When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The shop manual says to change the fuel filter every 25K I believe.
I was having a problem with my bike not running when hot (turned out to be the ignition switch) and the dealer got involved when I couldn't figure out what the deal was. The dealer's approach was the ol' replace parts and see if that fixes it (even I don't do that anymore) and so they figured that the fuel pressure was 4 lbs. low and that was what was causing the problem so they replaced the filter (at about 30k). I blew through it and it was fine... and of course that didn't fix anything.
So... I'm getting ready to ride to Sturgis and I figure (40k more miles) it would probably be a good idea to change mine...
I get it out, turn it upside down, and the black crap just rolled out of it... but thank god the tank is nice and clean.
Just a heads up... if you're running an FI Harley it's a PITB job but it is definitely something you should put on your maintenance schedule.
I never could figure out why an automotive based injection ( Dephi - formerly a GM Division,) could run fuel filters in cars essentilly forever and yet when Harley gets its hands on it, suddenly 25,000 miles becomes the standard.
I changed mine out at 92,000 miles. The filter media was stained (hardly clogged,) which didn't surprise me one bit. Now I'm passed 130,000 and won't worry about it ( just like my cars,) until about 175,000 miles ( just like my cars.)
Like " new brake pins with every brake pad change," and "new stainless screws with every fuel filter change," that's just HD legal dept. CYA (IMO.)
( And yet the crappy wheel bearings ( '08 to present,) just roll on and on with nothing from MoCo to date.)
I am with you Stiggy, guess it's what you put in it from an improperly maintained gas station. I have never replaced a fuel filter on anything I own, and I have a Toyota with 220K on it. However all it takes is one time. I do know if you throw more then the recommend fuel stabilizer in it, it will dissolve the pre filter sock on a FI bike or make the bronze screen on a carb bike turn to mush. Once the sock is gone, all that trash sucks up in the opening and makes the bike die. Once it sits, it will restart and repeat the same thing shortly. On a FI stock bike without any mods to the fuel system, if a filter gets restricted, the first thing to go is the idle.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.