How long until riding off?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 8
From: General Sherman's Christmas Location 1864
2 ways....
Idle to see oil pressure , then 2nd or 3rd gear for the 1st 1/2 mile out of the neighborhood...
METHOD #2
Let it idle put Left hand on exhaust pipe until blistors form
Idle to see oil pressure , then 2nd or 3rd gear for the 1st 1/2 mile out of the neighborhood...
METHOD #2
Let it idle put Left hand on exhaust pipe until blistors form
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,199
From: Oxford, Nc
You should warm it up a bit and take it easy for a mile or two.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 915
Likes: 29
From: SE FL & Black Hills SD
I let it idle for a couple seconds, and run it easy until its at running temps. There are a lot of different metals machined to tight tolerances prescribed at normal operating temperature. The materials all have different expansion rates, so I baby it until it's warmed up.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
I let my old carborated Night Train run until the idle evens out and it runs well, then I ride easy until it warms up. I do not either of the bikes sit and run for any length of time without air moving over them to cool them down.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,166
Likes: 1,801
From: Puget Sound, WA.
Until the fast idle smooths out and the heads are warm to the touch- that way I know the seals are good.
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From: wet coast BC
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,932
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From: Broomfield, CO
I usually let mine warm up for a couple minutes, long enough to put on my helmet, glasses, gloves and do a walk around checking all the lights.
It's not for the sake of smooth running because it's carbed. The all aluminum construction of the Harley engines necessitates the warm up. The jugs expand up to 4 thousandths of an inch when warm. Because of this the head and base gaskets don't have as much support when the engine is cold as they do when the engine is hot. Putting the engine under load before it's warmed up risks blowing a head or base gasket. It doesn't matter if it's fuel injected or carb.
It's not for the sake of smooth running because it's carbed. The all aluminum construction of the Harley engines necessitates the warm up. The jugs expand up to 4 thousandths of an inch when warm. Because of this the head and base gaskets don't have as much support when the engine is cold as they do when the engine is hot. Putting the engine under load before it's warmed up risks blowing a head or base gasket. It doesn't matter if it's fuel injected or carb.
The very reason I let my bike warm up.