Was this dude born for doing instructional videos or what??? Lord I learn more from him in a quicker amount of time than reading or listening to anyone else!!!
This guy is awesome !! I wish every dealership had a man/woman like this who TRULY cares and has a passion for his/her work. If I had a Mech like this I’d have peace of mind . Unfortunately not every Mech cares this much.
Ya know, as odd as this may sound, I'm going to grab a notebook, watch this again, and start taking notes. And I think I'm going to go ahead and start a service log for my bike. I'm learning in my old age that I remember shit much better when I write it down. I've been riding for a few years now, and really don't love my bike being in the shop! It was in the shop for three weeks awaiting parts, and I was going nuts! 😄
When I was younger, I used to push the brake pedal, run to the back and see if my brake lights were working. Not anymore. Now, I find a store front, back to the big glass and check my rear lights. It works for the front also. Thanks for your videos. They're full of knowledge.
That said, how often have you thought about the brake fluid on your personal vehicles? If your like the rest of us, probably never. I’ve never changed my brake fluid & never had a braking problem.
Hi from Enniskillen. Just bought a 2005 XL1200C Sportster with the original tyre on it. 15 years old! The seller, a really nice guy, was happily riding around on it despite the obvious cracks in the sidewalls. Changed front and rear, which was only eight years old, for Michelin Commander IIIs.
Doc Thanks for treating folks bikes as your own. I do most of preventive maintenance myself but bring to Harley for things that need experience. One mention about tire life . Most tires that are stored in a garage with low mileage might last a year or 2 longer but don't push the limits for safety ! Ieft on a 300 mile round trip ride with plenty of tread on low mileage 7 year old tires over a mountain pass and when I got home rear tire was bald with cords showing !! 😳
I love the detail and easy to understand the information you deliver to us viewers. I recently heard from a new owner of a 2022 Street Glide. He told me that there are more than one chip on new rides and that due to chip shortages, his bike is missing one, that without it affects or negates some of the functions of the bike. Is this truly happening? If so what is the strategy to resolve it? Thanks for your time and keep up the great work. Tim Adkins, Waterford CT
I have not seen this issue. Yes many parts are on back order because of electrical components but to my knowledge a bike from the Factory is complete....Doc
Great video, I just bought a 2005 Dyna Super Glide from a friend. The bike only has 2500 miles. The tires look fine but now I can’t wait to get out of work so I can check that date. It’ll be a bitch to have to toss them. They still look new.
Thanks for making this video . I was changing brake and clutch levers on 2009 softail, must have damaged the brake switch. No brake light. Could you tell me what size shrink tubing is needed for this repair, thank you
I made a cover that covers the area where the master cylinder I took a rag cut just the lid out then took double face tape put it on the back so I can stick plastic to the back then you just put it around the master cylinder
Doc Thanks for all the great tips...question for you...my 2012 Fltrx with 52000 miles shows some of the chrome finish missing on rear stock pulley...manual says replace when chrome finish is missing....what would be your professional opinion on this..would I risk the pulley devouring my belt 1000 miles from home? thank you Jimmy
Hello, I have a 1998 Heritage Classic with an 80 Evo engine. Totally stock except the exhaust. Can I run a 20-50 oil in all three boxes like they do on the newer bikes or do I have to go with 85-140 gear oil in the trans? Thanks.
The factory promotes synthetic 23 oil for new models. I would not recommend this oil for your 1998. Most of the year use 20W-50 oil in the motor. Formula Plus in primary and HD Transmission olin or Bel-Ray Gear Saver 85W-140.
My dealer’s service department always claims that they are backed up at least a week. I’m a skeptical person. How do I really know if the technician is doing a thorough job? Some mile services take hours to complete. They may not have the time you have Doc. Can they just be checking off the inspection sheet without actually doing the physical inspection. If I’m going to pay dealer prices I would like to be reassured the work is being performed.
This is a trust issue. In this industry it is very hard to have just one tech work on your bike only and build a relationship. Requesting is allowed but a customer must wait for his/her availability...Doc
Hello. I have a 2018 XL1200C. At about 300 miles the front brake developed a Squeal when coming to a complete stop. Dealer scuffed the pads and rotors. Started again before I got home. At about 1700 Miles, Got really Loud. Complained to different dealers who told me it was "Normal". Replaced the front pads with a set from J&P(Twin Power), No more noise. Changed the rears a week later. Looked at the pads. Front was Silver/Black. Rear had a Silver/Copper look to them. Front pads had chunks out of them.
A belt will age. How fast depends on where you live, maintenance and how you ride. No a belt does not need to be changed periodically. Most of my customers replace at 100K just for piece of mind…..Doc
My 2018 fatboy114 indicators is showing half tank even when after I have top up full tank, after 50km the light will show top up fuel, can you let me know if there is any sensor that I need to adjust or change? Thanks in advance for your feedback
Elvinn thanks for your question. I have a video that explains fuel gauges. The M8 fuel indicator light needs time to register you have filled the tank. Owners have to ride away from the fuel station for the light to acknowledge the tank has been filled. There are tests to check the accuracy. If you can bring your bike to the dealer when the light comes on, then the tech can check the measurement vs. electrical resistance to the gauge. Thanks ~ Doc
Doc, So my 1st Motorcycle is a 2016 Street Bob, and I got it with only 1400 miles from the local HD dealer "Ft. Bragg HD". I currently have 3255 miles. I know this may sound like a dumb question but @ how many miles do you suggest I take it for a service??
