American riders; are they different?

Rugged Path

Rugged Path

The Honourable.
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Trawling through the YT videos of some notable HD mechanics, it seems lots of American riders go about destroying their clutch baskets or compensators.
Making aftermarket parts for these is big business in the US of A.

Anybody on this forum had problems?

Sent from my MI 9 using Tapatalk
 
Rugged Path said:
Trawling through the YT videos of some notable HD mechanics, it seems lots of American riders go about destroying their clutch baskets or compensators.
Making aftermarket parts for these is big business in the US of A.

Anybody on this forum had problems?

Sent from my MI 9 using Tapatalk
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Probably cause they like to bolt on more power with S&S motors and turbos etc.
It’s hotter than hell over there too. Especially for air cooled v twin.
I lived in Arizona for over 10 years and fried clutch on ZX12. Was actually the plates
 
………..many home Harley mechanics adjust all play out of pushrods too - in an attempt to stop clutch drag and big clunk into first gear 🤔
 
I’ve had my 2010 Fatboy here from new and 25k without any clutch issues. Final drive belt going to need changed soon though 🤔
 
I thought you were going to say....”Their beards are longer.” :rob
 
Twenty ish years ago I was at one of those HOG rallies and there was a top brass technically guy from Harley doing a tech' talk on this and that. He got onto the subject of warranty claims, so bear in mind that these are newish bikes. He said that the most warranty claims that they got re worn out clutches and general engine parts, was from the UK and Germany. He actually said 'No-one rides harder than the Brits and the Germans'

Me? - Three Harleys, no problems.
 
TIJ650 said:
………..many home Harley mechanics adjust all play out of pushrods too - in an attempt to stop clutch drag and big clunk into first gear
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.....thinking that the thumb wheel and lock are to adjust lever hand reach.
Clearly this is cable/rod freeplay, and just wears the push rod out after it overheats and softens.

I've met quite a few people that have done this with absolutely no mechanical knowledge whatsoever.


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110,000 miles on my glide before I changed the clutch …..then wrote it off 5k later ……doh!
 
Bardley said:
.....thinking that the thumb wheel and lock are to adjust lever hand reach.
Clearly this is cable/rod freeplay, and just wears the push rod out after it overheats and softens.

I've met quite a few people that have done this with absolutely no mechanical knowledge whatsoever.


Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
My one is older model with allen screw adjuster and lock nut under derby cover. You’re supposed to turn all way in until touching end of push rod and then back off half turn. There’s no thumb reel on mine at handlebar. Just cable adjuster under grommet half way down frame. Many guys screw adjuster all way in so no clearance at push rod. God knows why??!!
Many Americans also slip clutch to get to torque instead of down shifting. Again, bewildering?!
My late dad used to call a hammer “an American screwdriver”!! lol
 
Compensators on M8’s can be weak. Clutches can be a weak point (amongst others) when you start to get into the higher torque motors. Ride a standard Harley in the manner of the majority of uk riders I come across and as long as maintenance is adequate, all will be well.
 
TIJ650 said:
My late dad used to call a hammer “an American screwdriver”!! lol
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As did mine! In my experience Americans are dreadful mechanics and very poor riders - to be fair though, my experience is some time ago (early eighties).
 
ChasF said:
As did mine! In my experience Americans are dreadful mechanics and very poor riders - to be fair though, my experience is some time ago (early eighties).
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They’re not all bad, but America has much better weather than we do and loads of non bikers buy bikes. When I lived there - you didn’t need a bike licence or a helmet. Just car license and eye protection. There was a guy at my work who’d never ridden before that bought a brand new FZR1000 Genesis. He fell off the in the twisties Northern Arizona and promptly sold the next week! Lol
I actually remember my dad came to visit and I took him to the Grand Canyon. On the way we stopped at a drive thru liquor store for beer n Doritos. They had a special offer on Mossberg 590’s with pistol grips ($300) and my dad wanted to go shooting in the desert - so hey ho. Anyway, at the cashier window the guy said “I’ll need some ID for the beer”!!
They’re a mad bunch!!
Fireworks are illegal though 😬
 
TIJ650 said:
They’re not all bad, but America has much better weather than we do and loads of non bikers buy bikes….
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The weather being “better” really depends on where and season. Lots of non-bikers buy motorcycles in the uk too…. You’ve only gotta look at some of the threads on this forum..
 
Clifton said:
Now I've used a screwdriver handle to pound something on occasion but never tried using a hammer as a screwdriver. :)
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Apologies, I thought this was a safe space with no Americans! Lol
My first wife was American - so lived there 14 years or so. Maybe this entitles me to talk some shit about you guys?!
I won’t even mention geography - I promise 😬
 
Thanks but no apology necessary, there's nothing that some here in the US could do that would surprise me. Geography..... surely you couldn't be referring to WV?
 
Just to go back to the original question. I recently took this compensator out of a 3,000 mile….I’ll let that sink in….3,000 mile M8 that’s bog standard and not been ridden hard…. PS…round here a hammer is referred to as a “Brumaggen screwdriver

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Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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