black exhaust

[Slimboybinz]

I have a new 2015 street glide.
So far only 650 kilometers, but i notice that the ends of the mufflers go black from a kind of sooty deposit.
it wipes off easily with water, but it's there again after my next ride.
Is this normal, or a sign of running rich similar to a car??

Regards

 

[TomA]

Yess it sounds like it's running a little rich but that's not all bad.

 

[Slimboybinz]

I cleaned up the exhaust tips at the weekend.
Put on 500 kilometers.
After I got back I noticed only the left exhaust tip had gone black.
Any comments??

 

[Aviator5456]

I cleaned up the exhaust tips at the weekend.
Put on 500 kilometers.
After I got back I noticed only the left exhaust tip had gone black.
Any comments??

The only thing I can think of, if you have the typical exhaust with the crossover tube, is the speed of the exhaust from the right side is faster than that from the left. The right side is a straight pipe with no obstructions to slow it down whereas the left has bends in the tubing that tend to slow it down, allowing the fumes and soot to settle before they exit the exhaust.

 

[Slimboybinz]

Thanks Aviator.
it's going in for the first service next week ill mention it to the technician.

 

[Slimboybinz]

things have gone from bad to worse.
After the 1600Km service I went on a 280Km ride.
All riding behind me said that the exhaust is smoking like a chimney.
When I go down gears for example down a hill and stop for a few seconds then set off, there are clouds of white smoke pouring out of the mufflers.
I took it to the dealer straight after and he had to fill up the oil with 250ml of oil.
That's 250 ml of oil in 280 kilometres! ! !
He said to monitor the oil level over the next couple of months.

I think this is unacceptable, the bike is 6 weeks old and has 2100 kilometres.
Am I wrong to ask for a new bike?

SLIM

 

[TomA]

We have seen a couple of bike's that had to have the motor replaced or rebuilt in the last couple of years. I would take the bike back and tell them to fix it. I would not except the take it and monitor it advice they gave you.

 

[Designflaw]

Is it possible you are riding it to hard before the rings seat properly?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Slimboybinz]

Hi and thanks for all your replies.
The dealership has had my bike for a day now.
they found that the rubber pipe that goes from the breather pipes at the"T" piece into the back of the air filter and been squashed between thec throttle body and the air filter itself.
Can anyone comment as to whether this would cause my problems of clouds of white smoke and very high oil consumption?

 

[shaochieh.young]

Don't know maybe the oil got stuck in the combustion chamber and not able to bleed out of the hose.


2014 Switchback
2014 SGS

 

[Grizzly24]

If the oil breather system is blocked it cannot adequately release the pressure in the crankcase. If that is the case, then the pressure in the crankcase could build up and push oil by the rings, resulting in the engine consuming/burning oil. If the dealer has fixed it the breather system, ride the bike and see if the same problem exists.

 

[Slimboybinz]

If the oil breather system is blocked it cannot adequately release the pressure in the crankcase. If that is the case, then the pressure in the crankcase could build up and push oil by the rings, resulting in the engine consuming/burning oil. If the dealer has fixed it the breather system, ride the bike and see if the same problem exists.

Thanks Grizzly, that sounds very logical.
I will be doing about 600 Km this weekend so a good test for oil consumption and smoke.
I'll let you know next week.
Now I'm thinking that the bike must have come from the dealership like this and thast's a poor reflection on Harley's quality control.

SLIM

 

[Aviator5456]

Thanks Grizzly, that sounds very logical.

Now I'm thinking that the bike must have come from the dealership like this and thast's a poor reflection on Harley's quality control.

SLIM

I just found out mine had the front tire on reverse...from the factory....lol.

 

[hulkss]

Just in case you did not look at the sidewall arrow.......

From Dunlop:

The reason for the front tire reversed tread design is to help address irregular wear and the associated tire noise and vibration that some riders were experiencing. Many Dunlop motorcycle tire patterns have “reversed front patterns” compared to rear, because different forces act on front and rear tires. We test all Dunlop tires for satisfactory wet performance in the direction as indicated on the sidewall. It is important to always mount the tire in the correct direction of rotation as indicated by the arrow on the sidewall.

 

[Aviator5456]

Just in case you did not look at the sidewall arrow.......

From Dunlop:

The reason for the front tire reversed tread design is to help address irregular wear and the associated tire noise and vibration that some riders were experiencing. Many Dunlop motorcycle tire patterns have “reversed front patterns” compared to rear, because different forces act on front and rear tires. We test all Dunlop tires for satisfactory wet performance in the direction as indicated on the sidewall. It is important to always mount the tire in the correct direction of rotation as indicated by the arrow on the sidewall.

I had taken the tire/wheel off to do the brakes, didn't bother marking L/R and went to re-install, according to the arrows...but the anti-lock brakes wouldn't work...finally took it to the dealer and they found the tire was reversed...the arrow was pointing backwards.

 

[Slimboybinz]

I rode 620 Km this weekend and no smoking and no oil used.
So the problem was of Harley origin and the dealership didn't pick up the problem.
Anyway now its fixed but my faith in the MOCO and dealership is a bit dented.

Thand all for y our suggestions and help.