Low on oil

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Jul 15, 2022 | 03:30 PM

Joe from So Cal

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From: Southern California

Low on oil

My brother has a 2012 Electra Glide. He said it shut down on him one day because it was low on oil.

He was riding with a friend and it completely shut down. No cranking, nothing. He had it towed home, jumped on it and it started right up.

Is there some sort of mechanism on it that shuts it down when it’s low on oil?

Jul 15, 2022 | 06:19 PM

Musician

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From: Buhl, Idaho

Never heard of a system like that in a Harley. Nothing about it in my factory manual, either. Course, mine is a 2008, but I really think that's a non-issue.

Jul 15, 2022 | 06:26 PM

YZR

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From: Mostly Florida, some Michigan

Not buying it, must have been something else.

Jul 15, 2022 | 06:47 PM

skratch

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From: anacoco, la

any engine will eventually shut down if it is low enough on oil. not a quick fix though. how low was he?

Jul 15, 2022 | 07:20 PM

seniorsuperglideE8

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From: along the shore of Mishigami

Engine oil and air cools the engine on HD's if the oil was so low, it could have an engine seizing up and after cooled fired up again. I would think the lifters would have been the first sound you would have heard due to a lack of oil. That's why there is this thing called pre-ride checks.

Jul 18, 2022 | 10:22 AM

chromepony

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Sounds like the main breaker may have tripped, then reset after it cooled down.

Jul 18, 2022 | 11:59 AM

hattitude

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From: San Diego, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe from So Cal

My brother has a 2012 Electra Glide. He said it shut down on him one day because it was low on oil.

He was riding with a friend and it completely shut down. No cranking, nothing. He had it towed home, jumped on it and it started right up.

Is there some sort of mechanism on it that shuts it down when it’s low on oil?

I doubt it stopped due to low oil (without seizing up anyways).... but there is too much missing in your description to offer an educated guess on what may have happened...

How did he determine it stopped due to low oil...?

How low was it....?

How much did he add before he "jumped on it and it started right up."....?