Wow. It's interesting how my oil question thread has turned into a HD rider bashing thread! I for one ride by myself most of the time, not with clubs or large groups. I also have HD CVO 110" street legal mufflers on my bike. But, as I might be taking your post comments the wrong way, I will sign off for now, as what you are saying about Harley riders, I.E. "Me' is begining to [censored] me off real bad.
HARLEY DAVIDSON ENGINE OIL QUESTION
- Thread starter MULESKINNER
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Muleskinner,most people that bash harleys like STD dont even ride,so dont let it bother you.
Originally Posted By: STG
Originally Posted By: MULESKINNER
I'm not a biker wanna be. I own a Harley bagger because I want to cruise. I sold my 05 Honda ST 1300 because it was too perfect and I could not keep it under 100 MPH. Also I like to modify my bike and make it mine. The ST was perfect with nothing to be done to it. Also, the riding position was uncomfortable for me. I can ride all day on my bagger with no back or leg problems.
Now when I really want to go fast, I ride my 2005 Kawasaki ZX12R. I've had it to 175 MPH before my balls began to shrink. I went through the factory rear tire in 2000 miles. And no that was not because of burn outs. It was because of hard roll ons from 70 MPH.
So no, just because some of us ride Harleys does not mean we are wanna be bikers or posers. It just means we have a choice of what we want to ride. That's the good old American way.
I'm cool with that. I only have two rules when it comes to Harleys:
1. Any Harley Davidson motorcycle that produces more db than horsepower must be removed from the road and crushed.
2. Harley Davidson riders need to use the right lane at all times.
By the way, most HD riders I've spoken with say that the lure of the open road, the feeling of being the modern lone cowboy is the attraction to motorcycling on a Hog. I guess that's why you never see a lone HD rider, only massive clubs on the road.
You're an idiot.
BTW, I always ride alone. And I see lone HD riders all the time.
Originally Posted By: MULESKINNER
I'm not a biker wanna be. I own a Harley bagger because I want to cruise. I sold my 05 Honda ST 1300 because it was too perfect and I could not keep it under 100 MPH. Also I like to modify my bike and make it mine. The ST was perfect with nothing to be done to it. Also, the riding position was uncomfortable for me. I can ride all day on my bagger with no back or leg problems.
Now when I really want to go fast, I ride my 2005 Kawasaki ZX12R. I've had it to 175 MPH before my balls began to shrink. I went through the factory rear tire in 2000 miles. And no that was not because of burn outs. It was because of hard roll ons from 70 MPH.
So no, just because some of us ride Harleys does not mean we are wanna be bikers or posers. It just means we have a choice of what we want to ride. That's the good old American way.
I'm cool with that. I only have two rules when it comes to Harleys:
1. Any Harley Davidson motorcycle that produces more db than horsepower must be removed from the road and crushed.
2. Harley Davidson riders need to use the right lane at all times.
By the way, most HD riders I've spoken with say that the lure of the open road, the feeling of being the modern lone cowboy is the attraction to motorcycling on a Hog. I guess that's why you never see a lone HD rider, only massive clubs on the road.
You're an idiot.
BTW, I always ride alone. And I see lone HD riders all the time.
Originally Posted By: MULESKINNER
Okay. I have decided to try Delo 15w40. I found it today at Wall Mart for $9.49 per gallon. Compared to $9.97 a quart for M1 V-Twin that's cheap! I have used Delo 15w40 in my 2001 Dodge Cummins and I have over 200,000 miles on it. I bought it in 2001 and at 140,000 miles I pulled the valve cover to adjust the valves. I found no sludge in the engine and the valves were spot on. So, if Delo is good enough and certified for Cat, Cummins, etc, etc, it should be okay in my Harley.
Your Cummins is not air cooled. It has a controlled temp range unlike your Harley which will run 300-400F in the Summer. Saving $20 could cost you $4000.
Okay. I have decided to try Delo 15w40. I found it today at Wall Mart for $9.49 per gallon. Compared to $9.97 a quart for M1 V-Twin that's cheap! I have used Delo 15w40 in my 2001 Dodge Cummins and I have over 200,000 miles on it. I bought it in 2001 and at 140,000 miles I pulled the valve cover to adjust the valves. I found no sludge in the engine and the valves were spot on. So, if Delo is good enough and certified for Cat, Cummins, etc, etc, it should be okay in my Harley.
