Harley Tech tells me how bad the FXR really is | 1986 Harley Davidson FXR
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
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My buddy gulf ghost, who's a Harley Davidson technician for a living, comes over and tells me just how bad the FXR really is. If we want to get the FXR roadworthy we've definitely got a few things to do. He shows me how to do a 3 fluid service and we make a list of everything else the bike needs to get back into fighting shape. I wanna see just how far I can push that 1986 evo before it fails, but the rest of the bike has to be up to the task too! Till next time y'all, keep it weird #shadetreearmy #fxr #harleydavidson
The TC era was the start of accountants rather than engineers running corporate HD. Long live the Evo.
Agree.
The TC problems were eventually solved by the aftermarket and they can make MUCH more power. In other news the early Evos had their own suckage (cracked cases, walking bearing races, taper shaft clutch with delicate alloy hub and more). Harleys are REBUILDABLE but never particularly high quality stock compared to machines like Airhead BMWs. "Accountant" thinking ran HD into the ground then AMF bought it then their accountants ran it into the ground then the same management bought the company (no one will ever tell the real story behind that score!) then the accountants begat the early Twinkies with those horrid chain tensioners that are still wrecking engines in 2021! The aftermarket solved all those problems.
@@obfuscated3090 The aftermarket solved all the early Evo problems, too, and once fixed it's a far better and more reliable and just as powerful engine as the Twin Cam
EVOs Rule ! It will last longer & take more abuse than any other Harley engine !
For me, one of your best vids to date! That dude is cool & I love how patient he was & explained everything. Great learning tool for anyone who has this type of bike
Fred Flintstone dragged his bare feet to stop, you own boots, man up.
Did you see the video of the guy hauling ass till he saw he was going to snack a car in the back. First thing he does is plant his feet on the road. Obviously he did think to grab the backbrakes a bit to late.
@@clarkbabin9799 if you look closer you can see that video is mirrored and the guy was using front and rear (locked up).
Look again he planted his feet on the road.
Just hit the kill switch and keep downshifting.
@@clarkbabin9799 Yeah, he puts his left foot down. The video is mirrored.
Working in an "all makes" bike shop.
Shop manager, "never pull the primary plug, it will always leak"
"But boss man, doesn't that make it a replacement, single use item?"
"No! It just sucks! HD quality control stinks! Single use drain plugs? Are you just stupid?"
Thanks for the confirmation, random HD tech guy, you just made my day.
one use... pfft, thread tape and good as new.
If the " tech" doesn't go full gorrila when they install the 739-a drain plugs they can be cleaned ( magnetic tip catches iron paticles) and reused a few times. They're pipe thread so discretion is always recommended. They're like 3 bucks
How about three wraps of Teflon Tape on a used oil plug ?
@@mikeskidmore6754 clean it with brakecleaner then liquid Teflon works well. Permatex brand is my choice. Be careful not to over do it and get liquid Teflon pushed into ur primary cover
I have used the same primary plug on my ultra classic seven times so far never had a leak
Good job on the maintenance. I used to own a '85 FXRP stripped down though. The only thing he missed is to check the Chain for tight spots. Always rotate the Chain and check it in 4 spots.
Just watched this video for a second time : Gulf Ghost , what a terrific bloke with a sense of humour too . What is so great is that the FXR is to become the new “ cool “ in vintage thoroughbreds . Anyone , including me , can buy a collection of new bikes but it takes class to ride a heap of resurrected junk with Pride !
pft my dads been holding onto his cherry fxr that he did a frame up build on, for me as my birthright, betta believe its all pride when i ride that thing
Man I love how you carve out so much time to work on your bikes! Especially that you take the time to make these vids for us 🤘
I removed the rear brake on my 1972 H2 because my shin kept hitting it when I kick started it. You only need a front brake..
Love seeing more of the old "rust glide" in action!
But I gotta be honest, watching all the different locations for that fluid change and having to get three different types of oil is making me appreciate the metric cruiser just a little bit more XD.
Must agree. I am very happy with my V Star 650 Yamaha.
