Latest messages

15 topics, 30 messages

harleydan 2008-02-02	Maintenance » What is some good advice for changing and tightening spark plug? A LITTLE anti sieze on the threads and torque to 25 ft/lbs.

harleydan 2008-02-02	Maintenance » How long should a v-twin engine last? I have 89 K on my fxr and it is running strong.

harleydan 2008-02-02	Maintenance » How to get rid of rust on the chrome? Ball up a piece of aluminium foil and dip it in water. A little elbow grease and the chrome will look like new again. This will remove surface rust. If it is badly pitted the only solution is have it replated.

Rocco 2007-12-08	Maintenance » Rear Brake advice for all I just wanted to share this driving experience and hope this never happens to anyone. I was out one day riding my bike on an open country road when I saw a red light up ahead. I quickly down shifted and applied moderate brake pressure. I eventually slowed down to about 10 mph and noticed the rear brake pedal suddenly slammed to the floor. I got nervous so I pulled off the side of the road to see if I blew the brake line. It looked fine, with no leaks. I then began to think there is a problem with the master cylinder. I took the cap off to look at the fluid level, but it was perfectly fine. I continued on riding my bike, but I drove slowly because of my fear of having a problem with the brakes again. When I got home I looked more closely at the brakes and it turns out the friction material on one side of the pads actually sheared away from the backing, which is what caused the problem. My advice for everyone is to check your brakes regularly and always pull the pads to check for any deterioration. I would hate for anyone to go through what I did.

Dusty 2007-12-07	Maintenance » What is a compensator? The compensator is not actually located inside the engine. It is on the output shaft and it’s a complex ramp like device that is designed to minimize sharp engine pulses from entering the drive train. Usually the biggest problem associated with compensators is the fastening nut coming off or loose. When this happens, major problems can emerge in the primary case area, but never in the engine. That's what my experience has been.

BikerBabe77 2007-12-06	Maintenance » What is a compensator? My neighbor came up to me the other day and told me he was riding his bike when it suddenly stopped. He got it home and realized his compensator just failed and jammed into other parts of the engine. I was totally shocked. It seems like a big job. I was hoping someone here could explain what is a compensator? What does it look like? How does it function? Has anyone had it happen to them before? Thankfully his bike is still under warrantee, so he doesn’t have to pay anything to get it fixed.

HogRiderMi 2007-12-06	Maintenance » How to fix a crack in the exhaust? To repair the crack in your exhaust, my suggestion is to buy some JB weld, that you can get at any department store or automotive store for about $5 dollars. Depending on where you live, if the humidity is high outside, it will take longer to cure. When putting the solution on make sure you use thin applications. When you put several thin applications, it seems to work better than one thick lump. Overall, JB weld should work good. I used it in the past on my Ford exhaust manifold that had a nickle size hole and it worked perfect.

HogWildHarley10 2007-12-02	Maintenance » How to fix a crack in the exhaust? I have a crack in my exhaust pipe. I don’t have much money and I was hoping it can be repaired without replacing the entire pipe. Does anyone think this can be done? So far I have talked to a few people and they suggested that I go to a welding shop and see if they can fix the crack. However, my concern is whether this is legal. I was informed that it is against the law to weld a anything related to the exhaust pipe. Is this true or is this their way of getting money out of you to buy from them?

HarleyGuy0001 2007-11-29	Maintenance » What do the numbers mean on the sidewall of the tire? The numbers on the sidewall of a tire can be difficult to de-code if you’re not familiar with their significance. I had problems too when I was trying to understand their importance. Based on the numbers you mentioned 130/90HB-16 stands for the tire width, aspect ratio, speed rate, construction type, and the diameter of the rim. So for your tire numbers, 130 indicates the tire has a 130 mm tread width. The number 90 is the aspect ratio, which is the sidewall height. This is listed as a percentage, so for a 130/90 the aspect ratio/sidewall is 90% of the tread width. Lastly, the number 16 is the rim diameter. The letter H stands for speed rating, which means your tire has a max speed of 130 MP. The next letter stands for the type of construction of the tire. Your tire has the letter B, which stands for bias ply instead of radial instruction, which would have the letter R.

BikerBabe77 2007-11-29	Maintenance » What do the numbers mean on the sidewall of the tire? I want to get new tires for my motorcycle and I was wondering if anyone tell me what the numbers mean on the sidewall of the tire. Currently, on my tire I have the numbers 130/90HB-16. I know the number 16 stands for the rim diameter, but about the other numbers? What importance do they have when riding a motorcycle?