M8 owners please read.

[Toddmeister]

Thanks Doris, very useful information.

I will keep checking the fluid levels and also that the Primary vent is clear and clean. If I get transfer I'll also look to fit one of those fat rod things!

I haven't got a Gremlin Bell so better get that sorted ASAP

Cheers for taking the time to do a bit more research and post up the info.

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

Thanks for the info Doris.
I presume dealers can do the fat pushrod upgrade and no about it ?
I have a Gremlin Bell so I'm sorted.
Ps.
I didn't buy it. Was a gift

Dealers generally won’t do it. You need a good mechanic, although it’s not a difficult job.

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

Anbody want to buy a TC ? PM me

If only it had a set of ………..etc……

 

[Toddmeister]

If only it had a set of ………..etc……

Isn't there a perfect one on ebay at the moment at a good price?

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

Isn't there a perfect one on ebay at the moment at a good price?

Personally, I think that’s overpriced….
Now…if it had a Police seat on it…..

 

[Tricky]

Maybe buying a Pan America or Sportster S is the way forward if someone wants to buy a newish bike but still jive with the Harley vibe?

 

[Big Si]

Well, lots been going on and lots more information. So please bear with me. Firstly Phil’s bike DID have the vent fitted. He was not mistaken at all. The reason, my guy said it wasn’t fitted was simple really. It wasn’t actually fitted when he handled the cases. He didn’t look closely enough to see that the hole was there. “His” guy had been instructed to thoroughly clean everything for inspection and did a fabulous job. Including removing the rubber (silicone?) hose before it all went in the hot wash.

The downside of this thorough cleaning, is one avenue of failure can’t be verified.

Because the oil carry over was still clearly happening, despite the modification I wondered if the vent was blocked, it’s in a vulnerable space, by road debris, or possibly kinked. Unfortunately, it’s been blown through, so there is no evidence either way. As a precaution, when we put it back together, we will extend the tube somewhere out of the way and fit a filter.

Luckily I have a good few contacts who modify, mend and generally play with Harleys. Amongst them is a guy, who specifically plays with M8s who bent my ear for over an hour on the subject and I feel I’m getting a handle on it. He tells me that, whilst the vent is a solution, it’s not THE solution for all affected bikes.

He also suggest that I go for the “fat” pushrod modification….and….. still keep an eye on the levels. He reckons his, highly modified, bike still moves about 100ml over 2000 miles. Now, there is also a twist to the pushrod saga. Some (earlier bikes) have very slightly different size rod holes through the shaft. The modified shaft is now available in two diameters, so take care.

The other issue appears to be a problem with third (and occasionally sixth) gear. Possibly over-hardened and therefore brittle. This becomes a problem with tuned bikes, when third gear does a lot of work. To completely eliminate this issue, the only solution is to move away from the Harley parts and use a Baker set. These are straight cut and therefore stronger. Harley don’t use straight cut because they are intrinsically noisier and that’s an issue these days.

Now…..about oil pumps …… and top-end rattles…..


Ps….. I’m thinking a gremlin bell may be a good back up…

Thanks Jon, fingers crossed.

 

[twizzle]

Personally, I think that’s overpriced….
Now…if it had a Police seat on it…..

I agree….

 

[twizzle]

Maybe buying a Pan America or Sportster S is the way forward if someone wants to buy a newish bike but still jive with the Harley vibe?

Have you tried a Pan Am?

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

Have you tried a Pan Am?

Or a “Sportster” S? Might as well buy a fucking V-rod……oh…wait….

 

[twizzle]

Sportser S is way too low for me to even consider……….it’s knee height…..

And the Pan Am is built for the short of leg….

 

[West coast gser]

Thanks for the info Doris.
I presume dealers can do the fat pushrod upgrade and no about it ?
I have a Gremlin Bell so I'm sorted.
Ps.
I didn't buy it. Was a gift

Yeah you cant buy a gremlin bell for yourself ..someones got to give you it..

 

[Tricky]

And the Pan Am is built for the short of leg….

How short? I have a 33” inseam and a 34” waist.

The Pan Am is growing on me (particularly the orange/white) version in a kind of Ugly Betty/Idiot Bastard Son way.

