Wet Behind the Ears Harley Rider

[NH53]

Hi, I recently bought an Electra Glide, this 32 years after my last bike. That (my last bike) was a Triumph 500, 340 lbs wringing wet. Bit of a culture shock to get to grips with 790 lbs of bike (MOT shop figures, rather than guesswork). Getting used to it now (thank goodness - for me and all the other guys on the road), finding out all the little foibles of the machine. Some nice (goes well, is LOUD), some not so nice (oil pressure low - is this a Harley trait?).

Read the forum posts regularly, first time I've actually posted something.

[BaZa®]

Tell us a bit more about your bike...year etc and where are you from.

Glad you found us.

[Gray]

Originally Posted by NH53

some not so nice (oil pressure low - is this a Harley trait?).

.

Hi Dude, may we call you N for short? That engine is stuffed full of roller bearings. They need a flow of lube but they don't hovercraft on a pressure feed of oil like a plain bearing so the pressure is lower. Check out the Tech section and find out what people think your oil pressure should be.

Then join the club you know you want to. If you don't, we'll know and we'll lie about your oil pressure.

Hey NH;

Welcome to the forum, YOUNGSTER!
;)

[NH53]

Bike is a 97 FLHtCU-I (1340), got Stage 1 (so I'm told), done round about 12500 miles, blue/silver, loads of chromey bits, a battery that goes flat VERY quickly (despite being new). Am trying to replace all the side bulbs (of which there are a lot) with LED equivalents, but most of the bulbs seem to be upright, therefore bulbs that shine straiht ahead not much use. All this to try and cut down the power used by them. Every time I put the brakes on, the headlight dims! Could be a problem with the rectifier unit, I guess - may get it tested one of these days.

The other notable thing about the bike was I bought without any oil in the gearbox - I can't believe I was so stupid. It howls quite nicely when empty! Put some oil in, and it appears not to have damaged it significantly.

Took quite a while to get used to the bike, but I'm getting there. One or two niggly little problems, but then thats half the fun (fixing them, not the problems themselves).

And THANKS to the member that called me youngster - my lads (20 and 18) think I'm nuts (thats when they could get up of the floor after finishing laughing). Hey - I don't care - you're only old once.

North Staffs based.

Sorry about delay in getting back to this, commute in Brum, doin't get back till late - just in time to go through everybodies day, after which I am ready to flake out.

[Natra]

Originally Posted by usabear

Hey NH;

Welcome to the forum, YOUNGSTER!
;)

welcome to the site, Take no notice of santabear he is at least 300 years old

[S.T.Chapman]

Originally Posted by NH53

Bike is a 97 FLHtCU-I (1340),
a battery that goes flat VERY quickly (despite being new). . Every time I put the brakes on, the headlight dims! Could be a problem with the rectifier unit, I guess - may get it tested one of these days.

Hi there I dont often get down here

with regards to your apparent problem, doesnt your dash contain a voltmeter? I know mine does allthough its a later model.

battery flattening lights dimming? all signs of a malfunctioned charging circuit.
it does sound like the regulator but dont jump to conclusions.
it could be the alternator, wiring from the alternator to the regulator, all manner of things to consider.

personally either check it out or get it checked.

low oil pressure?

get that checked too.

where did you buy it from?
sounds to me if you havent had it long, then you a few faults, that if it came from a dealer, then they should be sorting out.

may I finnish by saying welcome and if you have further technical questions then we would be only too welcome to answer them in the technical forums, dont be afraid to ask thats what its there for;)

[NH53]

Thanks for the information STC, pretty much what I felt. Bought it privately, on a whim (I'd wanted one for ever, never seemed to have money/time - old story, wife, kids, mortgage, etc. etc.) - therefore no comeback, my responsbility. I changed the engine oil, put Syn3 in it, which has improved it slightly. It runs at about 12 - 20 psi when hot (dependent upon revs), dropping to almost zero when idling. When starting up, it goes up to 40psi, then drops over the next minute or so to about 20psi and stays there until the oil heats up. Doesn't seem to affect it's power, and the engine is not noisy (I bought a pair of standard mufflers for the nice man in the MOT shop - so I can actually hear the engine with these on).

I don't use the bike that often, pretty much only at weekends, cos I commute into Brum very day currently (my job takes me all over the place, just returned from 7 months in Harrow - staying there during the week returning home for weekends), so don't really get the opportunity.

You're right though, I will get both (oil pressure, electrics) checked out.

[kneetrembler]

Welcome.

[kiwidave]

welcome

My personal feeling is that oil pressure gauges induce panic needlessly.

Also, some people have them situated in the wrong place for a ''good'' reading.

No odd noises? Good. If there were any probs you would hear a damn good clattering. AND the idiot light will come on. The idiot light is your friend.

Oil is warm in the tank after a good ride, and dipstick reads near max? Good

Just ride.