I have a 2002 Electra Glide Classic that is fuel injected. It has 40,000 miles and has been well maintained. This Spring I started to have some issues with the engine getting hot and oil pressure dropping. I replaced the oil filter and thought that fixed the issue. Now I have figured out that when the bike is idling, it overheats, and after it overheats I loose oil pressure. The issue is that for 3 years the bike has never overheated, not when it was over 100 in Sturgis, 90 in the mountains, never. Now this year if I idle or get into stop and go traffic for more than 5 minutes it overheats. By overheating I mean it gets much hotter, you can smell the engine, the bike starts to miss (by design to help it cool), and wants to stall. So far I have changed oil and filter, replaced the oil pressure bypass spring (helps with pressure, but does not stop overheating). I had a stage one set up (for last two years) with air filter, mufflers, and a Cobra FI2000. One dealer suggested that the FI2000 was to blame so I got a new one. Same problem. Last night I took off the FI2000 and put on the stock mufflers and air cleaner. The issue continues. Again, I have had the bike for 4 years and it has never overheated, now it overheats every time I take it out. So far here is what four different dealers have told me: I need to rebuild the top end of the engine, I need a high performance oil pump (generally I run about 32 psi when all is well), I need to install an oil cooler, I need to install a fan. I live in MN and the riding temps so far have been in the 60's and low 70's. The problem did happen one day when it was only 47.

I am lost and since each dealer I call seems to have a different thought, once they get done trying to convince me it is normal, I am reluctant to take it in because they obviously do not know what is causing the problem.

I know the bike is air cooled. I know air cooled bikes run hot when idling. I know that something is happening to my bike this year that has never happened before.

Riding is my only reason for living in this frozen wasteland. I am hoping someone can help me get this thing running right again before my three months of warmth are gone!

Tim

 

Sorry you're having problems. If it's overheating and pressure is dropping, looks like a bad oil pump. But's that's just speculation on my part. I'm no Harley engine expert. I noticed your dealer said you need a higher performance oil pump. But if the old one did the job for 40,000 miles, I don't know why you couldn't just replace with a stock part. Hope somebody answers whose solved the problem.

 

After visiting with a tech at the dealer I am going to replace the engine temperature sensor. Not overly optimistic, but he says he recently had a similar issue that was fixed buy replacing the sensor.

 

If you had an intake leak, it would run lean.

If you have a clogged injector you could also run lean.
If it runs lean, it would run hot.
Have you investigated your fuel mixture?

 

What have you changed? What changed itself? What oil filter do you use? Type of oil? There are alot of variables. I think I would start looking for a lean running condition. Check your plugs. Look for an air leak. Probably at the intake seals or the doughnut behind the carb/throttle body. The oil pressure problem is probably a result of the engine overheating.

 

I am running 20W-50 HD Oil and running a premium HD Filter. For various reasons I have changed the oil 3 times in the last 500 miles. The plugs are stock and new. I have upgraded the oil bypass spring. I have determined that the oil pressure drop is a direct result of the overheating. Based on a dealer's recommendation I replaced the engine temperature sensor. I have had the bike out twice since and it did not overheat. When I let it idle for a few minutes the oil pressure went down a little but came back up as soon as I started driving again. I am cautiously optimistic that the sensor may have been the problem, even though I do not understand why. I also have a fuel filter and fuel pressure regulator on order and will replace them when they come in. I am planning on going camping this weekend - two up and pulling a trailer. If the problem still exists I expect it to overheat. Thanks for all the input. I do not have all of the tools I wish I had so I am trying some things blindly. If after I change the fuel filter and pressure regulator the problem still exists I am just going to bring it to a dealer and hope for the best.