Not to mention when the technician is constantly pointing out broken stuff like "It's not a big deal though it's pretty common for them to break." and being surprised when some things actually aren't broken. Harley's are cool but damned if I'm going to maintain one. Gimme a Honda and I'm happy. Honda kinks are like this switch needs to be cleaned like every 10 years or the turn signals will flash slow or not at all.
1992 1/2 are head breather motors. Older than that they are lower end breathers & won’t blow excess oil out of the head. Lower end breathers usually have a filter located underneath the bike for any excess oil to lubricate to road
ray lopez I realized that later after I said it lol
RLOPEZ: Like I needed to told this after my `90 FXSTS puked oil in my basement after winter hibernation. bwahaha
Me too
And the chain,if equipped
@@REDMAN298 That's due to standard HD wet sumping where the oil works past the pump gears and fills the crankcase. I pull the timing plug (outdoors!) and blow it out with the first few revs, then wipe off the area and reinstall the plug with anti-seize. (Dry threads permit moisture intrusion and corrosion.)
I love the old evo's I have a 1997 with over 330,000 km so divide by 1.6 for miles .. tuff as nails .. Take Care
wow! I just picked up a 98 sportster with 58k miles. hope mine lasts that long!
@@franciscoanaya8881 good luck with your Sportster I have a 99 Sportster 883 that has 330,000 miles that I put on it it had 20,000 when I bought it I change the oil twice a year and the filter every other oil change and I just use Harley Oil you'll find a little bearing in the primary last about 50 60,000 miles and then it goes out and you have to put a new one in there my alternator lasted to about 250 thousand miles I generally get 100,000 miles before I replace the belt still using the original pulley I ride mostly day trip nowadays but I used my Sportster everyday to take me to work or job interviews or temporary job assignments
My 87 flhtc is bad to the bone. It runs and runs and it has never let me down. Doesn't leak any oil. I just took it on a 170 mile memorial run yesterday. I live in Florida and it was hot as hell here yesterday. Not one ping. When it's hot like that it uses a little more fuel but that's par for the course. Lead the pack from Jacksonville to Stark. 70 miles an hour all the way, no strain at all. 85.86.87 Harleys are the best they ever made. Bulletproof.
I have an 86 FXRS, keep all the bolts tight and fill up the gas. Can't kill it. Great video.
I’ve got my work cut out for me killin this engine lol
Love that old EVO give it some good TLC ! FXR’s not easy to find.
😂 the Harley will end up being the longest running bike you'll every own
Exactly
Buy a klr650 and get back to me in a few decades
@Jr ALEXANDER What do you ride little boy? A pink moped I bet
Oh man I hooe that belt goes soon everytime I see thst thing just flopping around I cant help but laugh a d panic at the same time. Also dude this was super informative 10/10 most wholesome and laidback motorcycle channel on the tube.
I saw Harley Tech and instantly thought sweet, The Harley Tech John Maxwell is making a cameo in the video... wrong. Hose teaser.
Joseph Allen - yep thats what i thought when i read Harley Tech
I NEVER would have known about these 1 use bolts!!!
Me either!
17:20 - Grim!
Gluck killing an Evo, lol
BLOCKHEAD imagine finding you here!
Wouldn't hurt to check/repack the steering head and swing arm bearings when you get the wheels off.
Great tip!
Fork oil.?
Tons of labor involved with those keep the steering head adjusted and greased via the zirc fitting should be good.
@@rnrudynh1427 if only HD made it that easy. There arent any grease fittings unless you put them in.
@@vector6977 I must of got my years confused. My 82 FLT has a grease zirc fitting.
When i was in vero beach and five of the disneyworld parks a fuckload of rain happened daily till i visited madison flordia
We do estate sales and recently had a mid 80’s FXR that was in reasonable shape, ran like a scalded ape. I think it brought over $4000. FXR’s are very desirable and collectable.
The shoddy looks of this bike are perfect. Kinda like a really old pair of jeans that got ripped and faded through years of wear - not by some guy at the factory with a sandblaster and a box-cutter. So, yeah... go and save that FXR!
The expression on that guy's face when she said the bike has to go to the end of the engine... Priceless!
