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" To those who boast that they are following ALL the MoCo "Recommendations", I doubt seriously that they are checking moisture content in their brake systems AT EVERY SERVICE. "
I don't see that recommendation in the owners manual.
I had an ABS ECU (not the HCU, the electronic part that controls the HCU) failure during the recall at the dealer. When DT-II cycled the ECU it fragged it leaving my bike without ABS that I had 20 minutes before. Despite the fact that I serviced my brakes and changed the fluid every 12 months (fully half of HD's 24 month schedule) their remedy was to bang me for just north of a grand to get what I had when I came in for their recall. This is Harley Davidson and that's how they do business, either get used to it, fix stuff on your own or move on to another brand. I was never impressed with HD's ABS anyway so apart from the principle, no big deal. I de-ABSed my bike, ride it far and wide, in all conditions and I'm not dead yet. The two Harleys I own and the one the wife has are not the last HDs I'll ever own. If they get their new model engine problems sorted out to my satisfaction and they come out with something that catches my eye, I'll buy one.
Riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle is a lot like life; you can't quit when problems arise. You figure it out, you fix it and go on with the confidence that when the next thing arises you'll fix that too. For the most part, giving up is an insidious practice that creeps into other parts of your life and doesn't make it any better. At some point, you and others decided Harley Davidson motorcycles and the image it projects was for you, I know because I did too. When I want something, nothing stands in my way; I mean nothing.
When people ask why I ride Harley Davidson motorcycles my answer is simple and it usually flies right over the questioner's head. Because I can. Because I can make an overweight pig go around a corner and leave some on better machines like they were tied to a post. Because when HD's **** poor design threatens to keep me from riding I yank it out and make it better in my own garage. Please take this in the vein it's offered, the typed word doesn't always convey that. You have but two choices; fix it and go on or cut and run, either way HD is gonna go on without you so all you're doing is cheating yourself. Below are two pictures. One is of my newer Road King that wouldn't pull a sick ***** off the pot; I rectified that The other is of a real problem. While I was in treatment for cancer (that I had no life choices that led me to it) some of my friends came over, poured my skinny *** on one of my motorcycles and had me lead them on a 20 minute ride that left me knackerd. When you're below the 140 pound mark and things look pretty bleak, small stuff doesn't even exist (I'm the one in the black leather jacket and pants). I hope you don't' ever have a revelation such as mine but how you approach small problems in life is exactly how you're going to handle the big ones. Ride that HD in spite of them.
Glad youre able to ride another day!
Nice post for those that think like you about this "one" instance in our lives. "For me", its about being lied to and who earns and deserves my money. Loyalty and trust should be reciprocal. Moco advertises the abs as fail-safe with normal non-abs braking resuming if an abs failure occurs. We know this is a lie and we know the diags are lame as well. We also know that the flush recall will not fix the diags or the lack of a fail-safe feature. Bending for moco and supporting them to continue with this charade by buying another bike does not work "for me".
Regarding some other posts about servicing the abs. Several owners have taken their bike to the dealership trusting them to perform all maintenance. Their abs has also failed.
They didn't change any parts with the 2012, and we didn't get in on the manufactures recall. It came as a letter in the mail that we make sure to change and flush fluid every 2 years. (Dealer service).I think they just worded the owners manual differently from 2012 on. I have 90000 miles to date and still going strong. Thanks to extended warranty I din't have to foot the bill on a complete rebuild at 50000 miles and 2 comp sprockets plus plus. Over 10 grand worth. Now scared because warranty is up.
ABS thing just sucks.
I don't see any benefit of checking moisture content of brake fluid - simpler to stick to a 2-year cycle of flush and replacement!
Why Graham, all you have to do is stop by your local dealer and purchase the ever handy "DOT 4 Brake Fluid Moisture Tester (Part Number HD - 48497 - A)" and follow the recommendation.as outlined in the notice/manual like some in this thread that ALWAYS follow the MoCo's recommendations.
All affected received a letter along with "The Supplement".
Here for your viewing pleasure, in paragraph two...
Great, thank you!
Since that mailer is dated February 9, 2018, it's only 9 months old. So the newest of the bikes covered under the "recall" have already had 7 years without any instructions to test the fluid, just the biannual flush mentioned in the notes of the owners manual schedule of servicing.
I'd think many an owner would be perfectly in compliance with that newish notice, having never performed that test on their bike.
Why Graham, all you have to do is stop by your local dealer and purchase the ever handy "DOT 4 Brake Fluid Moisture Tester (Part Number HD - 48497 - A)" and follow the recommendation.as outlined in the notice/manual like some in this thread that ALWAYS follow the MoCo's recommendations.
Many thanks! I learned how to bleed brakes and clutches at my father's knee, back in the 1950s, so excuse my 'bah humbug' moment! I'll carry on with my tried and tested routine, from before the days the MoCo started using hydraulics.
I don't disagree for one instant that the 2008-2011 HD ABS system is probably the worst system I've ever seen. In this day and age for a braking enhancement system to render ALL braking on that circuit inoperable when it fails is unfathomable for me (regardless of why it failed). That's why I defeated it. The bonus is when you run new lines and rebuild the master cylinders and calipers you can run DOT 5 which is not hygroscopic (won't absorb water) and is not harmful to paint because it's silicone based.
All this is why I specifically bought a bike without ABS , did my homework before dropping the cash. Harley's ABS system is funky on a good day and downright dangerous when the least little thing goes wrong as it's shown to be prone to doing.
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.
The other is of a real problem. While I was in treatment for cancer (that I had no life choices that led me to it) some of my friends came over, poured my skinny *** on one of my motorcycles and had me lead them on a 20 minute ride that left me knackerd. When you're below the 140 pound mark and things look pretty bleak, small stuff doesn't even exist (I'm the one in the black leather jacket and pants). I hope you don't' ever have a revelation such as mine but how you approach small problems in life is exactly how you're going to handle the big ones. Ride that HD in spite of them.