Your Cummins is not air cooled. It has a controlled temp range unlike your Harley which will run 300-400F in the Summer. Saving $20 could cost you $4000.
Originally Posted By: STG
MULESKINNER said:He rides all three flat out. HD replaced the engines because the company doesn't want to admit that their old technology is [censored]. More importantly, HD doesn't want to admit that their customers are primarily biker wanna bees who would never even dream of riding their bikes anywhere near the speed limit.
In an amusing side note, I drove the length of the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway in Park County, Wyoming yesterday. I passed a dozen Harley riders in my F250 Powerstroke. The wusses were too scared to ride faster than 35 MPH. What scared them more was a diesel pickup on their back wheels flashing high beams. Pathetic.
Hey, here's Redline's new slogan: Use Redline in your Harley and just maybe, if your lucky, you won't blow your engine!
You are from Wyoming...there's only 2 things in Wyoming...steers & kweers....and I don't see no horns on you boy...
Originally Posted By: harley145000
Muleskinner,most people that bash harleys like STD dont even ride,so dont let it bother you.
Exactly....
Muleskinner,most people that bash harleys like STD dont even ride,so dont let it bother you.
Exactly....
It ought to be possible to have a discussion of the properties and performance of oil in a specified engine without disparaging either the architecture (air vs. water, etc.) or the manufacturer.
The engine is what it is. The various oils are what they are.
The question is therefore -- what would be the expected result of running oil X in engine Y, given a set of assumptions about how the engine is operated.
The engine is what it is. The various oils are what they are.
The question is therefore -- what would be the expected result of running oil X in engine Y, given a set of assumptions about how the engine is operated.
The STG character came here with an agenda, and the anecdote he provides appears not to be true.
I did call the Harley dealership he advised us to call, and no one there had any recollection of a Sportster ever having had two engines replaced under warranty.
As STG's later posts seem to reveal, he's not a big fan of Harley Davidson motorcycles, and it is therefore not surprising to see him carry forth a false rumor.
It is possible that STG's friend Mark has misled him, I don't know. But in any event, the story he has presented here seems baseless.
Dan
I did call the Harley dealership he advised us to call, and no one there had any recollection of a Sportster ever having had two engines replaced under warranty.
As STG's later posts seem to reveal, he's not a big fan of Harley Davidson motorcycles, and it is therefore not surprising to see him carry forth a false rumor.
It is possible that STG's friend Mark has misled him, I don't know. But in any event, the story he has presented here seems baseless.
Dan
Sure you called. Who did you speak to? I think it's too easy for you to make that claim.
I was present on two occasions, on the side of the road with my friend, his Sportster and blown engine. On one occasion, Antelope Valley HD picked up the bike from the roadside and trailered it to there service department.
You may not like what I think of typical Harley riders, but it is my opinion. Perhaps it hits a little too close to home.
I was present on two occasions, on the side of the road with my friend, his Sportster and blown engine. On one occasion, Antelope Valley HD picked up the bike from the roadside and trailered it to there service department.
You may not like what I think of typical Harley riders, but it is my opinion. Perhaps it hits a little too close to home.
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Originally Posted By: STG
You may not like what I think of typical Harley riders, but it is my opinion. Perhaps it hits a little too close to home.
The point is that it's unnecessary to voice that particular opinion (HD riders) here. It's not relevant to the discussion.
You may not like what I think of typical Harley riders, but it is my opinion. Perhaps it hits a little too close to home.
The point is that it's unnecessary to voice that particular opinion (HD riders) here. It's not relevant to the discussion.
I spoke to Steve, the service manager. Prior to that, I spoke to a girl named Jen.
I specifically asked them if they had replaced 3 engines for a Sportster owner named Mark, who also owns a Ducati. No one there was able to confirm your claim, and they agreed that something like that should be memorable had it actually happened.
Now, Mark might have had a warranty claim or two that didn't involve total engine replacement--they wouldn't get into it with me any deeper than that. But again, there was no record of three engines being replaced under warranty--for Mark, or anyone else, it seems.
