Do not overfill
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 77
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From: Olympia, wa
Do not overfill
I am a new Harley owner. I bought a basket case and put it all back together. Having never turned a wrench on a Harley, there was a learning curve that I was forced to follow...I thought I would share.
I got everything put back together and got it started. It all sounded good so I decided to go for a short test drive. I got maybe 1/4 mile from the house and it sputtered and died. After a rew mintes it restarted and I was off only to sputter and die again a few hundred yards later. At this point I see a pattern and decided to turn around. I also decided that if it followed this pattern of sputtering and dying AND if it should not happen to restart, it was a long push home. The solution, get going as fast as possible so I could coast as far as possible before the unavoidable die.
To me this was a good plan. When I hit about 60 MPH I heard this loud POP and something hit my leg. I looked down to see LOTS of oil shooting out the right side along with much smoke...I was thinking "hmmm...thats bad". I looked up in time to make a necessary course correction away from the bridge rail then looked behind me where I noticed something chrome rolling around in the road. I thought "I need that!" The predicted sputter and die came just then so I pulled aside.
Being on the shoulder in a curve I couldnt use the kick stand. Fortunately my bike has floorboards and I can lay it over on them withoutit falling over, which I did. I walked back and retrieved my chrome which turned out to be my oil fill cap.
Lesson learned - Do not over fill the oil tank, kids, it will really get your attention. And the sputtering and dying...when the gas gauge says near empty it really means EMPTY.
I got everything put back together and got it started. It all sounded good so I decided to go for a short test drive. I got maybe 1/4 mile from the house and it sputtered and died. After a rew mintes it restarted and I was off only to sputter and die again a few hundred yards later. At this point I see a pattern and decided to turn around. I also decided that if it followed this pattern of sputtering and dying AND if it should not happen to restart, it was a long push home. The solution, get going as fast as possible so I could coast as far as possible before the unavoidable die.
To me this was a good plan. When I hit about 60 MPH I heard this loud POP and something hit my leg. I looked down to see LOTS of oil shooting out the right side along with much smoke...I was thinking "hmmm...thats bad". I looked up in time to make a necessary course correction away from the bridge rail then looked behind me where I noticed something chrome rolling around in the road. I thought "I need that!" The predicted sputter and die came just then so I pulled aside.
Being on the shoulder in a curve I couldnt use the kick stand. Fortunately my bike has floorboards and I can lay it over on them withoutit falling over, which I did. I walked back and retrieved my chrome which turned out to be my oil fill cap.
Lesson learned - Do not over fill the oil tank, kids, it will really get your attention. And the sputtering and dying...when the gas gauge says near empty it really means EMPTY.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 210
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
Is it EFI or carburetor? If it's carbureted, you should have a reserve setting on the petcock.
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Cruiser
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From: California
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Had a friend who stayed in Cali for a while back in the 70's. Worked at a gas station.
He Used to laugh at some of the car coming thru, Old one's that used a lot of oil.
He said they'd tell him to "check the gas and fill the oil".
Ur post me remember that.
,
He Used to laugh at some of the car coming thru, Old one's that used a lot of oil.
He said they'd tell him to "check the gas and fill the oil".
Ur post me remember that.
,