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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
Hey guys my father just passed unexpectedly last week so I now have his Harley. It's a 2003 road king with 37k miles on it. It is fuel injected and seems to run fine. It has screaming eagle pipes on it but other than that I know nothing about it. What should I do to it maintenance wise? Any advice is welcome
Last edited by mustangeric; Nov 26, 2016 at 06:59 PM.
Sorry for your loss.
Always tough to lose a family member.
How many miles are on the bike?
Any idea of how old the tires are?
Make sure they aren't old and worn.
You are riding on only two wheels, not like a car with extra wheels.
Do a fluid change.
Then you'll have a start point for maintenance.
Maybe find a dealer or a friend who has bike knowledge to help you out.
Have them look over the bike.
Cam chain tensioners might need looking at unless your dad had a cam installed and the bike has gear drive.
If so, you'd be in good shape.
Bike magazines and a factory service manual will help.
You're going to enter a wonderful new world of riders.
Good luckm and sorry for your loss.
Hey guys my father just passed unexpectedly last week so I now have his Harley. It's a 2003 road king with 37k miles on it. It is fuel injected and seems to run fine. It has screaming eagle pipes on it but
other than that I know nothing about it.
What should I do to it maintenance wise?
Any advice is welcome
First..., decide the plan for the bike:
keep it / ride it / learn about it..., keep & store..., sell
===============
The maintenance you're asking about
To verify it up to snuff for riding..., on going (while actively riding)..., for storage over the winter..., prep for long term storage..., or prep for selling
==================
Any chance there're maintenance records / or a log...., or possibly a local shop your dad frequented for maintenance / repairs - that may have records
Hang tough..., we'll get you headed down the right road once we do a level set
keep it / ride it / learn about it..., keep & store..., sell
===============
The maintenance you're asking about
To verify it up to snuff for riding..., on going (while actively riding)..., for storage over the winter..., prep for long term storage..., or prep for selling
==================
Any chance there're maintenance records / or a log...., or possibly a local shop your dad frequented for maintenance / repairs - that may have records
Hang tough..., we'll get you headed down the right road once we do a level set
Ghost
my dad bought this bike about a year ago. He lived in a small town in Oklahoma and liked to do maintenance himself so the history is going to be hard. I am going to keep/ride the bike. I have had bikes in the past but sold my last Harley about 10 yrs ago due to kids. None of them had more thank 10k on them.
Step 1 - get an OEM service manual..., and an OEM parts manual (the real one's)
Parts manual has many good blow up pics / service manual will detail out the maintenance intervals / maintenance requirements
Step 2 - get familiar w/ the manuals
Step 3 - get some tools and a jack
Step 4 - take it for a short ride.., or two - to see if there anything noticeable
Being in Houston - winterizing it is not necessary
================
As a baseline
Change the oils and filter
Replace the brake fluid / check the brake pads
Clean the air filter
Check the belt tension
Check the tire tread (and always check tire pressure before each ride)
Check wheel bearings aren't loose
Check / verify clutch adjusted properly
Check all lights and horn working properly
This will get you down the road with a known level of mechanical integrity
====================
If you're actually riding it over the next few weeks / months - add some seafoam to the gas
If you're storing it for the next couple of months - add some stabil to the gas..., then start to disperse it into the motor
If you do store it - some would say hook up a battery tender - I'm not a fan of those
===================
Questions - ask away
Side note
There a touring section in this forum that addresses RKs..., but you're always welcome to pop into the dyna section
Step 1 - get an OEM service manual..., and an OEM parts manual (the real one's)
Parts manual has many good blow up pics / service manual will detail out the maintenance intervals / maintenance requirements
Step 2 - get familiar w/ the manuals
Step 3 - get some tools and a jack
Step 4 - take it for a short ride.., or two - to see if there anything noticeable
Being in Houston - winterizing it is not necessary
================
As a baseline
Change the oils and filter
Replace the brake fluid / check the brake pads
Clean the air filter
Check the belt tension
Check the tire tread (and always check tire pressure before each ride)
Check wheel bearings aren't loose
Check / verify clutch adjusted properly
Check all lights and horn working properly
This will get you down the road with a known level of mechanical integrity
====================
If you're actually riding it over the next few weeks / months - add some seafoam to the gas
If you're storing it for the next couple of months - add some stabil to the gas..., then start to disperse it into the motor
If you do store it - some would say hook up a battery tender - I'm not a fan of those
===================
Questions - ask away
Side note
There a touring section in this forum that addresses RKs..., but you're always welcome to pop into the dyna section
Ghost
thanks for the reply. I have plenty of tools and I am no stranger to turning wrenches. I have ridden the bike just about every day since he passed. The only I have noticed is some squeaking but I think it's coming from the brackets that go around the bags. I will get a manual ordered asap.
All of the suggestions so far are good places to start. Especially picking up the manuals! On top of whats been said already pick a day and "get to know the bike. Sit down with your tools, and if so inclined a couple of beers, and go through the bike front to back. Inspect, grab, wiggle everything. Tighten anything that may be loose, clean up anything that looks like it might be leaking then keep an eye on it, and if you find something that looks out of place come back and ask about it, plenty of good folks here that will happy to answer any questions. The bike looks pretty clean and well kept. You may not find much that need attention.
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Inherited bike need help
With 37K on the bike and an unknown service history, you shouldn`t wait too long to get in there and have a look.
