Is this a routine procedure?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 3
From: California
Is this a routine procedure?
Took my '010 Ultra in for service today and complained about all the noises coming out of the primary, and threw out a few suggestions to the service writer that I've learned here. I told him that one possibility was that maybe the primary chain needed adjusting. Since I've already looked up the procedure in the service manual, I was a little surprised when he told me that they wouldn't need to open it up, so I questioned the process. He told me that they take the bike and run it up to third gear, then do a hard down-shift without blipping the throttle to put a large down force on the transmission and thereby take the slack out of the chain.
Somehow, when I picture this in my mind, it doesn't seem like the proper way to make the adjustment. Why the lengthy procedure in the manual? He also told me that this is the recommended Harley procedure.
Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Somehow, when I picture this in my mind, it doesn't seem like the proper way to make the adjustment. Why the lengthy procedure in the manual? He also told me that this is the recommended Harley procedure.
Any thoughts?
Thank you,
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 636
Likes: 1
From: Monterey, CA
There have been threads on here discussing the chain tensioners. They have said to run them up to 30 mph in FIRST, then brake hard and pull the clutch in just before she dies. So maybe your service guy is legit???
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 570
Likes: 4
From: New Mexico
If that is the case then Harley needs to tighten the specs on the tensioner. Hard to believe that forcing slack in the chain to tighten it that way that it would be noisy. Did it quiet down after you got it back?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 3
From: California
Basically, he's saying rev it up in third gear and pop it hard down into second. With all the threads I've read here on this subject, just wondering why I've never seen it posted.
Seems to me, for the $28k (total) I spent at this dealer for this bike, the proper way is to pull off the primary cover and check/make the adjustment. Since they are changing all the fluids anyway, what are we talking here to get a good look at everything, the cost of a gasket? Can anyone tell me if the tech is normally supposed to open it up for the 1k service? Makes me wonder for what we pay vs. how the tech actually accomplishes the work; it's not like the service is free of charge. (Is this the preferred H-D method when it's under warranty?) Maybe I just have the wrong perspective on this one.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
My thought is that they can do what ever procedure they want to try to get it to adjust (if that is the problem), if those choices don't get rid of the noise, then they will probably be taking the primary off to investigate, under warranty???
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Some times these things just dont work the way they should.
I dont think removing the cover is part of the service.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 3
From: Southeastern Michigan
This just cleared up a question I brought up recently in another thread.
Problem: Intermittent excessive vibration that seems to clear itself up over time. It happens every 10K miles or so with mine. Goes away completely after 100 miles or so.
I actually took it in while under warranty once - thinking I was loosing a bearing.
Got it back - good as new - dealer said nothing was wrong. Of course he didn't tell me the procedure.
My thoughts are that the vibration occurs just prior to the tensioner ratcheting up to the next tooth.
This makes complete sense to me and I think your dealer is ligit!
Thanks for the thread - now that I know there's a procedure I won't have to suffer.
FWIW - I've done far worse in shifting (riding the Dragon, Colorado Rockies) than this procedure. It won't hurt anything, and you're not adding labor cost's or risking a leak by taking things apart.
Problem: Intermittent excessive vibration that seems to clear itself up over time. It happens every 10K miles or so with mine. Goes away completely after 100 miles or so.
I actually took it in while under warranty once - thinking I was loosing a bearing.
Got it back - good as new - dealer said nothing was wrong. Of course he didn't tell me the procedure.
My thoughts are that the vibration occurs just prior to the tensioner ratcheting up to the next tooth.
This makes complete sense to me and I think your dealer is ligit!
Thanks for the thread - now that I know there's a procedure I won't have to suffer.
FWIW - I've done far worse in shifting (riding the Dragon, Colorado Rockies) than this procedure. It won't hurt anything, and you're not adding labor cost's or risking a leak by taking things apart.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 671
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
I find this thread very interesting, only because, I've never heard or had any of these issues. Maybe because when I am out riding and coming to a stop, I pretty much down shift and let the motor and transmission slow the bike down. I try not to use the brakes as much as possibly can. Not sure if that has anything to do with nothing.