Just what does your "Owners Manual" say? :corn: I broke mine in "by the book" as I want it to last. It has worked well for 85K miles. The G/F had all the mods done at 500 miles and let the "tuner" run the bike on the dyno. The bike always had trouble with the tranny/primary seals until I had the bearings in the tranny checked and were found to be "out of spec". It was all covered by the warranty but it was a "waste of our time" getting it to the dealer as much a we did. I suspect it was the abuse it took from the tuner. -2$en#e-
Breaking in a new motor
I'm getting my Street Bob tomorrow and need advice on how to treat the motor for the first few miles. (Did a VTF search but not much came up)
A Google search found a site
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
which says give the motor some stick, i.e. wide throttle and engine breaking to bed the rings in then change the filter and (mineral) oil after 50 miles.
Anyone have thoughts or experience here as it just don't feel right to thrash a motor so early in it's life.
I mean it's just like meeting the love of your life and giving her a good hard slap in the face!! :265:
A Google search found a site
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
which says give the motor some stick, i.e. wide throttle and engine breaking to bed the rings in then change the filter and (mineral) oil after 50 miles.
Anyone have thoughts or experience here as it just don't feel right to thrash a motor so early in it's life.
I mean it's just like meeting the love of your life and giving her a good hard slap in the face!! :265:
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Thanks, point taken, I'll have a read through the manual before I take the bike out.
H-D must have built up some experience on the subject in the last 100 years or so.
At least I shouldn't have any overheating problems, it's forecast for very cold weather.
H-D must have built up some experience on the subject in the last 100 years or so.
At least I shouldn't have any overheating problems, it's forecast for very cold weather.
You will more than likely get checked out by a service tech, or some other knowledgeable person and they will tell you up front. Not difficult: don't over-rev or run at constant speed for long distance for 1st 500 miles.
Just try to avoid the extremes. Not too much idling, not too much low rev cruising, no WOT. Change the oil (no synth please until later) at 100 miles, but feel free to accelerate the bike (so the rings seat and seal crrrectly) but leave a margin.. in other words don't stress the engine... but push it.
My humble opinion.
My humble opinion.
I broke in my 04 corvette by taking it easy the first 100 miles. Then over the next 150 miles I accelerate very hard with more than a dozen WFO runs from a stop thru the first 4 gears (130mph). The rings seat best by getting the cylinder pressure to its highest levels right away. Most of the loose metal particles are suspended in the oil very early after initial start up so after this I flush the oil and replace the filter. An old timer who taught me a lot about engines and whatever he had always ran very well told me this a long time ago. Ive broken in several car and bike engines this way with no mechanical failures or premature wear.
Oilslick said:Thanks, point taken, I'll have a read through the manual before I take the bike out.
H-D must have built up some experience on the subject in the last 100 years or so.
At least I shouldn't have any overheating problems, it's forecast for very cold weather.
Good plan.
Sometime in the last year or so, S & S ran their own column in American Ironhorse mag about their engines including their recommended break-in procedures. In a nutshell, they run through a number of steps but the whole is about a slow and gradual break-in with more than one oil change thrown into the process.
I cannot imagine that the differences in the S&S engines and H-D's twin cam are so great that a slow and easy is recommended for S&S's twin cam while the Harley twin cam gets a vigorous workout the first 20 miles.
Before you go and follow that guy's recommendations, ask youself if there exists any credible evidence to prove his claims? What is the liklihood that this guy has discovered something that has escaped the best mechanical engineering minds over the years?
Further, if this were the case can you imagine the Motor Company NOT proclaiming, "Ride your new H-D super hard on your drive home! Best way to break-in your new ride! Have fun!"
-2$en#e-
I cannot imagine that the differences in the S&S engines and H-D's twin cam are so great that a slow and easy is recommended for S&S's twin cam while the Harley twin cam gets a vigorous workout the first 20 miles.
Before you go and follow that guy's recommendations, ask youself if there exists any credible evidence to prove his claims? What is the liklihood that this guy has discovered something that has escaped the best mechanical engineering minds over the years?
Further, if this were the case can you imagine the Motor Company NOT proclaiming, "Ride your new H-D super hard on your drive home! Best way to break-in your new ride! Have fun!"
-2$en#e-
Thanks guys
Advice appreciated. I suppose it's all about empathy for the motor and a good deal of common sense. e.g. no lugging.
The early oil and filter change is very important for sure and I will definately do that.
Thanks again.
These new Dynas are sweeeeeeeet!!
Advice appreciated. I suppose it's all about empathy for the motor and a good deal of common sense. e.g. no lugging.
The early oil and filter change is very important for sure and I will definately do that.
Thanks again.
These new Dynas are sweeeeeeeet!!
Just fallow the users manual. That way if something does go wrong during the break in period (or after) you can honestly say you did it the HD way and you'll get it fixed under warrenty... good luck and enjoy...
Oilslick said:I'm getting my Street Bob tomorrow and need advice on how to treat the motor for the first few miles. (Did a VTF search but not much came up)
The procedure is in your owners manual.
Keep the rpms under 2500 for the first 50 miles.
Keep rpms under 3000 and speed under 55 for first 500 miles.
Then ride it like you stole it.
I just followed the same procedure breaking in my JIMS 120" motor on my 02 RK.
I think HD recommends changing the oil at 500 and 1000 miles.
I changed mine at 50, 500 and, just now, at 1000 miles.
Since it's pretty cold out, I plan on sticking to HD20w50 for a couple more 500 mile intervals, then Red Line 20w60HD.
I used the motor news method and ran the sh*t outa it right from the start and now have 4000mi on the motor and no signs of trouble changes oil at 50,100,250,500,1000 miles then switched to redline 20w50 checked ring seal a couple weeks ago and ccp was 225 ft and rear:wootdnc:
It seems to me that the early oil and filter changes early in the life of an engine are crucial for longevity so that's what I'll do.
It seems manufacturers are hell bent on having longer and longer service intervals. My car stated 18,000 miles for the first oil change!!! That just don't seem right.
Still it's only a car, for the bike, I need to look after that baby.
Thanks again guys.
It seems manufacturers are hell bent on having longer and longer service intervals. My car stated 18,000 miles for the first oil change!!! That just don't seem right.
Still it's only a car, for the bike, I need to look after that baby.
Thanks again guys.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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