motor break in procedure.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 485
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From: upstate n.y.
motor break in procedure.
Just read a lengthly article about motor break in. It said......(you should warm your motor first and get on a open road where other traffic will not interfere with you and open the throttle in second, third and fourth gear and then let the tranie slow you down and repeat this for 30or 50 miles.
He goes on to say that this is the proper way to seat the rings and smooth the walls of the cylinder.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY FEED BACK ON THIS?
He goes on to say that this is the proper way to seat the rings and smooth the walls of the cylinder.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY FEED BACK ON THIS?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 13
From: Sussex, South of England
Vary the first say 500 or so. Warm up drive normal and avoid going at the sam speed for long times. Let the engine "work" a bit. Be gentle but don't spare it. The idea is to let the rings wear their way to match the walls. The seating of the rings can only be done once. Mess it up and you'll have missed your chance.
I'm sure you'll get loads more tips from guys who know far more than I ever will about the subject.
I'm sure you'll get loads more tips from guys who know far more than I ever will about the subject.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
Agreed, read your owners manual and follow it. These fancy break in procedures are just someone's theory. Probably the most important thing is to keep the RPM's up and don't lug the motor.
Last edited by KCFLHRC; Sep 19, 2012 at 03:08 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Houston
the owners manual says vary speeds for the first 500 miles and try not to sustain RPM's over 4500 or lug the motor.
I've been told by several techs that the motors come from the factory with the rings already seated so this is more of a "just in case" than actual necessity.
I've also been told that NOT doing this will not void your warranty, so in a sense, you may be better off just ignoring the break-in and if something DOES fail, then it wasn't right to begin with and it's better you find out while still under warranty.
I've been told by several techs that the motors come from the factory with the rings already seated so this is more of a "just in case" than actual necessity.
I've also been told that NOT doing this will not void your warranty, so in a sense, you may be better off just ignoring the break-in and if something DOES fail, then it wasn't right to begin with and it's better you find out while still under warranty.
Last edited by blarg; Sep 19, 2012 at 03:11 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,979
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
I have just under 500 miles on my CVO Ultra.
Some freeway, some two lane, and a little stop & go city.
It's been a little cool here and I'm glad as I prefer cooler weather for the break-in time.
Personally. I've not had the tech past 3000 RPM's yet, no fast starts or stops,and I've been careful to avoid prolonged idling.
Not too much difference in how I normally ride with the exception of perhaps kicking the engine up to 3500-4000 RPM's when needed.
On the last tank of fuel mileage was a tad over 41 MPG.
Some freeway, some two lane, and a little stop & go city.
It's been a little cool here and I'm glad as I prefer cooler weather for the break-in time.
Personally. I've not had the tech past 3000 RPM's yet, no fast starts or stops,and I've been careful to avoid prolonged idling.
Not too much difference in how I normally ride with the exception of perhaps kicking the engine up to 3500-4000 RPM's when needed.
On the last tank of fuel mileage was a tad over 41 MPG.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 13
From: Sussex, South of England
I have just under 500 miles on my CVO Ultra.
Some freeway, some two lane, and a little stop & go city.
It's been a little cool here and I'm glad as I prefer cooler weather for the break-in time.
Personally. I've not had the tech past 3000 RPM's yet, no fast starts or stops,and I've been careful to avoid prolonged idling.
Not too much difference in how I normally ride with the exception of perhaps kicking the engine up to 3500-4000 RPM's when needed.
On the last tank of fuel mileage was a tad over 41 MPG.
Some freeway, some two lane, and a little stop & go city.
It's been a little cool here and I'm glad as I prefer cooler weather for the break-in time.
Personally. I've not had the tech past 3000 RPM's yet, no fast starts or stops,and I've been careful to avoid prolonged idling.
Not too much difference in how I normally ride with the exception of perhaps kicking the engine up to 3500-4000 RPM's when needed.
On the last tank of fuel mileage was a tad over 41 MPG.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,403
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From: Indy
Your rings will be broke in within the first 50 miles, not much else needs it, and I would rather romp on it in that time, than to have a bearing take a dump after you take it easy for break in.
I did the 30-60-30 method when I got my motor back, it has 50k on it now.
The Harley manual break in is nonsense by today's machining techniques everything is much closer to where it needs to be right out of the box.
Run it 50 miles change oil , then change it at 500, then at 1000 this is what I did,and the oil wad dirty at the 50 and 500, the 1000 it cleaned up pretty good.
I did the 30-60-30 method when I got my motor back, it has 50k on it now.
The Harley manual break in is nonsense by today's machining techniques everything is much closer to where it needs to be right out of the box.
Run it 50 miles change oil , then change it at 500, then at 1000 this is what I did,and the oil wad dirty at the 50 and 500, the 1000 it cleaned up pretty good.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
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From: Spokane, WA.
I did the motoman break in on my RKC, changed oil and filter at 50 miles, same day I brought it home.
Changed oil and filter at 500 miles and at 1000 miles.
And after the 1000 miles, I run Mobil 1 20/50 vtwin synthetic, I use a K&N oil filter and use the scavenger oil change method for each oil change.
Changed oil and filter at 500 miles and at 1000 miles.
And after the 1000 miles, I run Mobil 1 20/50 vtwin synthetic, I use a K&N oil filter and use the scavenger oil change method for each oil change.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 460
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Based on several articles I've read through the years, the theory behind the accelerate decelerate scenario is seating the rings. They supposedly only have a limited coating on them to assist with seating. If you ride too easy too long at the begining of the engines life they say you will wear this coating off and the rings may never seat as well as they could be.
I have always broken mine in this way but havn't kept them long enough for it to matter
I have always broken mine in this way but havn't kept them long enough for it to matter