Good info on doing our own maintenance. Thanks for doing this video.
Just a couple weeks ago, a friend was taking the primary cover off of a bike he bought. It was an HD with an Evo motor. When he took the primary cover off he found the gasket was made out of two circular pieces cut from a Pabst Blue Ribbon carton. It was such a great Harley moment. :)
Buy or download the factory service manual (no substitutes!) and factory parts book for any Harley you own. Ebay is a good source. Wise FXR owners collect tech date from other FXRs, other Evos and other years too.
Drag pipes strangle engines and cannot be made not to suck. The stock crossover headers breathe much better as do 2-int-1s. My FXRs have a Bassani Road Rage and a Thunderheader. The Bassani tucks in better and has a much more intelligently designed mount.
On my 1988 I bought new I immediately chitcanned the stock intake and installed a Ram Jett solid manifold, the best HD intake ever and nothing else is close. They're only available used but are well worth it. I use common gray gasket paper for the gaskets. I have never had an intake manage to leak. Get the E stamped Ram Jett for big twin Evos. No carb brace required even with a Super B hanging off it.
The stock 35mm forks on early FXRs are rather flexy and limit caliper choice.
If yours are nasty I'd replace them with 39mm forks, which need not come of an FXR since the Sportster forks have nearly everything in common. If you want more travel you can run FXRT length tubes, shim the springs or replace with Progressives, and run the Trackerdie 39mm damper rods for about 1-1/4" more travel than the best FXR 39mm forks, the FXRT.
If you have the early taper shaft clutch design (visible in this video with the derby cover removed) be VERY careful pulling the hub and ONLY use a flat face puller which bears evenly on those delicate little bolt towers. If you snap one use the steel upgraded aftermarket hub to replace it.
There are two kinds of belt replacements, planned and unplanned. I got 60K out of my original belt and belt tech is better today. I would replace the rear drive belt on any older HD unless I know when it was done. It's cheaper than a tow. Belt drives saved me much more than they cost vs. replacing chain and sprockets.
Inspect your rubber engine mounts including looking at the front mount from the bottom. My bottom half disintegrated but the bike handles so well I didn't notice til I replaced all of them when installing a bagger transmission.
Love my '86 FXRS-SP. In fact any old FXRS. Not too difficult to work on, loads of fun to ride, and even riding in the rain I've always got a big grin on my face.
Good video. Those evos are like the old Tonka toys. Solid design. Ditch the drag pipes put a 2 into 1 header and rebuild/tune the carb. S&S would be sweet. Enjoy the puss out of that thing. It will out last some of rhe newer bikes.😎✌✌✌✌
Amen brother EVO are bulletproof 🍸😎 ride a 93 FXRS bought it new and she has done nothing but shit and GET best Harley ever !!!!
Didn’t Adam Sandoval put something like 270k on his evo electraglide?
The War Horse? Pretty sure he did. Now he's rocking an Indian.
If the mounts fucked up on those old pipes should get a dope 2 into 1 to replace those with. Gonna be waiting for the parts anyways
It's not lizards here buddy. It's big hairy spiders that crawl out on your tank and tell you to get off his bike.
Oh jeez, I get enough spiders in the woods lol
Gulf Coast seems like a solid friend
Learned it from a cat engine school. But you never wanna pre fill oil filters since it can allow contaminants to get through and into bearing surfaces.
Enjoyed this video, would like to see a few more episodes of you two working together on the FXR :)
The heat in Indiana is pretty ridiculous too!
Westley Walsh’s so true
lol.. the idea that so many things may be wrong but all are not catastrophic. which makes it fixable which is good. keep the drinks a flowin and the wrenches a turnin. cheers bro.
I had an 82 FXR #101 for 15 yrs. 46,000 miles the motor took a shit, collapsed lifter.After the rebuild I read a tech tip. When I changed my oil, after draining the oil bag, with the filter off I would add a couple QTs of oil run the moter till green oil was coming out . Shut down, screw on the filter. 80,000 miles later when I went S&S 88 CI cam and crank mic-ed up just fine
I personally do the 4 qt oil change on the motor since there is no drain plug for the motor. Drain the oil tank add 3 qts start the motor with the oil filter off, oil pump will push the old oil out of the crank case, run bike till you see clean oil coming out of the oil filter hole then install the new filter and add the 4th qt
Y'all are fixing the eve and the chopper is out riding... Going to be a fun summer on this channel!
