Water inside frame
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
Water inside frame
On my 06 1200-C I got last month, I went to put in new fluids, Amsoil in the motor, and Mobil 75-90 in primary. I got it hot and after I changed the fluids, I started it back up [in storage cant drive it] I put it in gear and took off across my garage as fast as I could safely, to work in the gear lub.
I look back and see a long strip of what looks like oil on the floor. I know I had the drain plugs back in tight. I go into a 'PANIC' turn off the motor and touch the fluid on the floor 'it's water' I could not believe it. I dont mean just a drop or two, the strip of water was about 10 ft long. I had my wife come out and watch me run my bike back and forth and she cuuld see the spot it came out.
On the left side bottom of the frame just as it starts to curve back upat the rear, there is a factory hole about 3/16" in the frame, thats where it pukes out under forward motion.
So, I drill a 1/8" hole in the very bottom of the frame and out comes more water, all together I would say about 3-4 oz came out. Now just to be safe I drill a hole on the right side frame and out comes water, but not as much maybe 1/2 oz. I cant see a factory hole on the right side,to much partsinthe way. Im going to tap in screwsand addSilicone in the drain holes I made.
So how did the water get inside the frame?
I did wash it real good about 2 weeks befor, the guy I got it from said he did get caught in heavy rain in August. I can tell it never set in water, I took off some parts on the bottom and reinstalled, did the same with some bolts there was no sign of water or rust anyplace.Very clean and dry.
Do all of you think this is a problem unique to my bike? Sportsters? or all Harleys. Is this a common thing? No one in my Harley group has seen this befor. Some of them are about ready to drill drain holes in ther frames.
So has any one of you heard of this?...
Gary.
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
RE: Water inside frame
No it's not a flood bike. I know the guy I got it from. But as I said I did take off some parts on the bottom just to make sure he didn't let it set in a water hole or something like that. He lives on a farm and he stored it in a shed with a dirt floor, but it never floods or gets wet inside...
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
RE: Water inside frame
ORIGINAL: GPHDXLC
On my 06 1200-C I got last month, I went to put in new fluids, Amsoil in the motor, and Mobil 75-90 in primary. I got it hot and after I changed the fluids, I started it back up [in storage cant drive it] I put it in gear and took off across my garage as fast as I could safely, to work in the gear lub.
I look back and see a long strip of what looks like oil on the floor. I know I had the drain plugs back in tight. I go into a 'PANIC' turn off the motor and touch the fluid on the floor 'it's water' I could not believe it. I dont mean just a drop or two, the strip of water was about 10 ft long. I had my wife come out and watch me run my bike back and forth and she cuuld see the spot it came out.
On the left side bottom of the frame just as it starts to curve back upat the rear, there is a factory hole about 3/16" in the frame, thats where it pukes out under forward motion.
So, I drill a 1/8" hole in the very bottom of the frame and out comes more water, all together I would say about 3-4 oz came out. Now just to be safe I drill a hole on the right side frame and out comes water, but not as much maybe 1/2 oz. I cant see a factory hole on the right side,to much partsinthe way. Im going to tap in screwsand addSilicone in the drain holes I made.
So how did the water get inside the frame?
I did wash it real good about 2 weeks befor, the guy I got it from said he did get caught in heavy rain in August. I can tell it never set in water, I took off some parts on the bottom and reinstalled, did the same with some bolts there was no sign of water or rust anyplace.Very clean and dry.
Do all of you think this is a problem unique to my bike? Sportsters? or all Harleys. Is this a common thing? No one in my Harley group has seen this befor. Some of them are about ready to drill drain holes in ther frames.
So has any one of you heard of this?...
Gary.
On my 06 1200-C I got last month, I went to put in new fluids, Amsoil in the motor, and Mobil 75-90 in primary. I got it hot and after I changed the fluids, I started it back up [in storage cant drive it] I put it in gear and took off across my garage as fast as I could safely, to work in the gear lub.
I look back and see a long strip of what looks like oil on the floor. I know I had the drain plugs back in tight. I go into a 'PANIC' turn off the motor and touch the fluid on the floor 'it's water' I could not believe it. I dont mean just a drop or two, the strip of water was about 10 ft long. I had my wife come out and watch me run my bike back and forth and she cuuld see the spot it came out.
On the left side bottom of the frame just as it starts to curve back upat the rear, there is a factory hole about 3/16" in the frame, thats where it pukes out under forward motion.
So, I drill a 1/8" hole in the very bottom of the frame and out comes more water, all together I would say about 3-4 oz came out. Now just to be safe I drill a hole on the right side frame and out comes water, but not as much maybe 1/2 oz. I cant see a factory hole on the right side,to much partsinthe way. Im going to tap in screwsand addSilicone in the drain holes I made.
So how did the water get inside the frame?
I did wash it real good about 2 weeks befor, the guy I got it from said he did get caught in heavy rain in August. I can tell it never set in water, I took off some parts on the bottom and reinstalled, did the same with some bolts there was no sign of water or rust anyplace.Very clean and dry.
Do all of you think this is a problem unique to my bike? Sportsters? or all Harleys. Is this a common thing? No one in my Harley group has seen this befor. Some of them are about ready to drill drain holes in ther frames.
So has any one of you heard of this?...
Gary.
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
RE: Water inside frame
ORIGINAL: GPHDXLC
I put it in gear and took off across my garage as fast as I could safely, to work in the gear lub.
I put it in gear and took off across my garage as fast as I could safely, to work in the gear lub.
I would also stop drilling holes in the frame!
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Water inside frame
Water getting in the frame is not uncommon. It just shouldn't be trapped there.
Many Touring bike owners are gonna get a surprise when the rear of their frame rusts out in a few years. HD has known about the problem for over 10 years now. I spray oil/WD-40/Seafoam, or whatever, in mine a few times a year to combat it.
Many Touring bike owners are gonna get a surprise when the rear of their frame rusts out in a few years. HD has known about the problem for over 10 years now. I spray oil/WD-40/Seafoam, or whatever, in mine a few times a year to combat it.
