I find it concering that the brakes don't function like normal brakes if ABS is not working. My 20 year old truck was having issues, I pulled the fuse to the abs until I got it fixed. My current truck 300k miles, 11 years old old and only touched the brakes once. I realize that is wrong and I should change fluid. Also a bigger system, which makes it more forgiving.
Discussion of the ABS module, does bring up the concern about parts on semi older bikes. 2 of my bikes are older than yours.
You did everything right, changed your fluid, more than you needed maybe. But like my old truck stuff fails.
I don't know if you are aware, but your concern has been discussed on this, and other, forum(s) in numerous threads....
Many people share your concern and consider the HD ABS design as a flawed design....
It was certainly true of the early HD ABS units until about 2013ish....
I haven't followed the discussions since then, so have no idea if the MoCo has since decided to go with a better design...
I'll post a follow up . I was able to get my abs working again and thought I had the fix. However, it failed again this winter and although I was able to get it working again, I already ordered a unit off of a wrecked 2013, when it arrived I reluctantly installed it due to the short warrantee period from the seller. (40601-08A replacing my 40601-08 hopefully this version was better than the previous)
With the replacement unit I realized how much of the modulation of the front brakes I had lost by my method. of forcing the abs module back into service each time it failed. I never went more than 18-20 months with the old brake fluid and once Harley announced the recall I purchased the HD1 app and started cycling the ABS module during each oil change and the original unit still failed. I know that it may have sat for years during previous ownership, which means even working units may eventually fail even with proper maintenance.
What pisses me off is that it can fail in the middle of a ride. , Every time mine failed it was in the middle of a ride. I can't feel like I'm good to go if its working at the beginning of a trip, since it may fail when I'm grabbing a handful of brake when someone is pulling out in front of me.
Even my replacement unit may fail since I don't know its original history (, but I'm not paying Harley's labor rate to install a replacement part for a system that should last the life of a vehicle.
I concur with those that state that an ABS should not fail into a no brake situation but that's what the system on these motorcycles do.
To summarize, currently the only fix I have found in the USA is replacement of the Module .
Thanks for the followup @aboatguy .
As you've nothing to lose, and seem competent with tools, why don't you open up your old unit and see if you can clean and fix it internally. I strongly suspect you're going to find it rusty/corroded and hanging up because of that. If you get it all cleaned up, you may then have a second perfectly good unit.
so the 2009-2013 (?) modules fit the 2008s then (?) Had not seen this verified. Was this plug and play?
Thanks.
Yes, it was plug and play the only external difference I saw was 40601-08A vs -40601-08 on the PN. label
I tried to lock up the brakes after the install and was able to get the ABS to pulse on both the front and the rear, so I'm certain it's working. However, I'm not certain that this module will last for the life of the motorcycle. But it's working for now, which seems to be as good as it gets with Harley ABS.
The front brake lever would lock up harder than Chinese Arithmetic and the bike wouldn't stop using the front brake while squeezing the brake lever with an actual deathgrip. I will admit when it fails it adds a bit of excitement to what would be a normal everyday ride.
Thanks for the followup @aboatguy .
As you've nothing to lose, and seem competent with tools, why don't you open up your old unit and see if you can clean and fix it internally. I strongly suspect you're going to find it rusty/corroded and hanging up because of that. If you get it all cleaned up, you may then have a second perfectly good unit.
I'm certain that the internals have corrosion, however, for the effort of trying to fix the HCU, reinstalling it and working through getting all the air out of the system, I'd rather just put a working unit on it and spend the time riding one of my older motorcycles.
The irony is my 1948 FL has front antilock brakes from the factory.
04-02-2023 | 12:23 PM