Good job guys.Try using the longer oil filter for the Harley evo dyna.Your local HD dealer should still have them.Maybe while she is on the hoist,due to 10k service.
Learned so much in one video and laughing the whole time. Well done!!
I'm 6 years into my Harley this week, never had a problem. Gas n Go! :)
I just love your videos brother and your comment on how you want to ride the bike until the engine hand grenades really is awesome LOL.
I’m so glad he came clean about the primary gasket I’ve never replaced mine although I have one on the shelf just Incase 😂😂😂
Hey buddy ,, please i beg ya , get a belt guard,, one little pebble gets in between the belt and the pulley and “Snap” its all over i have seen many times , and you cant change that on the road it is quite the project..don’t have to be a fancy one just a plain old plastic one will work just fine.. them belts can take one hell of a beating and last forever , but a little road pebble and its done .. just a heads up buddy , a much over looked piece of safety/ protective part..
Will do!
great video !! I have a 94 fxlr a little over 3000 miles I bought it a year and a half ago and have put a little over 1500 miles on it. I am going to do the 3 hole change this weekend been looking for this info THANKS BROTHER !! maybe our paths will cross 1 day and do a ride.
"Evo's are bulletproof"
Amen brother. I have an 88 flhtc nicknamed "The Couch" with 118,000 miles on her. The guy I got the bike back in the 90's from did have the jugs off but only to replace the paper gaskets with the bimetal ones. He cut the lip off the cylinders and honed them. Same rings. He put a mild torquey cam and a super e carb on it and I put some open megaphones on it in place of the mufflers. Other than that and being lowered 1 in. on the air ride it is stock. And other than that check ball occasionally getting stuck when I let her sit to long and she pukes out the breather it don't leak.
i run 20w50 in all three never had a problem
Thats what i was wondering. Im pretty sire thats what i did last time, with no issues.
Me too. 20/50 synthetic
I used the same primary gasket on my 02 FLSTC 4 or 5 times it never leaked. My 98 FLSTF evo still uses the o ring type primary cover gasket or at least i been using them because I have like 5 new ones. I will buy the new type when these are gone I change oil every 3000 miles.
Your EVO won't ever die. My '86 FXRS is my daily ride. It took me 5 years to make it safe enough (and good looking) for that and do long trips as well. The engine is running great at about 80k miles. I've only changed the valve seals. Give her some love and it will be the bike, out of all the others, that will still run good in 20 years! 🤘🏻😎⚡️
My 73 Norton Commando Roadster had a non-unit engine as well, and I was always puzzled by the fact that the dry clutch operated less than an inch away from the oil bath for the primary chain. This inevitably resulted in oil reaching the clutch plates which required them to removed and cleaned with rubbing alcohol; this was a routine procedure on this bike. Un-be-fucking-lievable and testament as to why the British bike industry collapsed. For all its good qualities I simply got fed up with constantly working on my Norton. High maintainence is every bit as annoying with machines as it is with women.
Awesome video, i just picked up my first harley recently and did not realize the transmission and primary where separate oil. I guess i will be changing those very soon seeing as my clutch has started slipping and it sounds like the primary chain is making a hell of a racket. Glad i learned something.
Man get a repair manual. You won't regret it. You'd be surprised how simple most shit on a bike is.
I have two fxr evo they do last forever bulletproof.
This video is extremely useful my wife just got me an 85 fxrs
not really man, I have a 85 fxrc and I wouldn't go by this
I don't want to criticize, but I do believe that lizard was original equipment. (LIZARD: Don't leave home without it)
On the front, brakes up grade the pads an new brake line you will get great stopping power back Same had a 87FXR worked great.
"None of this is my fault! I haven't maintained this bike"
Replace bike with car and you sound like my wife.
