6th gear
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,393
Likes: 2,060
From: N. Atlanta Burbs
+1
Have heard the same same. Was told the 110 cranks and the 103 and 96, were built to the 88 spec's for torque and can not handle lugging or they will scissor.
I don't go into 6th unless I can get up to 2400 RPM's or more so I watch the tach more than the speedo when cruising. If I am blowing everyone away then I'm going too fast.
Have heard the same same. Was told the 110 cranks and the 103 and 96, were built to the 88 spec's for torque and can not handle lugging or they will scissor.
I don't go into 6th unless I can get up to 2400 RPM's or more so I watch the tach more than the speedo when cruising. If I am blowing everyone away then I'm going too fast.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 23
From: Summit, Mississippi
Listen to the engine. Listen for the dreaded "ping" that does not sound like a "ping" at all to me, more like a knock. They tune these motors to run as lean as possible and they will "ping" if you lug them on a warm day. I am blessed by a motor that sounds like a diesel anyway and I have to pay close attention. On hot days, be more attentive than on those cool mornings and evenings when she runs sooooo much better. If you are tooling along at much lower than 2800 rpm on a loaded trike like I do, you may need to drop it down a gear. At interstate speeds, I run around 2750 in 6th. and around 3100 in 5th. at 70 mph. I rarely flip-up to 6th. unless I am running 75-80. In my particular case, the gas mileage is about the same if you just stay in 5th. rather than manage back-n-forth between 5th. and 6th. The load (wind and baggage) on the machine in 6th. can eat into the fuel mileage. It does run quiter in 6th as long as you don't put it under load, like up long hills. I think a good rule-of-thumb is to keep the tachometer between 2700 and 3100 in cruise mode. A good engine will surely pull in 6th. gear down around 2600, but it's better to go ahead and let it scream a little. It's actually better on the engine.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 264
Likes: 3
From: Coastal Bend Area, Texas
Happened again today but we were in the same position (headwind/tractor trailer) as yesterday... Not sure what speed we were at but 'high'...
I don't know if that's something that's not supposed to happen - he didn't seem to be concerned with it...
Was a fantastic ride today...
Oh, we're in Mountain Time (happened yesterday while we were in New Mexico) but today we're in Arizona and they don't recognize day-light savings time or something... So gained the hour back...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
Mac said it happened because of the headwind and draft from a tractor trailer...
Happened again today but we were in the same position (headwind/tractor trailer) as yesterday... Not sure what speed we were at but 'high'...
I don't know if that's something that's not supposed to happen - he didn't seem to be concerned with it...
Happened again today but we were in the same position (headwind/tractor trailer) as yesterday... Not sure what speed we were at but 'high'...
I don't know if that's something that's not supposed to happen - he didn't seem to be concerned with it...
Banned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,920
Likes: 8
Popping out of 6th into what?..5th?....no way it pops out of 6th into neutral.....as far as RPM,I keep mine around 3k most of the time...V-Twins like to stay revved...:>)
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 23
From: Summit, Mississippi
Nor is it likely or possible that the 18-wheeler sucked it out of gear. I am sure those Harley engineers are real intelligent, but I don't think thay can make it shift on a vacuum from an 18-wheeler. I don't know though....they have fly-by-wire on throttles now so I guess anything is possible. They can't keep it from heating up and frying your bacon-and-eggs, but they do have a fly-by-wire throttle.
Sounds like it is entirely possible that you are not getting it fully in gear and when you enter that void behind the 18-wheeler the normal "jerk" is causing things to slightly unolad and it falls out of gear. Cram it in gear hard when you shift it up into 6th. Msoko3 said it right. If you can't keep it in 6th., you need to have that looked at and hope it is something simple like a shift linkage adjustment. Jumping out of gear is not at all a normal operating condition.
Sounds like it is entirely possible that you are not getting it fully in gear and when you enter that void behind the 18-wheeler the normal "jerk" is causing things to slightly unolad and it falls out of gear. Cram it in gear hard when you shift it up into 6th. Msoko3 said it right. If you can't keep it in 6th., you need to have that looked at and hope it is something simple like a shift linkage adjustment. Jumping out of gear is not at all a normal operating condition.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 9,254
Likes: 283
From: Lake City, Florida (Native)
I realize this is a Trike Thread and not trying to impose on you but on my Electra the RPM's are too low to go into 6th Gear until reach 65 and even then only do it if on the highway and can use cruise ... otherwise don't touch 6th gear unless doing 70 or more...
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,792
Likes: 6
From: North East Ohio
Your not imposing. post anytime you like. Actually you need more rpm on a tkike because they weigh so much more.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 264
Likes: 3
From: Coastal Bend Area, Texas
Mac is sitting here bewildered about what I said so I'm going to type what he is telling me right now...:
"He was passing a tractor trailer at about 75MPH, on a slight incline in heavy headwinds - the added wind from the tractor trailer slowed my progress down and I DOWN SHIFTED TO 5TH AND I DIDN'T DO A VERY SMOOTH JOB OF IT...
I asked him what happened and he told me he dropped it down into 5th gear and I missunderstood him - we're both hard of hearing
and we certainly don't run an intercom between us... (by me: thank goodness)Mac says he is definately practicing dropping it to 5th gear more often to keep the RPM'S higher - AND NOT LET THOSE TRACTOR TRAILERS GAIN ON HIM AS HE'S PASSING THEM...!!!
Coming through the mountains today EL 3,000 to currently 7,000 - I had to use 3rd, 4th and 5th gear alot due to slower truck traffic...
And my downshifting is improving - much smoother so Peggy doesn't think it's jumping out of gear..."
