EPA information
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Tourer
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Tourer
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RE: EPA information
To meet the 2010 Tier 2 standard, all motorcycle manufacturers, including Harley-Davidson, will most likely need to use more advanced engine modifications, such as water-cooling and/or secondary air injection. The EPA maintains that a major cause of harmful emissions is the inexact air/fuel ratio from a carburetor, which allows some amount of unburned fuel to make its way into the exhaust system. Fuel injection provides for a more precise air/fuel ratio, thereby reducing the amount of unburned fuel reaching the exhaust. The EPA has not mandated the use of fuel injection, and suggests that engine modifications combined with improved carburetor technology could be a solution for compliance. However, some industry insiders feel that by 2010, carburetors on motorcycles will go the way of the Edsel. Will Harley-Davidson eventually eliminate carbureted motorcycles from its offerings? Will it have to go to all water-cooled engines, such as the one currently in the V-Rod? Again, H-D will not comment on future plans. However, you may have noticed that fuel injection was introduced as an option to the Dyna line for the first time in 2004 and, of course, there’s the new V-Rod line.
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Tourer
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RE: EPA information
Rider safety is also an issue. Cats are very hot and require positional heat shielding. If you can achieve enough heat shielding to keep the chrome intact, it’ll also keep it in a rider-friendly arena. You’re talking significant increases in temperatures because what’s happening in the catalytic converter is that the precious metals in there create a chemical reaction with the exhaust gases to break them down into friendlier components. Those reactions don’t take place until you get to very elevated temperatures. I’m going to say off the top of my head somewhere around 1,000 degrees. Chrome starts to discolor around 700 degrees, so the goal is to stay underneath that. You can achieve that by heat shielding, and it’ll be cooler on the outside. You also have potential fire hazards when you have anything that hot, although if the cat is designed and shielded properly, and the bike is maintained in a normal manner, you shouldn’t have a problem.”
Another issue concerns motor oils used in motorcycles. Motorcycle oils can contain zinc and phosphorus to provide anti-wear properties. However, some automotive motor oils today do not contain these elements. According to the International CBX Owners Association web site, “The absence of zinc and phosphorus from automobile oils is for the preservation of catalytic converters. These are both extreme pressure additives that are a necessary part of motorcycle oils.” Similarly, in a motor oil Q&A forum on Bel-Ray’s web site, it is stated that automotive oils are “formulated to lubricate a water-cooled, low rpm and catalytic converted engine” and “Auto oils don’t have the same anti-wear properties like zinc, for example, because it clogs the catalytic converter.” This would lead us to believe that many motor oils will have to be reformulated to accommodate catalytic converters on motorcycles.
Another issue concerns motor oils used in motorcycles. Motorcycle oils can contain zinc and phosphorus to provide anti-wear properties. However, some automotive motor oils today do not contain these elements. According to the International CBX Owners Association web site, “The absence of zinc and phosphorus from automobile oils is for the preservation of catalytic converters. These are both extreme pressure additives that are a necessary part of motorcycle oils.” Similarly, in a motor oil Q&A forum on Bel-Ray’s web site, it is stated that automotive oils are “formulated to lubricate a water-cooled, low rpm and catalytic converted engine” and “Auto oils don’t have the same anti-wear properties like zinc, for example, because it clogs the catalytic converter.” This would lead us to believe that many motor oils will have to be reformulated to accommodate catalytic converters on motorcycles.
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Tourer
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RE: EPA information
Senator Ben “Nighthorse” Campbell from Colorado, who is a long-time motorcycle rider and avid motorcyclists’ rights crusader, wrote a letter to the EPA prior to the release of the final EPA rule. The letter urged Christie Whitman, EPA administrator at that time, to include a flexible implementation schedule for small businesses. His concern was that these small manufacturers be allowed more time to adjust to the rule so that they could comply with the requirements without going out of business. Campbell opines, “The EPA did put in some concessions, but I’m not sure it goes far enough. It is unclear to me how businesses like S&S Cycle and small manufacturers will eventually be impacted.”
Campbell goes on to verbalize the thoughts of many opponents to the EPA rule. “I don’t trust the numbers we get from some Federal agencies. They come up with an idea for a rule they want to enact, then they come up with statistics to justify it. I just can’t understand how motorcycles with two cylinders emit more pollutants than a car with eight cylinders. And they are comparing apples and oranges. I suppose the next thing they’ll do is compare electric hybrid cars with gasoline- powered cars, mandating that we now have to force everyone to go to electric hybrid cars because they pollute less.”
