My M8 Heritage sumped while riding the legal speed limit from Junction TX to Kerrville TX which is 80mph. Not riding it hard in my opinion, just riding it at the legal limit. Well, perhaps I was going 85, but still, we have some 85mph sections over by Austin.

 

107 or 114. stock or modified, how many miles on it?

 

My first and second sump came early for me and both times on the interstate. Both times riding somewhat conservatively as a solo rider (light load). Both resulted in engine repair / replacement. Second time included the new cam seal.

Since then I've had one additional instance under heavy load - 2-up, with tour-pak and bags packed full in the Florida heat (95+ degrees). Caught it instantly and was able to pull over for a cool down and allowed the bike to idle-out. No damage that time and no issues since then (but summer is coming...).

 

So the lip seal is sealing against a rotating crankshaft, camshaft, or is it a static seal to a fixed part that would allow it to last a long time ?

 

It sits against the non-moving case wall where the pinion shaft comes through into the cam chest.

 

That's pretty disheartening!

 

Are you sure it sumped? Never heard of one credible report of a softail sumping.

 

Yep... But not stopping me from enjoying every mile. Bike has actually been running great all spring. Hoping for the best, and if we run into problems again we'll deal.

 

I see you guys never seem to get enough of me.... even when I'm away for a great week of riding in the White Mountains of NH, VT and Maine for Laconia BikeWeek.

Anyways, all the parts on my bike were HD SE components installed at the dealers, except for one and the bike never sumped with that part installed. Once the new stricter policies by HD were known to be voiding warranties, I returned the bike back to factory/HD standards. Anyone that's made changes to their bike and learns about HD's stricter application of their warranty policies would be wise to return their bike to a compliant status if they want to keep their warranty intact.

Sounds like this new sumping incident is going to end up with claim. The sumping has nothing to do with the cam (other than running through the rpms faster). If he was wise and had any intention of making a warranty claim, he would return the bike to a compliant status and keep it compliant through the warranty expiration. Some may oppose that thinking but if the upgrades were made thinking they were covered because of HD's past "lenient" warranty practices, then I personally have no issue with returning a bike back to a compliant status as soon as you learn about the stricter enforcement of HD's warranty policies.

Not everyone follows these forums and you can bet the vast majority of bike owners have no clue about Harley's far more strict enforcement of their warranty policies than in the past. Anyone I spoke with over the past week at Bikeweek had no clue that HD was voiding warranties for basic upgrades that in the past would have never voided a warranty.

As an aside, I met 2 bikers that also had their M8s sump. (Both CVOs)

Have at it boys....

 

Sad to hear. I'm afraid that experience with sumping will NOT be your last. Sumping NEVER heals itself.