Lugging
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2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Upstate New York
Lugging
Hi
I'm new to the forum.
Have a kinda stupid question to post but here goes.
Ride a Fatboy S which had S&S cams and high comp pistons installed over the winter.
Having just begun to ride after a long 3 months of Winter guess there were some cobwebs in my handling.
For one, I repeatedly lugged engine by using heal shifter thinking I was downshifting when actually I was upshifting.
Another time I stopped at a light forgetting to downshift into 1st; trying to start in 3rd gear from a stop is not good especially on this bike.
My question is , could there potentially have been any damage - considering the new pistons and cams?
Should I think about a compression test to see?
Thanks in advance
I'm new to the forum.
Have a kinda stupid question to post but here goes.
Ride a Fatboy S which had S&S cams and high comp pistons installed over the winter.
Having just begun to ride after a long 3 months of Winter guess there were some cobwebs in my handling.
For one, I repeatedly lugged engine by using heal shifter thinking I was downshifting when actually I was upshifting.
Another time I stopped at a light forgetting to downshift into 1st; trying to start in 3rd gear from a stop is not good especially on this bike.
My question is , could there potentially have been any damage - considering the new pistons and cams?
Should I think about a compression test to see?
Thanks in advance
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 356
From: virginia
Yes, it is damaged beyond repair. Send me your address and i'll have it picked up and disposed of properly in my garage. I assume you had some break in miles or a dyno break in after mods. You should be OK. I try to keep mine above 2k cruising, which is really easy with 30/70 sprockets.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,281
Likes: 3,419
From: Idaho Panhandle
You had to ride the clutch more starting in third.
Lugging is cruising at low rpm with a load on the engine. Starting off in the wrong gear, while technically lugging, is usually so embarrassing it does not hurt the engine.
In real lugging, low rpm and load on the engine, these are the things that can happen.
There is poorer oil circulation at critical areas at low rpm
There is more engine heat when lugging (less cooling)
There is less ability to maneuver, ie speed up to avoid an obstacle.
Gas mileage drops precipitously.
Your pipes sound awful
Engine life is reduced
Yet, Harley's provide enough low end torque so we all occasionally get seduced to play near the luggers edge sometimes. I have started off in second a number of times, don't know if I have tried third, but I agree with billib1954, your bike is trashed, only I'll come and take it off your hands.
Lugging is cruising at low rpm with a load on the engine. Starting off in the wrong gear, while technically lugging, is usually so embarrassing it does not hurt the engine.
In real lugging, low rpm and load on the engine, these are the things that can happen.
There is poorer oil circulation at critical areas at low rpm
There is more engine heat when lugging (less cooling)
There is less ability to maneuver, ie speed up to avoid an obstacle.
Gas mileage drops precipitously.
Your pipes sound awful
Engine life is reduced
Yet, Harley's provide enough low end torque so we all occasionally get seduced to play near the luggers edge sometimes. I have started off in second a number of times, don't know if I have tried third, but I agree with billib1954, your bike is trashed, only I'll come and take it off your hands.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,162
Likes: 1,906
From: Doghouse... mostly
Nope, no damage to the bike. There will be significant damage to your Man Card though if you are caught doing this around other riders that notice your inability to get the bike into the proper gear!
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,468
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
I always keep mine under 1,000 rpm so I never damage the engine by over-revving. It's the only safe way to ride.
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Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,468
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
The *heel* shifter is the first thing I yanked off my bike.
Forget about whether or not you like how it shifts, the absolute worst part is that it locks your left boot into a small position, so you can't move your left foot forward and backward into different positions so you can relax.
Hate them suckers.
Forget about whether or not you like how it shifts, the absolute worst part is that it locks your left boot into a small position, so you can't move your left foot forward and backward into different positions so you can relax.
Hate them suckers.