@Derek Frampton PaPa-D his wife, my girlfriend
Why is this the video that shows up on my homepage right after I buy my own 86 FXR LMAO
@@Tylerjnoc98 WELCOME TO HELL! There’s donuts and coffee in the back :)
You would have to ride the bike at highway speed to warm up the Transmission oil ...
Or around the neighborhood a few times.
I own 2 89 FRXLR. Bought my 1st one 3 years later bought a second one. Both make me Happy.
Nice vid man, enjoyed that! Love seeing your subscriber count on the garage wall - that is awesome!!!
Gulf coast caries the same orange streamlight stylus pro I do! Haha! Love the mechanical content! Keep it comin! Best regards from your neighbor in Dover FL.
The MATCO penlight for the win! There's been plenty of slobber on mine too.
I would be worried more about the “Death Chopper “. 🦝😺💀☠️🏴☠️
If the rear end on that thing is a bit wishy washy, check the swingarm bushings/spacers. Might be originals, which are rubber. Not horribly expensive or difficult to do.
Finally got anice bike on. Worked at york plant under amf and laid off when new buyers bought co. Had an fxe, 81. Sold @ 28 when son was born
Awesome bit of garage time, and ace hearing the pro opinion and tips on the bike maintenance too! :-)
A friend of mine has an fxr, nearly as old as yours, I rode it some time its a great bike, your friend did a good job to maintain it. Triumph French biker.
86 FXR 5 speed 16 oz in transmission, thats a early evo so its not a head breather its a bottom breather
Im sure you're itching for it to give up so you can tear it down and rebuild the whole bike but im sorry man, im rooting for that Evo motor 😆.
Just something that gets to me seeing an engine beating the odds and racking up the miles, almost like the car or bike or what have you has an unyielding will to live even though it's an inanimate object.
Heh, something tells me I’m gonna have to try hard to kill this thing
@@shadetreesurgeon the old Evos are fine engines....I have a 93 Low Rider....just got home yesterday evening after riding 652 miles straight through (other than stops for gas and a quick burger), not a problem, not a leak.
I just did a 108 bikes club ride. A lot of breakdowns... us EVO guys? Laughing and keeping it cool (as long as we keep it under 4k rpm...)
@@roymoderatto Yeah....my EVO agrees....
@@roymoderatto Keeping it just above an idle. The advance curve isn't all in yet on either of my bikes by then.
I read the title thought John Maxwell was coming down to help you . I think John would laugh and then leave it . 👍 I'll give a dirty thumb up
No computer.... he would have a clue
Can’t recommend that flashlight enough. It’s a Streamlight Stylus Pro. I use one every day. Perfect inspection light.
67MercuryXR7 love mine I’ll never go to a different one
Terrific video - interesting & optimistic prognosis by Gulf-Ghost upon the FXR motor . Once the brakes rotors pads are fixed and the clutch adjusted or replaced the bike is good to go
Yup! I’m holding I can squeeze some more like out of it!
That was a good video, Shady. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks man!
I feel ya bud on the heat. The “what it feels like” heat here in Indiana is over 100 😭😂
If your primary chain is too loose, it'll be hard to find neutral.
Neutral.. what gear is dat? 😉
@@JohnSmith-qs5fg Depends, if your shifter is on the left then it's up from first, but if it's on the right then it's down.
I have a spider that lives in my street triple's dash area. We have an agreement that he can stay as long as he holds on. His favorite place to ride is on the middle of my right mirror out of the wind.
Can't wait to get my fxr going it was my dad's before he passed motor mounts broken and the cranks bad and he broke the forks doing wheelies lmao.
I’ve reused that bolt and gasket over and over... never an issue.
Dude! This is perfect timing as I'm probably going to pull the trigger on an '85 FXR very soon so I'm taking this video as a sign from the BRAAP gods to do it!
Niiice!
'85 is a good year, a bit early. 86's are perfect to keep stock. If your '85 is a high mile one, be ready for way more engine work. I learned the hard way when I got an '85 FXRP true police bike for cheap. Way harder than the '86. Totally worth it, though! I love both.