And I'm sorry I wasted my time calling, because your response was predictable...
Dan
I specifically asked them if they had replaced 3 engines for a Sportster owner named Mark, who also owns a Ducati. No one there was able to confirm your claim, and they agreed that something like that should be memorable had it actually happened.
Now, Mark might have had a warranty claim or two that didn't involve total engine replacement--they wouldn't get into it with me any deeper than that. But again, there was no record of three engines being replaced under warranty--for Mark, or anyone else, it seems.
And I'm sorry I wasted my time calling, because your response was predictable...
Dan
Off topic, I saw that troller throwing the bait right away. Plenty of people with anti Harley angst. Why someone cares so much about what someone else drives/rides is beyond me.
On topic, his first post is not too over bearing. It would have made sense that if you are going to ride a sportster wide open throttle for extended periods a smart guy might consult a flat track racer or someone who abuses that engine like that.
Which brings us back to the original post (a smart guy doing some consulting), I would use some caution running 15W40 HDEO and make the first runs short and get an analysis if that is what you have decided. I think (at least pre GF-4) these are are great oils but it is not what the manufacturer calls for in a regular fill and I don't know one person that uses it as a regular fill in a TC. I also don't know anyone who uses Harley Syn 3 for that matter, they all use M1, Amsoil, Redline, or other high end oil. I hope it works out good for you and I will be interested in seeing the results.
On topic, his first post is not too over bearing. It would have made sense that if you are going to ride a sportster wide open throttle for extended periods a smart guy might consult a flat track racer or someone who abuses that engine like that.
Which brings us back to the original post (a smart guy doing some consulting), I would use some caution running 15W40 HDEO and make the first runs short and get an analysis if that is what you have decided. I think (at least pre GF-4) these are are great oils but it is not what the manufacturer calls for in a regular fill and I don't know one person that uses it as a regular fill in a TC. I also don't know anyone who uses Harley Syn 3 for that matter, they all use M1, Amsoil, Redline, or other high end oil. I hope it works out good for you and I will be interested in seeing the results.
I don't know if STG was/is a bona fide troller or not, but the story just seemed fishy from the get-go.
First, there are plenty of HD Sportsters and big twins around which have been run just as hard, just as long, in just as hot or even hotter weather, with no problems. The wide open desert is a place where lots of guys like to open 'em up and let 'em rip for mile after mile... so my first thought was that if his friend really did blow 3 engines (and they all got replaced under warranty, he said) it wasn't an oil puking issue... it must have been something else. Also, in such an incident of three engines going into the same customer's bike under warranty, the folks from Milwaukee would be asking to have a real close look--especially after the second one, and certainly after the third one. And of course the dealership would have been REALLY familiar with such a case...
Second, if the guy really blew his first engine by having it puke out all the oil, why didn't he see the oil pressure warning light? When you're riding hard and fast like that, you'd be foolish not to keep a peripheral view on the warning gauges. Anyone who claims he's going too fast to keep an eye on the machine's vitals is not the kind of guy I want to be riding with.
Third, the idea that all of the oils foamed out of the crankcase except Redline is also suspect. Redline wouldn't resist foaming any more than Amsoil, I wouldn't think. All quality oils have antifoamants in them. Of course there are some little bubbles on top of the oil in the tank when you look in after a hard ride, but those are just on the surface, and come from the oil being thrashed around a bit. They dissipate quickly, and pose no real hazard to the oil staying in the engine.
Foaming out three quarts of oil from a bike during a hard run and not noticing it would be quite an accomplishment. Didn't Mark see billowing clouds of smoke trailing him and his machine in the rear view? Or running down the side of the engine?
These bikes have been run bone stock on the salt flats many times over the years, and while they don't break any land speed records, the issue of foaming out the crankcase oil hasn't been an issue.
Off topic, I know. But the original topic has been answered more than sufficiently, and now there's this other topic...
