Wet Head pump

[jc1300]

Just had the pump go bad - Not a problem as the dealer had it in and out in 24 hrs. and warranty issue, so Zero cost. But curious is this has been an issue for anyone else.....Mine's a 2015....jc

 

[HDB0B]

2014 32k miles ... had 1 fan replaced under warranty. Pump still OK.

Boborag:

 

[Gorilla]

neighbor had one replaced on her 2015 out in Utah on a trip. No problem since

 

[DakotaTG]

Friend of mine had his pump go out on his 2015 about two months after he bought it. The good thing is that he was only about a mile from the dealership so rode right on up there and got it fixed in a couple hours. Service manage said they were keeping a couple pumps on hand all the time. So far on my 16 I've had zero problems (knock on wood) with 16K on it.

2016 Jade Green and Black TG. DK lift kit, DK tour pak relocation kit, DK External Breather, DK oil filter relocation kit, DK deluxe tank lift and deflector wings (can you tell I like DK products) and LED tail lights.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Just had the pump go bad - Not a problem as the dealer had it in and out in 24 hrs. and warranty issue, so Zero cost. But curious is this has been an issue for anyone else.....Mine's a 2015....jc

Good to hear that got you taken care of quickly.

At just shy of 50K miles on my '14, I've not had any issues with mine.

We did run across a guy stuck on the side of the road in Utah somewhere that had his pump take a dump. But it was not a factory issue...he had run over a big rock and it had cracked the pump housing.

We kept him company for a bit. His friend was on the way back from the dealership with a replacement pump when we headed back on our way.

Kevin

 

[jc1300]

Good to hear that got you taken care of quickly.

At just shy of 50K miles on my '14, I've not had any issues with mine.

We did run across a guy stuck on the side of the road in Utah somewhere that had his pump take a dump. But it was not a factory issue...he had run over a big rock and it had cracked the pump housing.

We kept him company for a bit. His friend was on the way back from the dealership with a replacement pump when we headed back on our way.

Kevin

I'm curious ~ as the Wet Heads" are strictly a "get past EPA" regs....that you could drive without any real issue as we have been driving the 103's for 7 years now. Same engine minus the wet heads that only bring the temp down low single digit numbers. I wasn't sure what my problem was - but if i did, not sure I would have stopped my ride. Thoughts?

 

[DK Custom Products]

I'm curious ~ as the Wet Heads" are strictly a "get past EPA" regs....that you could drive without any real issue as we have been driving the 103's for 7 years now. Same engine minus the wet heads that only bring the temp down low single digit numbers. I wasn't sure what my problem was - but if i did, not sure I would have stopped my ride. Thoughts?

I think it may be a bit more complicated than that.

If I recall correctly, the wetheads have higher compression and slightly hotter cams. Since they were going to liquid cooled heads, HD knew they could up the performance a bit, because the increased heat would be offset by the liquid cooled heads.

On top of that, I don't know for sure, but shooting from the hip, I don't think I would want the cavities in the heads that would normally have liquid flowing thru them to be empty (filled with air...or possibly with non flowing liquid) thru heating and cooling cycles.

I don't know that it would do anything bad, but I don't know that it wouldn't either.

Kevin

 

[Fozworth]

How do you know when the pump quits?

 

[jc1300]

How do you know when the pump quits?

IN my case I didn't ~ Almost at the same time the Engine and Temp lights came on. When I took it in they suspected the sending unit - Not the case. So I had no idea, and on first glance, neither did the dealer.

jc

 

[GARYD]

Last July my pump gave out up in Ottawa for the National HOG rally. Neither dealer had one(sold the last one the day before). Both said it was a Harley so I shouldn't have a problem if I stay away from congestion. Not easy to do in a large city, so most of the time I took a cab or bus. Didn't have a problem on the way home other then my clutch. I finally found a dealer that had a pump in Niagara Falls. They switched it out, took my $50 co pay and sent me home.

I would have no problem riding without the pump if I was on a highway with little to no traffic. .....after all it is an air cooled Harley for the most part.

