Skip to Content

west's blog

L.E.D's and Stuff

Sun, 04/17/2011 - 20:50 — west
P1170112_1.JPG

Take a nice bike and mess it up...and then bring it back in for service?!

How not to work on your bike

Sun, 04/17/2011 - 20:47 — west
P1170231_1.JPG

This guy THOUGHT he knew better, he brought it in because the brakes didn't work! Take a close look at the photo's.

Safety issues must not have crossed their MINDS?

Sun, 04/17/2011 - 20:42 — west
I'll just shorten the bars to fit my needs....

Do you think Harley on a whim puts out products like these to the public and do you believe these people are using any thought process? Would you like to ride these bikes knowing what you see?

Maybe ONE should check their fluids?

Sun, 04/17/2011 - 20:34 — west
P1170105_1.JPG

This is one of the WORST fluid changes I have had. There have been a lot of fluids that I have changed and it would OOZE out or look like BLACK TAR. But this just shows us how irresposible some riders are.

Checking your brakes and read your owners manual

Sun, 04/17/2011 - 20:29 — west
P1170059_1.JPG

Washing and polishing all that chrome dosen't make for a safe ride. Most of the public goes through rear brakes as fast as a rear tire. YOU, need to be looking at the WHOLE bike not just the BLING BLING. That also goes with READING the MANUAL. DO NOT mix the DOT 4 AND 5 brake fluids!

Technician NIGHT MARE(S)

Mon, 04/11/2011 - 07:56 — west
from work hd 016_1.JPG

We H-D Tech's just love to open a bike up and find these issues. I have seen a variety of them and I'm sure other tech's have seen worse!

I know cost is a factor, but there is a point that the customer is WRONG! Would YOU have these WANNABETECHS, working on your bike?

Harley Cam Chain Shoe Tensioner 20k Service

Mon, 02/04/2008 - 08:00 — west
another tensioner failing

Hello to all,

My background is that I have been riding HD's since the 60's and have a mechanical and technical background from the time my grandfather put a wrench in my hand working on AMC's. I have been a technician in the USAF working on B-52's, KC-135's, C-9's, C-141's, and a host of others. I was also an instructor at the USAF Academy's Parachute Team for many years. Attention to detail was important then as it is now.

After retiring from the USAF I worked at an H-D dealership in Colorado as a Service Writer / Manager of the Technicians. Later moving back to Wisconsin I again worked as a Service Writer and later wanted to get back into wrenching, which I did. I have been through numerous H-D schools and have been an "H-D" technician for a number of years.

Ok enough of that.

What I am going to inform you about if you don't know already is you need to have your Cam Chain Tensioner's looked at in around the 20k time frame. The shoes may become worn to a point that they will actually fall apart and pieces end up in the engine and could possibly ruin it. An important procedure to help alleviate the problem is to change that engine oil often and keep it clean!

If you do have to change out the Shoes, you can upgrade to a new Cam, to make your engine work more efficiently. Also you can just cut the pushrods verses removing the top end and install adjustable rods. That will save some time and money.

Attached are a couple of photos that I took of what can happen.

Knowledge can be good.

West

Syndicate content


by Dr. Radut.