M8 problems
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,925
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Picked up a 2018 roadglide sp Friday before labor day 2017, fell in love with it! After around 250- 300 miles noticed bikes smokes on cold startup. The bike now has 955 miles and smokes so bad on cold start up, that fills garage full of smoke. Talked with dealer, mine is not the only one doing this, I also stopped at two other area dealership s , they also have new 2018s doing this. Talked at length with service manager at my dealership, they had a 2018 Street glide apart for same thing, I asked what they found said rings were gapped .010 of an in. too wide. I have been a mechanic for a living for over 32 years and didn't agree with that. I suggested maybe a guide to valve fitment issue or possibly a oil cooling port porosity issue. They tore heads off and checked port which air pressure on a water tank and indeed the casting is porous!! Has any else experienced this?
The porous casting is simply keeping up with tradition..
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 1,059
From: SE Washington
Little update on my 17 RGU. Love the bike, but toward the end of the summer with only around 3500 miles, it was making more and more noise in the camchest area. Took it in for a checkup. They found the oil pump was working well, the adjustable pushrods were properly adjusted and that everything checked out. So I rode it some more in the fall and the noise just got worse, and at times would lose power. The noise was especially bad at startup after it sat for several days... terrible rattle for about 30 -45 seconds- lifters?. So back to the dealer. Took over a month, but the dealer finally got it figured out.
The main culprit was a bad spring on the cam chain tensioner. Also had 1 tappet going bad. So with a new chain tensioner, and 1 new tappet, everything seems better. At least its nice and quiet on startups. I'll know more as the weather changes.
Anyone else have issues with the cam chain tensioner?
Also had the clutch switch replaced, and still have unresolves primary fluid transfer issues.
The main culprit was a bad spring on the cam chain tensioner. Also had 1 tappet going bad. So with a new chain tensioner, and 1 new tappet, everything seems better. At least its nice and quiet on startups. I'll know more as the weather changes.
Anyone else have issues with the cam chain tensioner?
Also had the clutch switch replaced, and still have unresolves primary fluid transfer issues.
Last edited by MTBIG G; Jan 25, 2018 at 12:12 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,674
Likes: 11,462
From: State of Confusion
The main culprit was a bad spring on the cam chain tensioner. Also had 1 tappet going bad. So with a new chain tensioner, and 1 new tappet, everything seems better. At least its nice and quiet on startups. I'll know more as the weather changes.
Anyone else have issues with the cam chain tensioner?
Anyone else have issues with the cam chain tensioner?
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,887
Likes: 1,059
From: SE Washington
It also has a spring to take up slack during startup until the oil pressure builds up.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,925
Likes: 8,027
From: poway
Actually, the small spring helps to push out the shoe when running during the time the shoe is unloaded. The hydraulic setup on a lifter is pretty much the same as a valve lifter. There is some bleed-down. It needs to adjust for run-out on the crank and cam and as the motor heats up.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
Yep, and there you have it....why our children are being sent to die in the desert, or come back physically/mentally blown bits...because the USA is full of ignorant, gullible, ***** sucking up the propaganda that their children, and others, must "sacrifice" for the rest of our "freedoms".
War is now a business, big money being made; and it all comes to a halt if you stop sending your children to die in the name of "freedom"...but you won't, because you're Jane...
War is now a business, big money being made; and it all comes to a halt if you stop sending your children to die in the name of "freedom"...but you won't, because you're Jane...
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Likes: 160
From: So Cal!
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
My engine started making noise at 8000 miles, first they had to send to get a tool to check oil pressure, week 1, get a call today, it's piston slap, have to wait till next week to get new pistons & cylinders, total b.s.