gabor's blog

The following tools are required to service your calipers:

* One 1/4 inch twelve point socket
* One ten millimeter twelve point socket
* One 1 inch socket wrench
* One flat head screwdriver
* One phillips screwdriver
* One spray can high quality brake cleaner
* One torque wrench
* One pair replacement brake pads
* One bottle of Harley-Davidson brake fluid

There are two bolts holding each caliper on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. There are also two pins that hold the pads in place. If your motorcycle has two front calipers, please start by removing the caliper furthest away from the master cylinder, which on most Harley-Davidson motorcycles is the one on the left side of the motorcycle, or in other words on the side of the clutch lever.

The first step is to loosen the two pins that hold the pads in place with the one inch twelve point socket. Once this has been accomplished, remove the two bolts that secure the caliper to the front forks with your ten millimeter twelve point socket.

The caliper can then be gently removed from the rear of the motorcycle. Once the caliper has been removed, turn the caliper over so that you can see the condition of the pads. Leave the pads secured within the caliper and have someone else assisting you to pull on the front brake lever. As they do, notice how the pistons in the calipers are moving with the hydraulic fluid. The pistons that are furthest away from the source of hydraulic pressure will in all probability hardly move at all.

I read what Clayton posted on his WEB site and I could not agree with you more. Harley will get what is coming to them and that day is not too far off into the future. Once the EPA shuts them down from allowing them to sell their V-Twin the light at their factory will soon be going dim if not out forever. Harley can not compete on an even playing field with the Japanese of German bike builders. All that keeps them alive is the following that they have from us die hard that like their motorcycles. It is too bad that they do not take the time to build a product based on the price tags of their products. I purchased a 1998 Road King Classic in 1998 and Harley gave me a new 2000 Road King Classic to avoid a law suite. The 98 Harley had five upper ends along with a whole lot of other mechanical problems. The 200 has also had five upper ends, two transmissions, two ECM's. two rear swing arms, one bottom end, three stators, two starters and a whole lot of other problems. I agree with you 100% Harley's make wonderful static displays but if you ride them, they will break as mine has and as mine continues to break. I attached some history of my 2000 that I thought you might find to be interesting reading. Harley could care less about anyone's problems, all that matters to them is their bottom line and with the way they are going that will soon change as well.

Clayton, the majority of "Happy Harley Owners" live back East where their rides hibernate for seven or eight months of the year. Ask any Harley Davidson service manager the weak link in their twin cam motors, they will tell you that the cam chain tensioners is the weak link in their motor design. HD knows that full well and has done nothing to redesign the cam chain drive. The good news is that S&S gas by offering their gear drive. Unfortunately to purchase and have one installed it will cost the owner over one thousand dollars. Clayton, I really enjoy riding my Harley. I have 75,000 miles on my 2000 Road King. It only took five top ends, one bottom end, two starters, three staters. two transmissions, two ECM's and a whole lot of aggravation to get there! Western Warranty has paid over $7,000.00 in extended warranty. My 1999 BMW 1200 LT has 42,000 miles and the only thing that was replaced was theABS sensor!

Gabe

I initially purchased a new 1998 Road King Classic with the infamous "Evolution" engine. Harley in the mid 1990s decided to offer fuel injected versions, I suspect due to EPA requirements. After less than five hundred miles of service the bike would not start and I had to bum start it to take it to the dealer. They thought that I had a malfunctioning battery and they replaced it with a new one. Once I returned home I noticed that there were brown stains all over my shiny white walled tire on the rear. I took it back and was told that it was battery acid and that they would replace the tire, rear rotor and any other parts that were acid stained. They thought that they had fixed the problem but wanted to wait to make certain prior to replacing the tire and other acid stained items. They finally had to call the factory for help and found that one of the wires was reversed right from the factory. That was the beginning of a nightmare for me. I ended up having five (5) upper ends, three stators, two motor mounts, one rear master brake cylinder failure, and at 39,990 miles Harley-Davidson decided to replace the bike with a 2000 year model Road King to avoid a law suite that I had intended to file against them.