Oiling issue?

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Apr 18, 2020 | 09:02 AM

#11

CoolBreeze3646

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2006

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From: Pennsylvania

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Ramberger

Trailiered lifters - you're trailering it in gear, it rocks and the rear wheel slightly moves the trans internals which slightly moves the crank - just enough to cause bleed down on a lifter(s) and collapses it. I answered this call about a million times on the tech line at every rally. Stop trailering it in gear.

Starting it a few times in a row always seemed to help pump up the lifter faster than just riding it.

Ed, good information there, never thought about having it in gear and the rocking/bouncing motion moving the engine parts. My main focus was putting it in transport mode.

Thanks for the insight.

Apr 18, 2020 | 12:24 PM

#12

TenFiveRacer

Thread Starter

1st Gear

Joined: Apr 2020

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From: Gloucester Va

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify, the wife and I trailer the bikes to bike events that are out of state. Upon arrival, we unload the bikes and go ride. So straight out the trailer, my '00 Road King will knock upon first start up. It has done that even after sitting all night before that first start up. It only ever does after a trip in the trailer. I DO leave it in gear in the trailer. I also leave the wife's '95 Heritage in gear. I'll certainly try leaving them in Neutral next time. If bouncing in the trailer (in gear) makes the lifter bleed down I would think more people would have the same problem. If there is a bad lifters or lifters I guess that would be noisy as well. Again, I would think that sitting all Winter would have the same effect on lifter bleed down. With the bike having just under 17K miles, would the lifters be bad? I'm baffled by this only happening after trailering. Thanks again guys!

Apr 18, 2020 | 02:57 PM

#13

Ed Ramberger

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Joined: May 2015

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From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenFiveRacer

You not reading it on the internet vs me answering the phone till my head almost fell off is two very different sources of information.

A lot of people do experience it - read post 9 - I answered that question every rally season over and over and over. It's not a mystery. If it's in gear and the suspension compresses even a little or it moves just a little, that rocks the belt. If the belt moves, the trans gears do and so does the crank. That motion causes it to bleed down over the trip. If you continue to do it, it is not helping the lifter because you are pressing the cup all the way to the bottom, and you want to keep oil under the cup. Because you probably have it in first gear, that really works the lifter because of the gear ratio. You don't want that cup constantly pressed to the bottom of it's travel with no oil pressure.

If it sits overnight and that causes lifter clatter, that's a lifter issue. If you trailer it in gear and it clatters on startup, it's trailered lifters. Your own description verifies my reply.

If it's typically quiet on startup, I doubt you have a bad lifter at that mileage.

Last edited by Ed Ramberger; Apr 18, 2020 at 03:05 PM. Reason: spelling

Apr 18, 2020 | 03:15 PM

#14

TenFiveRacer

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1st Gear

Joined: Apr 2020

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From: Gloucester Va

Thanks for the info Ed. It had my head swimming trying to figure it out. An honest answer sure beats throwing parts at it. No more "trailer lifters" for this guy!

Apr 18, 2020 | 06:59 PM

#15

Ed Ramberger

Grand HDF Member

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 3,588

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From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenFiveRacer

Thanks for the info Ed. It had my head swimming trying to figure it out. An honest answer sure beats throwing parts at it. No more "trailer lifters" for this guy!

You're welcome, anytime.

Apr 18, 2020 | 07:21 PM

#16

OldEnuf2NoBtr

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2009

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From: Doghouse... mostly

I learn something new every day and I'm an old fu**er! Wow!

Apr 19, 2020 | 07:49 AM

#17

Screamin beagle

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Joined: Jun 2017

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From: Granville New York

Yup...thats my learned something new lesson for the day too lol. Op if Ed is telling you something about your bike you can take that to the bank. Never ever even heard of that happening...this site is probably one the best resources around.

Apr 19, 2020 | 08:20 AM

#18

Ed Ramberger

Grand HDF Member

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 3,588

Likes: 1,216

From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screamin beagle

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm not Kreskin, but saw a lot of stuff in the years at rallys, in Tech and HDU. I remember one bike that the guy backed off a trailer sounded like the lifter was completely dead. It took a few starts and I was actually wondering if the cup inside the lifter was stuck. I have noticed that starting them several times in a row pumps them up quicker than just running it - I believe it's due to the initial shot of oil hitting the system.