Dan
First, there are plenty of HD Sportsters and big twins around which have been run just as hard, just as long, in just as hot or even hotter weather, with no problems. The wide open desert is a place where lots of guys like to open 'em up and let 'em rip for mile after mile... so my first thought was that if his friend really did blow 3 engines (and they all got replaced under warranty, he said) it wasn't an oil puking issue... it must have been something else. Also, in such an incident of three engines going into the same customer's bike under warranty, the folks from Milwaukee would be asking to have a real close look--especially after the second one, and certainly after the third one. And of course the dealership would have been REALLY familiar with such a case...
Second, if the guy really blew his first engine by having it puke out all the oil, why didn't he see the oil pressure warning light? When you're riding hard and fast like that, you'd be foolish not to keep a peripheral view on the warning gauges. Anyone who claims he's going too fast to keep an eye on the machine's vitals is not the kind of guy I want to be riding with.
Third, the idea that all of the oils foamed out of the crankcase except Redline is also suspect. Redline wouldn't resist foaming any more than Amsoil, I wouldn't think. All quality oils have antifoamants in them. Of course there are some little bubbles on top of the oil in the tank when you look in after a hard ride, but those are just on the surface, and come from the oil being thrashed around a bit. They dissipate quickly, and pose no real hazard to the oil staying in the engine.
Foaming out three quarts of oil from a bike during a hard run and not noticing it would be quite an accomplishment. Didn't Mark see billowing clouds of smoke trailing him and his machine in the rear view? Or running down the side of the engine?
These bikes have been run bone stock on the salt flats many times over the years, and while they don't break any land speed records, the issue of foaming out the crankcase oil hasn't been an issue.
Off topic, I know. But the original topic has been answered more than sufficiently, and now there's this other topic...
Dan
Originally Posted By: EagleFTE
Off topic, I saw that troller throwing the bait right away. Plenty of people with anti Harley angst. Why someone cares so much about what someone else drives/rides is beyond me.
For most, it's not a matter of caring, it's for the fun of throwing it back at Harley cult members.
Off topic, I saw that troller throwing the bait right away. Plenty of people with anti Harley angst. Why someone cares so much about what someone else drives/rides is beyond me.
For most, it's not a matter of caring, it's for the fun of throwing it back at Harley cult members.
Throwing it back?
No one attacked the sushi-sickles here. That's not called throwing back, that's throwing first.
Now. I've just thrown back. Sushi-sickle. I just thought of that. That's funny.
No one attacked the sushi-sickles here. That's not called throwing back, that's throwing first.
Now. I've just thrown back. Sushi-sickle. I just thought of that. That's funny.
Originally Posted By: fuel tanker man
the story just seemed fishy from the get-go.
For me it was the "they replaced three engines and never asked any questions" argument ... there's no way a dealer or manufacturer would do that. No way. Once, maybe. Twice, extremely unlikely. Three times? Forget about it.
Originally Posted By: fuel tanker man
Third, the idea that all of the oils foamed out of the crankcase except Redline is also suspect. Redline wouldn't resist foaming any more than Amsoil, I wouldn't think.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, take a look at that now-famous "Motorcycle Oil PDF" Amsoil touts. The only thing that separates them from Mobil 1 is the foaming test. They're proud of their anti-foaming capability. They tout it as a selling point of their oil.
the story just seemed fishy from the get-go.
For me it was the "they replaced three engines and never asked any questions" argument ... there's no way a dealer or manufacturer would do that. No way. Once, maybe. Twice, extremely unlikely. Three times? Forget about it.
Originally Posted By: fuel tanker man
Third, the idea that all of the oils foamed out of the crankcase except Redline is also suspect. Redline wouldn't resist foaming any more than Amsoil, I wouldn't think.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, take a look at that now-famous "Motorcycle Oil PDF" Amsoil touts. The only thing that separates them from Mobil 1 is the foaming test. They're proud of their anti-foaming capability. They tout it as a selling point of their oil.
Originally Posted By: fuel tanker man
Throwing it back?
No one attacked the sushi-sickles here. That's not called throwing back, that's throwing first.
Now. I've just thrown back. Sushi-sickle. I just thought of that. That's funny.
The world extends beyond this thread.
Throwing it back?
No one attacked the sushi-sickles here. That's not called throwing back, that's throwing first.
Now. I've just thrown back. Sushi-sickle. I just thought of that. That's funny.
The world extends beyond this thread.
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