Bought a 04 FXDL, but have some questions?

[Ozbernie]

Hi Folks,

Well Ive bought a lovely one owner 6500 kilometer 04 FXDL.
I'm overall very happy with it but here are a couple of issues I need advice around. Please excuse the possible silly questions with probable obvious answers.

1. The fuel gauge in the dummy gas cap has condensation in it since I washed the bike today (It works fine but looks terrible)

2. The fuel tap leaked fuel from the front of the tap when switching it off tonight. It seems to have stopped now but has me a little concerned.

3. I can't seem to work out how to remove the battery from the bike so I can fit my battery tender leads.

Cheers Bernie.

[FXDRYDR]

FXD's a nice bike. Congrats!

Service and parts manuals are very good things to have and money well-spent.

1. My 03 has a gasket beneath the trim plate onto which the gage mounts. The gage is a complete unit. So, you might let yours dry out real well on a hot, sunny day. Hope it stays clear and get used to it if it doesn't. Reality is - it only looks bad to you. No one else will notice.

2 - Check petcock for snug fittings. If it still leaks, a rebuild kit is available. Or, replace it with a Pingel. Pingel does away with the vacuum shut-off - a good thing IMO.

3 - Don't recall any difficulties hooking up my Battery Tender lead, but again - service manual walks you through all these things. Highly recommended.

[mradke]

Bernie,
To remove the battery on my 05 FXD, Not sure if the FXDL is similar. There are 2 bolts on the left side of the battery. The bolt that is horizonal going into the side of the bike you loosten back a few turns. Then there is a bolt to the right of it (i think) that goes up and down next to the battery with the bolt head on the bottom. Loostening this bolt lowers the battery. Again not sure if the L is the same as the FXD.
Mike

[Gulfstream]

It's the same...

[Ozbernie]

Thanks for all your advice I will check it all out.

[jerseyhog]

Bernie,
I've got a 2004 FXDLI. Bottom of the speedometer always has condensation after a wash, just enough to cover the odometer for the entire ride, which is a royal pain.
My mechanic hooked up the battery tender leads for me, but I'll be replacing the battery soon, so I'll see what that's all about. I do regularly check the manual..it's pretty good.
Mine is fuel injected..nothing to turn off.
And most importantly, PLEASE stop refering to your bike as 'lovely'.
Enjoy the ride. Jh.

[Hedghog]

Another thing to keep in mind (per the service manual) is ONF and IPF, what I mean by this is when removing (or doing anything relative to the battery) you should disconnect the negative terminal first and then the positive terminal and when installing the battery you connect the positive terminal first and then the negative terminal. This will eliminate the possibility of accidentally grounding the battery that is already grounded and causing it to explode.

Hedghog

[Ozbernie]

Originally Posted by jerseyhog

Bernie,
I've got a 2004 FXDLI. Bottom of the speedometer always has condensation after a wash, just enough to cover the odometer for the entire ride, which is a royal pain.
My mechanic hooked up the battery tender leads for me, but I'll be replacing the battery soon, so I'll see what that's all about. I do regularly check the manual..it's pretty good.
Mine is fuel injected..nothing to turn off.
And most importantly, PLEASE stop refering to your bike as 'lovely'.
Enjoy the ride. Jh.

Thanks for your lovely comments and assistance

[mailman]

MRADKE is correct. I have my tender plug slightly hanging by the ignition switch bracket with a black tie wrap holding it to the bracket. Iits out of the way, but is flexable enough to grab when pluggin and unpluggin.