I might arrange a test ride soon.

 

[Toddmeister]

Maybe buying a Pan America or Sportster S is the way forward if someone wants to buy a newish bike but still jive with the Harley vibe?

Triiiiiiiickyyyyyyyyy Youuuuuuuuuu Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunt!!!!!

Just stop it or I'll take you back on Salisbury Plain to play with the tanks!

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

Triiiiiiiickyyyyyyyyy Youuuuuuuuuu Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunt!!!!!

Just stop it or I'll take you back on Salisbury Plain to play with the tanks!

And I’ll drive the tank…..

 

[Toddmeister]

And I’ll drive the tank…..

T7 versus Tank - they're about the same weight aren't they, but I think the tank handles better off road so he wouldn't stand a chance

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

For some reason this just popped up in my YouTube recommendations, not sure if it's been posted in this thread before.

 

[twizzle]

How short? I have a 33” inseam and a 34” waist.

The Pan Am is growing on me (particularly the orange/white) version in a kind of Ugly Betty/Idiot Bastard Son way.

I might arrange a test ride soon.

I’m a little longer in the leg, had the seat on high…. But found that the peg position was too high, and too far back……I got immediate cramp in my hip…

The rider triangle just didn’t work for me……

 

[Flipfly]

Well, lots been going on and lots more information. So please bear with me. Firstly Phil’s bike DID have the vent fitted. He was not mistaken at all. The reason, my guy said it wasn’t fitted was simple really. It wasn’t actually fitted when he handled the cases. He didn’t look closely enough to see that the hole was there. “His” guy had been instructed to thoroughly clean everything for inspection and did a fabulous job. Including removing the rubber (silicone?) hose before it all went in the hot wash.

The downside of this thorough cleaning, is one avenue of failure can’t be verified.

Because the oil carry over was still clearly happening, despite the modification I wondered if the vent was blocked, it’s in a vulnerable space, by road debris, or possibly kinked. Unfortunately, it’s been blown through, so there is no evidence either way. As a precaution, when we put it back together, we will extend the tube somewhere out of the way and fit a filter.

Luckily I have a good few contacts who modify, mend and generally play with Harleys. Amongst them is a guy, who specifically plays with M8s who bent my ear for over an hour on the subject and I feel I’m getting a handle on it. He tells me that, whilst the vent is a solution, it’s not THE solution for all affected bikes.

He also suggest that I go for the “fat” pushrod modification….and….. still keep an eye on the levels. He reckons his, highly modified, bike still moves about 100ml over 2000 miles. Now, there is also a twist to the pushrod saga. Some (earlier bikes) have very slightly different size rod holes through the shaft. The modified shaft is now available in two diameters, so take care.

The other issue appears to be a problem with third (and occasionally sixth) gear. Possibly over-hardened and therefore brittle. This becomes a problem with tuned bikes, when third gear does a lot of work. To completely eliminate this issue, the only solution is to move away from the Harley parts and use a Baker set. These are straight cut and therefore stronger. Harley don’t use straight cut because they are intrinsically noisier and that’s an issue these days.

Now…..about oil pumps …… and top-end rattles…..


Ps….. I’m thinking a gremlin bell may be a good back up…

Glad you are getting to the bottom of it and I wasn’t losing my marbles.

As I have said previously, I’d fit the fat rod had I known that the vent didn’t fix the issue, although I thought it had as I had never had any oil transfer prior to the long ride to Spain, so it never crossed my mind.

I do think it points to long days in the saddle and warmer temps, maybe this is why US Harley riders have been having far more issues that U.K. riders?

 

[squibb34]

Surely the answer, something that is easy to check every day, is one of those see though Derby covers - there are a number of options out there for a few hundred bucks. Not ideal I know, as you get to see the clutch in action, but it would save a lot of worries on say a touring trip.

Whilst Doc Harley goes through the official HD procedure nicely, including that little oil spinner thingy that is supposed to help with migration, that primary breather system seems a bit Micky Mouse to me. Memories of old British Iron I guess, like the 700/750 RE twins, which were notorious for crankcase venting issues.