Abs myth?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Well, I just finished my 4th ABS bar install and once again I did not need to have the digital tech connected to the bike and re-bled at the dealership. Each bike has been taken to my local dealer that Ive been doing business for years and inspected by their techs and service manager and given the thumbs up. I have lunch once a week with other local Shop owners such as myself and they too have had similar results. Im not posting this to start a war with some dealership know it all, its purely for informational purposes, so post accordingly please. I dont care what the service manual claims, Ive been finding contradictory information in HD sevice manuals as long as they have been in print.
And you'll be even cooler when you explain this to someone who sues you if they trash their bike due to your failure to properly bleed the brakes. Good job advertising that fact here on a public forum too.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 5
From: Tennessee
WOW! He didn't say he didn't bleed the damn things! He said he didn't use the digital tech at the dealership to do it! He also stated that they all were inspected by the dealership and given a thumbs up! Give the guy a freakin break!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,981
Likes: 48
From: Northern Illinois
I switched out the bars on my Bagger with ABS. I bled the lines with a Mity Vac and all seemed good and the ABS light went out like it should.
Just to be on the safe side, I had my dealer do an "ABS Bleed", only charged me 24 bucks.
The brakes felt pretty good after the Mity Vac bleed, but they feel even better after having the dealer hook it up to the DT.
For me anyway, the peace of mind was well worth the 24 bucks.
Just to be on the safe side, I had my dealer do an "ABS Bleed", only charged me 24 bucks.
The brakes felt pretty good after the Mity Vac bleed, but they feel even better after having the dealer hook it up to the DT.
For me anyway, the peace of mind was well worth the 24 bucks.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 240
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I think everyone is missing the point.....We do bar installs here at LA Choppers every week for R&D, video installs or whatever. And the point being made here, is if bled properly the digital tech isnt needed. We dont have one, and all our installs have come out perfect. We took the first few bikes we did to our local HD Dealer and they said if the trouble code isnt thrown, then ABS is fully functional. I had the service manager inspect our lines test ride it, the whole 9 yards. Trust me, we did our due diligence! As stated, if air is introduced, then ABS is inoperable, if not, they are just fine. I dont think Handlebarlouie is looking for a pat on the back, I think he's saying that do-it-yourselfers dont have their hands tied behind their backs. This is still a job that, with caution and the proper vacuum bleeder, can still be done in the garage. I have also ridden a bike with air in the line to see what happens, and the brakes dont fail, they are just spongy.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 298
Likes: 0
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
I have more miles on my bike backing it up to a curb than you do going in a straight line son, so hush. My post was just as Chucky explained, to educate folks on ABS bar installs, not to brag. Even though I have installed hundereds of bars, this new age of Harley Davidson with all the gizmos and computers is new to me too. So Im speaking to the people who want to hear what Ive learned not to some punk credit card biker who talks tough on the internet. Now run along watch you Sons of Anarchy 2 disc set so you know how to act this weekend when you go out and play biker with your friends. Dont forget to iron your Sturgis T-shirt, cupcake
I know who you're speaking to, it's a bunch of people who haven't done their bars, and will foolishly take your advice rather than running their bikes to the dealer to check to make sure their ABS is functioning properly. It's lousy advice, and it's dangerous advice.
Do whatever you want, that's your business. But anyone who cuts corners when doing work on their bikes, especially when it comes to the brakes, is a fool. Anyone who tells others that it's ok to cut corners, and does so from a (supposed) position of knowledge is dangerous, and no friend to the community.
Edited to add - To be clear, you can bleed the brakes yourself without the DT, that's not the issue. If you replace the upper brake line, you will introduce air into the ABS controller. You can bleed the system at home well enough to ride it to the dealer to have them hook it up, but until they check it, you're taking a real risk. It is possible that a home bleed will get all the air out of the controller, but I damn sure won't gamble my life on that.
Last edited by '05Train; Sep 23, 2011 at 07:50 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Topeka, KS
Oooohhhh, now you want to measure your wiener over the internet. Classy.
I know who you're speaking to, it's a bunch of people who haven't done their bars, and will foolishly take your advice rather than running their bikes to the dealer to check to make sure their ABS is functioning properly. It's lousy advice, and it's dangerous advice.
Do whatever you want, that's your business. But anyone who cuts corners when doing work on their bikes, especially when it comes to the brakes, is a fool. Anyone who tells others that it's ok to cut corners, and does so from a (supposed) position of knowledge is dangerous, and no friend to the community.
I know who you're speaking to, it's a bunch of people who haven't done their bars, and will foolishly take your advice rather than running their bikes to the dealer to check to make sure their ABS is functioning properly. It's lousy advice, and it's dangerous advice.
Do whatever you want, that's your business. But anyone who cuts corners when doing work on their bikes, especially when it comes to the brakes, is a fool. Anyone who tells others that it's ok to cut corners, and does so from a (supposed) position of knowledge is dangerous, and no friend to the community.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 5
From: Tennessee
I have more miles on my bike backing it up to a curb than you do going in a straight line son, so hush. My post was just as Chucky explained, to educate folks on ABS bar installs, not to brag. Even though I have installed hundereds of bars, this new age of Harley Davidson with all the gizmos and computers is new to me too. So Im speaking to the people who want to hear what Ive learned not to some punk credit card biker who talks tough on the internet. Now run along watch you Sons of Anarchy 2 disc set so you know how to act this weekend when you go out and play biker with your friends. Dont forget to iron your Sturgis T-shirt, cupcake
:icon_at tention:Rock on Louie! Guys like you are the reason i joined this forum! Someone whos been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt! Don't let the haters get you down, the rest of us value your knowledge and experience!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Don't believe me, I don't care. Just RTFM, and look at what the OP posted back in June.
Originally Posted by HandleBarLouie
The dealer has to plug it into the digital tech to test the system or the ABS may malfunction. Even companies like LA Choppers who make ABS cable kits have a disclaimer in their instruction about it. If you do all the work and then just have the dealer plug it in and check it, prolly only run ya $50.