2014 liquid cooled question
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 0
From: Front Royal, Virginia
2014 liquid cooled question
Suppose your coolant runs out or there is some other problem with the coolant. Cant you continue to operate the bike? Isn't it still an air cooled engine at that point. Just curious.
Gary
Gary
Yes.
A good friend of mine rode the skills competition in Milwaukee last month. The engineers that designed the system were the judges, he asked them this very question.
Their answer was yes, it is the same engine, with cooling ports, and can be ridden as an air cooled engine. The cooled heads were designed for rider comfort.
A good friend of mine rode the skills competition in Milwaukee last month. The engineers that designed the system were the judges, he asked them this very question.
Their answer was yes, it is the same engine, with cooling ports, and can be ridden as an air cooled engine. The cooled heads were designed for rider comfort.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Dulles,Virginia
I own a 14 LTD - it "seems" to be leak free now. But, if it leaks again. I will not ride it and will have the dealer come retrieve it. Eventually, we will have data to support one way or the other regarding how long or if its ok to ride with coolant gone. Time will tell.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Of course the manual says not to ride it, whatever caused the problem in the "cooling system" could be further damaged by continually running the engine. But that doesn't mean the engine can't run safely without coolent. I can't remember where I read it, but the article was a MOCO representative explainng that the liquid cooled heads are only for rider comfort and the engine would run fine without coolent if the situation required it.
Beary
Beary
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
Rider magazine says that the moco reps say they can be ridden without coolant until able to be serviced.
Trending Topics
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 2
From: SO Cal
Yes.
A good friend of mine rode the skills competition in Milwaukee last month. The engineers that designed the system were the judges, he asked them this very question.
Their answer was yes, it is the same engine, with cooling ports, and can be ridden as an air cooled engine. The cooled heads were designed for rider comfort.
A good friend of mine rode the skills competition in Milwaukee last month. The engineers that designed the system were the judges, he asked them this very question.
Their answer was yes, it is the same engine, with cooling ports, and can be ridden as an air cooled engine. The cooled heads were designed for rider comfort.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 773
Likes: 11
From: Roanoke, VA
Yes.
A good friend of mine rode the skills competition in Milwaukee last month. The engineers that designed the system were the judges, he asked them this very question.
Their answer was yes, it is the same engine, with cooling ports, and can be ridden as an air cooled engine. The cooled heads were designed for rider comfort.
A good friend of mine rode the skills competition in Milwaukee last month. The engineers that designed the system were the judges, he asked them this very question.
Their answer was yes, it is the same engine, with cooling ports, and can be ridden as an air cooled engine. The cooled heads were designed for rider comfort.
Dealers have received a Tech Tip from Harley that says do not continue to operate bike if coolant runs out or if coolant temperature light will not go off.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
food for thought: the coolant caries the heat away, and the heads with out the coolant passage dissipate the heat through the solid aluminum. I believe that an empty head will not do the same because of the the air gap caused by the area being empty. I also believe that the wet heads being thinner may be susceptible to cracking. IMO
Beary