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.
Today I was washing my 2012 Fat Boy. I usually put my bike standing upright on my J&S lift when washing as it makes it easier to clean the wheels etc.
Any way when I was rinsing the bike off with the hose I noticed water puddling on top of the engine crank case right behind the rear cylinder.
When i went back a few minutes later to dry the bike I noticed most of the water that was puddling was gone.
This got me thinking, I see how the two halves of the crankcase bolt together and how the factory uses some kind of sealer to seal both halves of the crank case as the sealer squished out between the halves. But I was wondering if when getting the engine wet like this could water leak into the crankcase? I looked at my oil after riding and it all looked OK. Anybody else ever notice this, can this be an issue?
No. Everything will be fine. If there was ever going to be an issue with water on the engine, I think we all would have been hearing about it by those who ride no matter the weather. Don't worry about it.
In all practicality, these bikes are a lot more forgiving than you're giving credit. You won't break it. Just enjoy your bike.
Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
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.