 

[lightnin]

Kevin is right, when they went to the water cooled exhaust valve only they also went from 9. something to 1 to 10.0 to one compression a different cam and call it the High Out Put Twin Cam, so the dealer told me. He also explained that in order to comply with EPA junk they had to lean the engine and a leaned out engine will run hotter. Now that I have strained what few brain cells I have left, I hope this helps answer some questions.

 

[DK Custom Products]

IN my case I didn't ~ Almost at the same time the Engine and Temp lights came on. When I took it in they suspected the sending unit - Not the case. So I had no idea, and on first glance, neither did the dealer.

jc

Last July my pump gave out up in Ottawa for the National HOG rally. Neither dealer had one(sold the last one the day before). Both said it was a Harley so I shouldn't have a problem if I stay away from congestion. Not easy to do in a large city, so most of the time I took a cab or bus. Didn't have a problem on the way home other then my clutch. I finally found a dealer that had a pump in Niagara Falls. They switched it out, took my $50 co pay and sent me home.

I would have no problem riding without the pump if I was on a highway with little to no traffic. .....after all it is an air cooled Harley for the most part.

I reckon if the pump went out, but all the fluid was still in there, I would keep an eye on the temps and keep riding.

But if a hose went, or the pump case broke (it's plastic), I don't believe I would ride it with the passageways just having air in them.

Kevin

 

[GARYD]

I'm not having any problems with my motor after all those miles I did without the pump.....so far. Maybe something will show up in the next 30K miles.

 

[jc1300]

Well...thanks for the input from all...I like the "good for 200 miles" remark. Like 200 miles at 70 would be the same as 200 miles at 45 mph. So....after reading and thinking it over, with all the money invested in the bike, and somewhat differing ideas from people with a better knowledge than I....if it happens again....Stop and tow it in.....why take the chance....JMO

jc

 

[GARYD]

Well...thanks for the input from all...I like the "good for 200 miles" remark. Like 200 miles at 70 would be the same as 200 miles at 45 mph. So....after reading and thinking it over, with all the money invested in the bike, and somewhat differing ideas from people with a better knowledge than I....if it happens again....Stop and tow it in.....why take the chance....JMO

jc

Surely there would be a H-D dealer within 200 miles from wherever you might be that you could just ride it there and save the time and $$$.

200 miles at 90mph or 45 doesn't matter - it's the congestion that I would worry about.

I rode over 366 miles (highway) last July to find a dealer and wouldn't hesitate to do it again....but not in bumper to bumper traffic.

I was planning on riding as far as I needed to in order to find a dealer that had a replacement pump - even if I had to ride all the way home(900miles)

The recommendations from the 2 Harley dealers in Canada helped make up my mind for me to just ride it home. Glad I listened to them. Otherwise it would have been very costly for me to extend my vacation an additional 3 to 5 days waiting for a replacement pump to be shipped to them.

But, that's me, I do tend to stick my neck out and take chances ever so often.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Hi Gary and other on this Topic.

A close friend of mine just took his 14 tri glide in for an Oil change and to check out why his fan is coming on even when it's cool outside.

$ 800,00 buck later and New Pump and 3 new hoses he's back on the rd.

Good thing he had the extended warranty :xzqxz:.

NOW I'm wondering when mines going to take a dump. .

Is there a way to check your coolant level ?

I heard but haven't got my lazy Butt to see. But isn't it under 1 of the covers on the right side of the Trike ??

And do you just pop that cover off ??............Thanks for any light you can shed on this for me................Rick

 

[Capt.Bob]

Coolant Level

All you do is gently work the inner part of the right-hand panel as you are sitting on the trike off that covers the coolant tank and inspect the coolant level. The black panel on the "pod" has three plastic attach points so be kind of ginger with your yanking as you take it off or put it back on. I have the DK Customs Custom Lift Kit so the readings are a bit different on mine than the stock trike. There is a full line on the plastic container that holds the coolant.