Have a question for those in the know. Since it was a warm day here in Indiana today, I though I would un cover the bike and let it run for awhile.

It started right up, but after a couple of mins, started to smell something funny, like a burning smell?

I noticed that both head pipes under the exhaust shileds were glowing red? Is this normal, and I have just never noticed? Or is this not right, the bike was not running for more than 10-15 mins, did not think that would be long enough for that much heat to build up.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Mike.

 

Bad idea to crank it up and run it for just a few minutes. That will be more damaging than letting it sit until you can ride. Could have been dust or cleaning products on the pipes burning.

 

Was going to let it run longer, but somthing just did not seem right, so I shut it off.

I am just hoping nothing climbed its way up into my exhuast and into the heads or something, blocking the air flow? Do not know if this is possible, but I do have mice around in the garage from time to time.

Mike

 

Harleys are cooled by air flow. There is no air flow when the bike is sitting still.
Tom

 

Another Hoosier here...did the same thing after getting all the ice chopped away and finally melted, finally had the opportunity to get bike out of garage and out to shop so I can get it on jack and do a few things, we've been covered up with snow and ice for what seems like forever. Had a little trouble getting started as it was so damp and sweating profusely...had to get my torpedo to dry out some and finally got it fired up, warmed up and dried out and rode into shop.