What a pain in the @#$
#11
09-14-2024, 10:14 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
#12
09-14-2024, 10:30 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Posts: 5,634
Received 1,633 Likes
on
1,165 Posts
His sig pic has a sidecar.
#13
09-14-2024, 10:36 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
#14
09-14-2024, 12:27 PM
I've got 20 year old clutch fluid in a jap bike, and still works. Harley could bleep up an anvil.
Also the cover, while bolt on either way on 2015, has to go one way or leaks. Another screw up. What I hate about it, is worrying about the fluid on paint. Wish there was something else to use.
On my 2015, I can get the cover off ok, atleast.
Also the cover, while bolt on either way on 2015, has to go one way or leaks. Another screw up. What I hate about it, is worrying about the fluid on paint. Wish there was something else to use.
On my 2015, I can get the cover off ok, atleast.
#15
09-14-2024, 12:27 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
I've got 20 year old clutch fluid in a jap bike, and still works. Harley could bleep up an anvil.
Also the cover, while bolt on either way on 2015, has to go one way or leaks. Another screw up.
What I hate about it, is worrying about the fluid on paint. Wish there was something else to use.
On my 2015, I can get the cover off ok, atleast.
Just because a clutch with 20yr old fluid is working, that doesn't mean the fluid is good or that it's a good idea to keep the same fluid for 20yrs. I would suspect if you took a trip through some mountains, at altitude in hot weather, you could lose your clutch because of the water build-up in the clutch fluid.
There is something else to use, DOT 5 silicone based brake fluid.
In fact for many years, HD used DOT 5 in it's entire motorcycle line-up. DOT 5 fluid (silicone based), which HD switched to in 1976, is better than DOT 3 or DOT 4 (glycol based). It has higher wet/dry boiling points, doesn't absorb water like DOT 3/4, and it won't hurt painted parts if spilled on them like DOT 3/4.
However, DOT 5 brake fluid doesn't play well with ABS systems. So when Harley introduced ABS into some of their motorcycle line-up (2005ish), they switched the entire model line-up back to DOT 4.
The following users liked this post:
Joe from So Cal (Yesterday)
#16
09-14-2024, 12:48 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Just because a clutch with 20yr old fluid is working, that doesn't mean the fluid is good or that it's a good idea to keep the same fluid for 20yrs. I would suspect if you took a trip through some mountains, at altitude in hot weather, you could lose your clutch because of the water build-up in the clutch fluid.
There is something else to use, DOT 5 silicone based brake fluid.
In fact for many years, HD used DOT 5 in it's entire motorcycle line-up. DOT 5 fluid (silicone based), which HD switched to in 1976, is better than DOT 3 or DOT 4 (glycol based). It has higher wet/dry boiling points, doesn't absorb water like DOT 3/4, and it won't hurt painted parts if spilled on them like DOT 3/4.
However, DOT 5 brake fluid doesn't play well with ABS systems. So when Harley introduced ABS into some of their motorcycle line-up (2005ish), they switched the entire model line-up back to DOT 4.
There is something else to use, DOT 5 silicone based brake fluid.
In fact for many years, HD used DOT 5 in it's entire motorcycle line-up. DOT 5 fluid (silicone based), which HD switched to in 1976, is better than DOT 3 or DOT 4 (glycol based). It has higher wet/dry boiling points, doesn't absorb water like DOT 3/4, and it won't hurt painted parts if spilled on them like DOT 3/4.
However, DOT 5 brake fluid doesn't play well with ABS systems. So when Harley introduced ABS into some of their motorcycle line-up (2005ish), they switched the entire model line-up back to DOT 4.
On my 2015, if you don't put the cover on correctly it will leak. It mounts either way, but doesn't seal. Either that or I put it on wrong.
#17
09-14-2024, 12:52 PM
Yes I realize it should be changed. But the clutch still operates. Read many stories here, where the clutch on a harley will fail. That is poor design. I use dot 5 in older bike, that calls for it. it does have a higher boiling point, so would that be better? I dunno. Maybe I am paranoid. How long does it take to damage paint? But it takes the fun out of bleeding for me.
On my 2015, if you don't put the cover on correctly it will leak. It mounts either way, but doesn't seal. Either that or I put it on wrong.
On my 2015, if you don't put the cover on correctly it will leak. It mounts either way, but doesn't seal. Either that or I put it on wrong.
#19
09-14-2024, 03:34 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
#20
09-15-2024, 12:04 PM
Seasoned HDF Member