Alright. I watched this video, alright. It showed me a lot of things to check for, alright. As a new, first time bike owner, alright, I needed this basic knowledge to stay safe on the road, alright. I knew about the penny trick, alright. I never knew the dot4 was corrosive, alright. I look forward to watching the next video, alright. If I am ever in Charleston, alright, I’ll come by and let you take a look at it....alright?
THERE IS NO INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR TYRE AGE, as conditions vary, ask any manufacturer and they will not give you an age, as a chemist I can tell you that it depends on oxidation and UV, and those depend on heat and sun mainly, so a tyre stored in a colder area in the dark and in a plastic sealed bag will last a very long time
So, what's the big difference between Dot-3 and Dot-4 brake fluid? Does it matter if you drop Dot-3 into a bike that normally uses Dot-4? Or visa-versa?
Hey buddy!! I just bought a 74 sportster that has the big bore n stroker kit with upgraded cams, its the right hand shift. The shifter lever was broke n I took the side off where the cams are to re place the gasket. When I did the cams came out, the dogbones was in there n the one on the back aide has a thicker dogbone. Does the thicker one go on the 2end cam? Thanks, if anybody could help I would greatly appreciated. The front one has the same thickness. I was hoping the cams would stay in there when I changed the primary cover but it didn't. Thanks
Go to the xlforum which is by far the best Sportster resource. Many Ironheads are mixtures of parts. Your factory parts book (buy one or download online if you can find one) will show the correct parts for your engine. The cams are shimmed as required so dogbone thickness is irrelevant. Just shim them per the factory service manual.
@@theone2be33 Hi Doc, Yep I ended up changing out the battery and the codes are still there. I've cleared to code many times and the problem is still there, Thanks
@@theone2be33 Hi thanks for the info, I have got a new battery, checked the connections, taken the fairing off checked att the wiring harness connections and the issue is still there. Off to the dealer it's going. Thanks again!!
As a factory trained Schwinn bicycle mechanic since 1967 I can tell the average Harley consumer this is just a false method to extract "BIG MONEY" from the owner's pocket. This crap about the tone of the spokes should be the same is a BUNCH OF CRAP.
going by the years you been a "bicycle mechanic", yer probably half deaf anyways, and yer in the wrong page, this is for MOTORcycles, also probably equates to you having to wear spectacles...
I really like watching you doc , your a kick😂 but not all these dealerships here in colorado check this stuff out,,, you're lucky if they do the job you took it in for.
Ha, I'm not a cycle mechanic, and I did learn about the brake fuild conductivity test, but I was wondering what checks he'd miss on the tire safety check, I was thinking it was going to be date codes, but nope he got that one..but I will say he missed a couple, 1) visually check for dry rot, 2) check for foreign debris stuck in tires like screws, nails, staples..deer antlers..etc, 3) check for cupping 4) check for bulges or out of roundness, 5) check for mis match tire types... Can't be too careful with tire inspections..now on to round two!
Definitely need to take my dyna in. Probably need new dot. Basically u telling me everytime i renew my registration i need new dot. Your awesome 👌 on to part 2. My rear break light dont work either 😢. Everything else seems good. Thank you for the video
I love this guys videos. The comment about “was he born for doing instructional videos” lol I just started this one, but if I can do all that’s required, this will save me $500
Regarding spokes: Many laced wheels have spokes of different lengths. They will NOT all sound the same! All the spokes in the same relative position, or the same length, should sound the same. With spokes of two lengths, the longer ones will have a lower-pitched sound.
They have their bike knowledge down but the camera work is ...whew. Just turn on the auto focus. It got pretty bad at the end. But, I guess it doesn't matter. I still learned everything I needed to know. Which was _all of this._ So, it's still an excellent video.
Hey Doc, I have a 2004 Roadking Custom Purple with ghost flames. Seller said it was a factory paint job, but most guys have said they think it was custom. How can I find out if the color is stock?
I wish I had a Doc in my back pocket. Every little thing makes me think my bike is dying. Im so paranoid about my Harley even though it's never given me an issue YET! There is something that occasionally happens on startup that scares me. It hesitates, resets my speedo and makes a "slicing" noise than starts up explosively sending my rpms much higher than usual. I dont know wth it is but it's always in back of my mind and I always wonder if this startup will be the one that leaves me stranded. Anyone know what that is!?
Battery Cold Cranking Amperage is showing signing age. When you turn on bike, lights, fuel pump, ignition start drawing from battery. Hopefully you start right away. Waiting continues to draw from battery. When the starter is engaged, the starter draws away from everything else. If the battery is 3 years old or older the battery is operating at 75%. Colder temperatures lower the CCA even more. Now if your battery is good then checking cables and connections is next. If these prove good then starter might just be asking for help….Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson I did the voltage tests on my 2015 Iron 883 (9,700 miles) and my battery is reading 13.1-13.3 volts static with Ignition on and all lights etc on and when I run bike and rev it at 2000 rpms, it's reading 14.2-14.4 volts. To my untrained eye that seems healthy right? I don't know how old battery is cuz I bought this bike used almost 2 years ago from a dealer. I than checked all the battery connections and they seem tight and clean to me. So im thinking maybe I should just get a new battery anyway just so I know exactly the age of it and if the problem continues I'll get video footage of what it's doing and take it to Harley.
A soft nylon brush and baby shampoo. Harsh-strong dish soap can dry out the belt. Cleaning oil and sand out of the belt teeth and pulley will help the longevity. Thanks ~ Doc
How do you learn to trust your HD mechanic when they are paid on 100% commission? I have trust issues and a lack of mechanical ability. Last year they said I need brake fluid changed, it cost almost $200 and I found out later it was not necessary.