He warms up to the discussion. “I think there’s a little guy chained to a wall in the basement that never sees the light of day. He sits around making up new laws to take away our freedoms. I notice a pattern; pretty soon we won’t be able to change our tires or our engines without a government permit. This goes against the grain of basic American freedom, especially for free-spirited motorcyclists.”
Campbell goes on to verbalize the thoughts of many opponents to the EPA rule. “I don’t trust the numbers we get from some Federal agencies. They come up with an idea for a rule they want to enact, then they come up with statistics to justify it. I just can’t understand how motorcycles with two cylinders emit more pollutants than a car with eight cylinders. And they are comparing apples and oranges. I suppose the next thing they’ll do is compare electric hybrid cars with gasoline- powered cars, mandating that we now have to force everyone to go to electric hybrid cars because they pollute less.”
He warms up to the discussion. “I think there’s a little guy chained to a wall in the basement that never sees the light of day. He sits around making up new laws to take away our freedoms. I notice a pattern; pretty soon we won’t be able to change our tires or our engines without a government permit. This goes against the grain of basic American freedom, especially for free-spirited motorcyclists.”
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Tourer
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RE: EPA information
There is a section in the Clean Air Act of 1979 concerning “tampering,” which makes it illegal to modify or remove any component designed to reduce or control exhaust emissions, including intake or exhaust noise. Removing the catalytic converter on a car, or a new motorcycle constitutes tampering. So does replacing an engine component with anything other than stock or direct replacement components. Violating this anti-tampering law opens you up to a fine of up to $10,000 per occurrence . An occurrence is logged each and everyday the modified vehicle is operated on public streets. That means a possible fine of up to $10,000 per day for every modified motorcycle that comes out of your shop. (This is the maximum fine, not necessarily what the EPA will impose.)
What work can you do without violating the anti-tampering law? The EPA says that, by law, all you can change is accessories that do not affect how the bike performs emissions-wise, such as chassis improvements, color, and chrome changes. No engine, intake, exhaust, or driveline modifications allowed. Ditto for six-speeds, fat rear tires, and sprocket or pulley changes. Anything that can cause the engine to work harder, rev differently, etc. is not allowed. So how long can you stay in business if you lose the vast majority of your engine work or only work on pre-1979 motorcycles? Motorcycles did not have emissions controls put on them until 1979, so any engine or driveline modifications are legal on 1978 and earlier bikes.
What work can you do without violating the anti-tampering law? The EPA says that, by law, all you can change is accessories that do not affect how the bike performs emissions-wise, such as chassis improvements, color, and chrome changes. No engine, intake, exhaust, or driveline modifications allowed. Ditto for six-speeds, fat rear tires, and sprocket or pulley changes. Anything that can cause the engine to work harder, rev differently, etc. is not allowed. So how long can you stay in business if you lose the vast majority of your engine work or only work on pre-1979 motorcycles? Motorcycles did not have emissions controls put on them until 1979, so any engine or driveline modifications are legal on 1978 and earlier bikes.
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Tourer
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RE: EPA information
The rule goes on to say, “The new emission standards that we are adopting do not change this ‘tampering’ prohibition, which has been in the Clean Air Act for more than 20 years. Part manufacturers are still free to make parts, dealers are free to sell and install parts, and owners are free to customize their motorcycles in any way, as long as they do not disable emission controls or cause the motorcycle to exceed the emission standards. Owners are also free to perform routine maintenance on their motorcycles to restore or maintain the motorcycle engine and related components in their original condition and configuration.”
The key phrase here is “original condition and configuration.” That means an 88-cubic-inch Twin Cam engine, for example, cannot be stroked or bored out to make it a 95" or larger engine unless the new engine configuration has been tested and certified to meet the emissions limits that were in effect when the motorcycle was new. And, as we all know, that is a very popular upgrade on a Twin Cam
The key phrase here is “original condition and configuration.” That means an 88-cubic-inch Twin Cam engine, for example, cannot be stroked or bored out to make it a 95" or larger engine unless the new engine configuration has been tested and certified to meet the emissions limits that were in effect when the motorcycle was new. And, as we all know, that is a very popular upgrade on a Twin Cam
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Tourer
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RE: EPA information
I read all of the articles last night. Does this mean a Stage 1, 2 or 3 is not legal. I am considering a Stage 2 on my 05 FLHRI Road King.
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Road Warrior
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From: NEW LENOX, IL
RE: EPA information
ANY modifications have been illegal since 1987 or something like that when they passed the laws. They just never followed up on them until now when they are REALLY pushing the B*LLSH*T!!!! [:@]
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