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Okay guys thinking about buying an '08 Ultra, one thing keeping me from pulling the trigger is engine maintenance and thestories surrounding reliability.
So what do these engines need as they get older? Run an average of 15K per year, two up, towing a trailer for more than half those miles.
Okay guys thinking about buying an '08 Ultra, one thing keeping me from pulling the trigger is engine maintenance and thestories surrounding reliability.
So what do these engines need as they get older? Run an average of 15K per year, two up, towing a trailer for more than half those miles.
Thanks, Kevin
After working in a HD shop for the past year, I feel I can give some honest data regarding longevety and maintenance of the TC88/96. First off, it's an air cooled engine at the mercy of ambient air for cooling. The engine goes through many hot/cold cycles and, therefore, may be subject to forces that aren't quite as extreme as a water cooled engine. Gaskets seem to a major weak point - especially the transmission output gasket and primary gasket area. We see more leaks in that area than any other. Valve cover gaskets are next. Vibration is the next engine "killer". The constant shaking takes its toll in almost every area of the bike - bolts work loose, nuts fall off, etc. Third major area of concern is the charging system - the stator is subject to the same temperature extremes as are the gaskets. The regulator is suposed to be kept cool and many guys will cover it with a shiney piece of chrome which will cause a regulator to eventually fail. I found it unusual to see a HD with more than 30K on it that didn't show a lot of weathering on areas that should have held up better - HD still hasn't discovered stainless steel fasteners. Head bolts corrode and look awful after a couple of years. Covering them with chrome helps, but, also traps moisture and can make the corrosion process accelerate. These are a few of my observations after working in the shop for a year as a service writer, not a mechanic. The mechanics, however, will agree with me, I believe. If you want to hear the HD sound, you'll put up with these problems - if you want longevity, power, ease of maintenance, and reliability - you'll look somewhere else. Let the flames begin .
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Maintenance Schedule - Major
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