and changed it out the next day. Syn3 is crap... anyway... mine has been hot enough several times, to go into 'parade mode'.. run a good synthetic and don't worry about the oil cooler.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,120
Likes: 17
From: Indiana
At my 1k service I had them switch to syn3 and it sounded like they added little needles/nails to my oil with all the valve train noise. I sucked it up till my 5k service because I paid a fortune for the 1k service and the week before I paid for the 500 mile service. I started my own services at 5k mile and switched to AMSOIL and it quieted my motor right down and felt a lot smoother. A lot less "sewing machine" noise!! And in the heat 100-120 degrees talk about a loud *** motor and a crappy performing clutch and clunky trans use that SYN3!!
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 37
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY
I just had the 1000mi service done on my 2014 Low Rider then took it on my first trip. I had Syn3 put in. I don't know what they did to this bike but if feels way different in a better way. More refined. It could be the Syn3 or it could be something else the dealer did but for the life of me I can't imagine anything other then the Syn3 making that much of a difference. It is the only thing on the 1000mi service that would effect drive ability.
Could it be that your dealer didn't actually put in the Syn3? They are doing it out of your sight.
As far as reliability, I did a lot of research before I bought and talked to other Harley owners that are friends of mine. From what I can tell there is a lot of Harley bashing out there. For instance, the cam chain tensioner, EVERY Japanese and German bike I have owned over the last 40 years have had a nylon pad that tensions the cam chain. That is standard practice. They ALL experience wear and noise at high mileage. There are other examples too numerous to mention. From the Harley friends I have and the friends with metrics as well as personal experience, Harley has a big edge both in reilability and most importantly fixability. My own experience with German bikes is stay away. They are not repairable. Even simple repairs are break the bank dispose of the bike expensive.
Could it be that your dealer didn't actually put in the Syn3? They are doing it out of your sight.
As far as reliability, I did a lot of research before I bought and talked to other Harley owners that are friends of mine. From what I can tell there is a lot of Harley bashing out there. For instance, the cam chain tensioner, EVERY Japanese and German bike I have owned over the last 40 years have had a nylon pad that tensions the cam chain. That is standard practice. They ALL experience wear and noise at high mileage. There are other examples too numerous to mention. From the Harley friends I have and the friends with metrics as well as personal experience, Harley has a big edge both in reilability and most importantly fixability. My own experience with German bikes is stay away. They are not repairable. Even simple repairs are break the bank dispose of the bike expensive.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: El Paso, TX
I just had the 1000mi service done on my 2014 Low Rider then took it on my first trip. I had Syn3 put in. I don't know what they did to this bike but if feels way different in a better way. More refined. It could be the Syn3 or it could be something else the dealer did but for the life of me I can't imagine anything other then the Syn3 making that much of a difference. It is the only thing on the 1000mi service that would effect drive ability.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 10
From: South east Louisiana
My 08 FXD has 108k miles. So far it has needed, front motor mount, stator, starter, inner primary bearing, all handled by the warranty. I've been thinking it about time to check the cam chain, even tho there's no excessive noise. Syn3 oil in motor.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 725
Likes: 3
From: Hagerstown, MD
I also believe lucas oil additive is a good product, I think it quiets down the motor as well. it says right on the bottle " great in Harley Davidson Motorcycles, lowers temperatures." I do run it in my sportster.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,120
Likes: 17
From: Indiana
I just had the 1000mi service done on my 2014 Low Rider then took it on my first trip. I had Syn3 put in. I don't know what they did to this bike but if feels way different in a better way. More refined. It could be the Syn3 or it could be something else the dealer did but for the life of me I can't imagine anything other then the Syn3 making that much of a difference. It is the only thing on the 1000mi service that would effect drive ability.
Could it be that your dealer didn't actually put in the Syn3? They are doing it out of your sight.
Could it be that your dealer didn't actually put in the Syn3? They are doing it out of your sight.
It's because they tightened all the bolts they missed when they sold it to you...lol!!
It's always possible, which is why I do my own services. I just wanted to get the first one done at the dealer and at 1k my fuel pump died, so I just had them do the 1k service while they fixed the fuel pump. I doubt they used something different because sync was pretty much all they carried and pushed. They didn't carried a limited about of dino oil, but shelves full of sync.
So I guess that was my one problem was the fuel pump. They said it was because of the solvents used for my custom paint from HD. I think it was BS, but it was under warranty.
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