Break in period
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 852
Likes: 374
From: Toledo, Ohio
Break in period
Have a question about a 2020 softail standard. My nephew bought himself a nice new ride. He sent me a picture of his rocker leaking. It wasnt a bad leak. I told him its probably just a seal and take it to the dealer, has a warranty. He called and they said they could fix it in a few hours. Now they called and said the tech guy suggested not to change anything that this is normal. The motor has to go through a few heat cycles for the gaskets to seat properly. If its still leaking at 1k miles they will change them. All this time I had no idea he only has 150 miles on it !! I never heard of this being a normal thing. Is this true? I never owned a brand new bike with a break in period so I told them Id ask the real experts here.
thanks
thanks
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 852
Likes: 374
From: Toledo, Ohio
Exactly what I was feeling too. Problem with that is hes in Pine Knot KY and that dealership(Wildcat Harley) is the closest and over and hour away. Ill be down there in a couple days and light just change them myself
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 965
From: Eastern NC
Have a question about a 2020 softail standard. My nephew bought himself a nice new ride. He sent me a picture of his rocker leaking. It wasnt a bad leak. I told him its probably just a seal and take it to the dealer, has a warranty. He called and they said they could fix it in a few hours. Now they called and said the tech guy suggested not to change anything that this is normal. The motor has to go through a few heat cycles for the gaskets to seat properly. If its still leaking at 1k miles they will change them. All this time I had no idea he only has 150 miles on it !! I never heard of this being a normal thing. Is this true? I never owned a brand new bike with a break in period so I told them Id ask the real experts here.
thanks
thanks
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 852
Likes: 374
From: Toledo, Ohio
He called Harley in Knoxville and they said what was said here. Its not normal. He can take it there and get it fixed. They also said it could just be lubricating oil off the rocker bolts but highly unlikely. But said if hes not comfortable with riding it or if its still leaking after riding it for a while, they will be more than happy to fix it for him.
My nephew said he will go there from now on. He felt better talking to that service dept than he did dealing with the other. Its only about 20 min further drive so not much different. So kudos to Knoxville!!
Thanks guys. Sent him a link to this thread, thats why he called them. Also told him to join
My nephew said he will go there from now on. He felt better talking to that service dept than he did dealing with the other. Its only about 20 min further drive so not much different. So kudos to Knoxville!!
Thanks guys. Sent him a link to this thread, thats why he called them. Also told him to join
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 449
From: Michigan
Have him take it in. My wife's 2019 Sportster 48 had a porosity problem with the rear cylinder head with less than 9 miles on it. Then when they were getting the head fixed they found a crack in the gas tank near the rear mounting tab...fun times......
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 965
From: Eastern NC
He called Harley in Knoxville and they said what was said here. Its not normal. He can take it there and get it fixed. They also said it could just be lubricating oil off the rocker bolts but highly unlikely. But said if hes not comfortable with riding it or if its still leaking after riding it for a while, they will be more than happy to fix it for him.
My nephew said he will go there from now on. He felt better talking to that service dept than he did dealing with the other. Its only about 20 min further drive so not much different. So kudos to Knoxville!!
Thanks guys. Sent him a link to this thread, thats why he called them. Also told him to join
My nephew said he will go there from now on. He felt better talking to that service dept than he did dealing with the other. Its only about 20 min further drive so not much different. So kudos to Knoxville!!
Thanks guys. Sent him a link to this thread, thats why he called them. Also told him to join
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,295
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From: Honah Lee
My two cents is it is normal on a new Harley especially if out of the box after a few run and the right amount of light dust, you will see oil wicking in a cloud pattern outside the valve covers and cylinder base.
It's not like wet to the touch, dripping or even after long term weeping from a turning shaft coming thru a shaft.
It will clean up with a little soapy water and rinse. May come back if done too soon. It's just protection lube outboard of seals. Heat vaporizes it and it mist out or leaches out. Dust highlights it.
Does not take a 1000 miles but if it's not really a leak, and it was my bike, I would not be concerned to wait.
The last thing I want is someone who worked at Mickey Ds two months ago working on my anything unless it truly is necessary.
Remember, I said Not Dripping or running. Then I would wait if all it was was a patch radiating out in dust say the size of about a few inches.
It's not like wet to the touch, dripping or even after long term weeping from a turning shaft coming thru a shaft.
It will clean up with a little soapy water and rinse. May come back if done too soon. It's just protection lube outboard of seals. Heat vaporizes it and it mist out or leaches out. Dust highlights it.
Does not take a 1000 miles but if it's not really a leak, and it was my bike, I would not be concerned to wait.
The last thing I want is someone who worked at Mickey Ds two months ago working on my anything unless it truly is necessary.
Remember, I said Not Dripping or running. Then I would wait if all it was was a patch radiating out in dust say the size of about a few inches.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 852
Likes: 374
From: Toledo, Ohio
Here is the pic he sent me and why I told him to call in the first place. Not bad but definitely a leak in my eyes.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 965
From: Eastern NC
My two cents is it is normal on a new Harley especially if out of the box after a few run and the right amount of light dust, you will see oil wicking in a cloud pattern outside the valve covers and cylinder base.
It's not like wet to the touch, dripping or even after long term weeping from a turning shaft coming thru a shaft.
It will clean up with a little soapy water and rinse. May come back if done too soon. It's just protection lube outboard of seals. Heat vaporizes it and it mist out or leaches out. Dust highlights it.
Does not take a 1000 miles but if it's not really a leak, and it was my bike, I would not be concerned to wait.
The last thing I want is someone who worked at Mickey Ds two months ago working on my anything unless it truly is necessary.
Remember, I said Not Dripping or running. Then I would wait if all it was was a patch radiating out in dust say the size of about a few inches.
It's not like wet to the touch, dripping or even after long term weeping from a turning shaft coming thru a shaft.
It will clean up with a little soapy water and rinse. May come back if done too soon. It's just protection lube outboard of seals. Heat vaporizes it and it mist out or leaches out. Dust highlights it.
Does not take a 1000 miles but if it's not really a leak, and it was my bike, I would not be concerned to wait.
The last thing I want is someone who worked at Mickey Ds two months ago working on my anything unless it truly is necessary.
Remember, I said Not Dripping or running. Then I would wait if all it was was a patch radiating out in dust say the size of about a few inches.
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gypsyblue
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Feb 18, 2019 10:35 PM