Change your fuel filter?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Originally Posted by doug62
According to my service manual for a 2013 Touring Model it is not recommended to change until 100,000 miles.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 264
From: Fresno Ca
At less than $20 I dont see any reason to
put it off. Its pretty dusty in my area and Im lucky to get one to last 30,000. If it plugs completely with little warning you will be stranded and it wouldnt be easy to change on the side of the road. The first time that happened to me it cost hundreds for the tow and repair. But what if its Sunday? Im not taking any chances. You dont need any special tools. Cover the tank with blue tape and towels and tap the lock ring around with a hammer and punch. This is on an 09 up.
put it off. Its pretty dusty in my area and Im lucky to get one to last 30,000. If it plugs completely with little warning you will be stranded and it wouldnt be easy to change on the side of the road. The first time that happened to me it cost hundreds for the tow and repair. But what if its Sunday? Im not taking any chances. You dont need any special tools. Cover the tank with blue tape and towels and tap the lock ring around with a hammer and punch. This is on an 09 up.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 377
Likes: 313
From: Middle TN
How hard is this to do on a 99? Old Horse, my RKC has 34K on the odometer, and who knows how many previous owners. The dealer where I bought it has service records going back to 2015, three owners before me, but nothing about fuel filter replacement.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,556
Likes: 3,954
From: Vermont
Follow the service manual. Its pretty simple on the 08 and later bikes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
I changed mine once. I can't remember when. It's got a 135,000 miles on it now. Maybe I should. But I get gas twice a week so the gas in the tank hasn't been in there but 4 days max maybe. Unless I ride the other bike with 40,000 on it. It's never had a filter change.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
So much depends on where you buy your gas. I buy almost all of my gas at a well maintained truck stop nearby that changes filters regularly - both at the storage tanks and at the pumps. They also move a large volume that assures no stale gas. I change fuel filters at the recommended intervals of my vehicles, pour the fuel out of the filters looking for trash, and even blow thru them to check for restriction to compare with a new one. I have found nasty stuff and almost clogged filters, but not in several years.
If you are finding bad nasty filters on a regular basis, I suggest you reconsider where you buy your gas. The newer pumps, especially Gilbarco pumps, are far superior to old, outdated pumps. Many "Quick Mart" pumps tend to be old and neglected, the tanks probably neglected, and the whole fuel chain to them can often stand some improvement.
If you are finding bad nasty filters on a regular basis, I suggest you reconsider where you buy your gas. The newer pumps, especially Gilbarco pumps, are far superior to old, outdated pumps. Many "Quick Mart" pumps tend to be old and neglected, the tanks probably neglected, and the whole fuel chain to them can often stand some improvement.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 92
From: clinton CT
Who has 50,000 plus miles on their bike without changing the fuel filter?
I just turned 53,000 and about a month ago decided it was past due so I bought the filter kit along with a new gasket and the (10) special sealing screws. They've been sitting on my workbench for about 2 weeks.
Sunday morning I went out for an early ride to beat the heat. Left at 6:00 AM and headed out for a three hour ride. About 30 miles into it I'm running on CC at about 70 MPH and started feeling a bit of a pulse, then some light sputtering and coughing. I immediately gassed the throttle and it accelerated very strong. Back into CC and another 1/4 mile or so same thing. I got off at the next exit, went directly home and changed out the filter.
Went for a short ride and bike runs strong. I hope that's all it was but I find it ironic that it was only after I had the parts sitting on my workbench that the filter realizes it's clogged. Of course since the MOCO recommends a change out every 25,000 miles I guess I was already on borrowed time.
So anybody else been running on borrowed time?
I just turned 53,000 and about a month ago decided it was past due so I bought the filter kit along with a new gasket and the (10) special sealing screws. They've been sitting on my workbench for about 2 weeks.
Sunday morning I went out for an early ride to beat the heat. Left at 6:00 AM and headed out for a three hour ride. About 30 miles into it I'm running on CC at about 70 MPH and started feeling a bit of a pulse, then some light sputtering and coughing. I immediately gassed the throttle and it accelerated very strong. Back into CC and another 1/4 mile or so same thing. I got off at the next exit, went directly home and changed out the filter.
Went for a short ride and bike runs strong. I hope that's all it was but I find it ironic that it was only after I had the parts sitting on my workbench that the filter realizes it's clogged. Of course since the MOCO recommends a change out every 25,000 miles I guess I was already on borrowed time.
So anybody else been running on borrowed time?