@@roymoderatto Good to know. It's had some work done to it (new exhaust, etc.) But the person selling it bought it at an estate sale so service records are unknown and they're not sure if the odom has flipped over or not? I look forward to finding out the extent of its troubles when it strands me on the side of the road somewhere!
rubberlover666 it's an adventure to get into this things. They all come alive once the gremlins have been sorted out!
They are good machines. If the price is right go for it. If not, the later models (anything with the Denso OSGR starter) are preferable for the splined clutch shaft and starter but the early parts work fine up to moderately modded engines and like other Evos FXRs are a breeze to wrench and upgrade.
UA-cam is not enough of a resource so visit forums. vtwinforum has an excellent FXR section (the rest is boomers on baggers) with a serious amount of info. Chop Cult and Harley Tech Talk rock too.
Nice bandana wraped around the fork - very hip you are my brother 👌
that old primary oil was blacker than my ex's heart. good thing you changed it. I had a similar experience with my current bike (also my first bike) I bought a 1997 Honda Rebel 250 (one year younger than me) for $1000 from a man who didn't speak the same language as me. It was apparently lost in translation that he had snapped off an exhaust manifold stud, and there was no compression in one of the valves. I shit you not, I had to take the bike apart into EVERY SINGLE PIECE, and replace each thing that I found wrong with it. I affectionately call the bike Frankenstein (don't correct me on that, I know that Frankenstein is the Doctor and Adam is the monster) but, at the end of the day, the thing runs and anything with two wheels and an engine is a whole lot more fun than a car. for my next bike I want to look into the Honda NC750x DCT, but My absolute dream bike is the Honda Goldwing. (I'm a Honda fanboy if you can't tell)
The 12 oz beers make it a 4 hole service.
Animals in motorcycles are a real Florida problem. I found a tree frog under my gauge cluster a few days ago.
Really liked the video. I have an ‘87 fxrs and I didn’t know about the 3 hole change😬😬.
Do you have a link to the primary drain plug replacement?
No lizards, found a birds nest in an 82 Suzuki gs250t that a friend had stored under his back deck.
Its 3 am and I'm supposed to be doing fire guard but imma watch this instead
I've reused that bolt and gasket many times and never had a leak. I'll replace when the gasket tears and the bolt, never
I've got enough parts to build another bike with nothin but that frame. Including mag wheels, PM brake calipers, A 107 S&S super sidewinder and a Baker 6 speed OD. I need that frame. LOL
I've got an 86 Evo FXWG, runs great and always has.
As it will continue to be, 'till the end of times!
So I was reading Harley's first decent engine got a lot of Engineering help from Eric Buell ..
He's what pulled Harley out of the shovelhead ditch
@@grren1782 he and AMF saved the company.
@@rnrudynh1427 amf was that weird uncle that gave you money but diddled you
Omg perfectly said
Incorrect! HD propaganda tends to ignore John Favill who ran their engine program. Buell was involved with the FRAME.
Favill worked at Harley from 1979 to 1985 and is responsible for the Evolution engine. Before that he worked at Norton on the Commando and is more famous for that. He speaks at Norton owners club rallies where I met him.
www.hemmings.com/blog/article/1984-harley-davidson-softail-v2-evolution/
Buell is a great chassis designer but Favill is why HD survived. The FXR was always a side show compared to Softails and the touring bikes.
AMFare often maligned but labor troubles hit HD quality hard in the late Shovelhead years and that's not AMFs fault. AMF saved HD from the incompetent family who owned it but it wasn't their core business so they eventually sold it off to basically the same people who were running it for them. The real history is well documented but bikers are like old gossiping women and repeat what they hear without study.
That bike still sounds great!
the weather in Florida destroys metal
Man I would love to find an old FXR.
I love the fact they keep saying how old this bike is and how much it leaks And I’m here kicking over my 71 hoping it will start this morning, after adding oil from its last ride lol. I think I need a new bike as well by this standard. That’s my excuse to buy a new one.
Feel you on the heat brother , its kinda spicy up here in NC.
the 4th quart is for all the oil I spill trying to pour that oil into the fill hole :P
You once said there was nothing safe about this motorcycle. Now it's been confirmed. LOL