If water pump breaks

[Detector]

I was wondering if my water pump broke how far I could ride it

 

[consitter]

I was wondering if my water pump broke how far I could ride it

Good question...

Welcome to Trike Talk!

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I asked this question to a master tech and his answer was.... Its still a air cooled engine as long as you dont get stuck in slow moving traffic,traffic jam situation.He told me i could ride it 500 miles if i wanted to,keep in mind it only cools around the exhaust valves and not the whole engine.With running Love Jugs i would have no worries if i was 500 miles from home and mine went out.

 

[1dn5up]

Been there done that ! ^^^^^^^^ What Steve said :clapping:

 

[TWISTED1]

I asked this question to a master tech and his answer was.... Its still a air cooled engine as long as you dont get stuck in slow moving traffic,traffic jam situation.He told me i could ride it 500 miles if i wanted to,keep in mind it only cools around the exhaust valves and not the whole engine.With running Love Jugs i would have no worries if i was 500 miles from home and mine went out.

Yup what he said. I have the fan disengaged. I have used all of DK'S solutions for heat and have had nothing but good results even in three digit temps. I would contact DK and see what they have to offer or take a peek at their web site. There is a lot of information.

 

[ctdair]

Rode from NYC to Cleveland with no water pump.

 

[Detector]

Water pump

Thank you for the information on the water pump. I am going to Americade in July and didn't know how far I could go if the water pump went.

 

[1dn5up]

Just for info , the pre 2016 pumps were re tooled. It’s not a recall ,but a silent recall. In other words they will replace the bad ones at N/C for a limited time. It even has a different part #.

 

[ultrafxr]

I am the contrarian here but personally I wouldn't ride if the water pump broke. I don't think the wet head design is engineered for air cooling as the strictly air cooled motors are. And the passage for the water when not circulating will not dissipate heat but tend to lock it in. The M8s for sure were never designed to be only air cooled - either wet head or oil head. I just don't think it's a good idea . . . but I could be wrong.

 

[GARYD]

My pump broke in Ottawa Ontario a couple years ago at the HOG rally. No dealer had one. When I asked If I could ride it home (Chicago) the service manager said "Hell yes, it's an air cooled Harley. Just stay away from bumper to bumper traffic".

Which I did for 330 miles all the way to Buffalo, NY where I found a dealer that had a pump. I would have ridden all the way to Chicago if I had to.

Every dealer I've asked that question since, all said yes you can still ride.

 

[ultrafxr]

My pump broke in Ottawa Ontario a couple years ago at the HOG rally. No dealer had one. When I asked If I could ride it home (Chicago) the service manager said "Hell yes, it's an air cooled Harley. Just stay away from bumper to bumper traffic".

Which I did for 330 miles all the way to Buffalo, NY where I found a dealer that had a pump. I would have ridden all the way to Chicago if I had to.

Every dealer I've asked that question since, all said yes you can still ride.

I don't doubt one bit what you say and what the dealers have told you . . . and I've heard the same thing. But the dealers as we all know will say and do most anything. After all it ain't their nickel involved should trouble arise. I'd be interested in what mother Harley has to say (in writing) on the subject. I sincerely doubt they would give a green light to ride with the water pump inoperative. Just my $.02 and I can and have been wrong.

 

[GARYD]

I don't doubt one bit what you say and what the dealers have told you . . . and I've heard the same thing. But the dealers as we all know will say and do most anything. After all it ain't their nickel involved should trouble arise. I'd be interested in what mother Harley has to say (in writing) on the subject. I sincerely doubt they would give a green light to ride with the water pump inoperative. Just my $.02 and I can and have been wrong.

I'd be very interested in what H-D Corp. has to say also. When you think about it, it's only a small portion of the engine that is water cooled. I don't see any major problem with that area being water or air cooled under normal conditions for a short time. I certainly don't mean racing or extreme uses.

I would think the dealers would say just the opposite = they would want you to buy a new pump, not send you on your way.

I bet the Harley engineers did extensive testing for just this scenario and would have said "Under NO circumstances operate without a working pump - PERIOD" if this was the case.

I listen to all those riders that have, myself included, ridden hundreds of miles without a problem. I would not hesitate to do so again if I was in trouble in the middle of nowhere.

Seeing how litigious our society is, I wouldn't blame H-D for saying "Under no

circumstances, ride with the water pump inoperative".​

JMHO

 

[Tomswede]

Question, how would I know if the water pump and the cooling system is working "normally " or if something is broken, are there any indicators or other warnings that will tell me that there is a problem that needs attention since there are no water temp gauges to my knowledge, this is the first bike I've had that's been twin cooled, thanks

 

[ultrafxr]

If you water pump is inoperative it will throw a DTC code and the engine check light will come on. To check it yourself turn you bike's ignition on with the engine run / stop switch in the run position. Do not start but hold the throttle about half way for a few seconds. The cooling fans and the water pump will energize. You can feel the air from the fans and can put your hand on the water pump cover to feel for vibration that it is running.

 

[PosseRider]

There is also what looks like a "red thermometer" light beside the " check engine"lite that will come on.

 

[Tomswede]

If you water pump is inoperative it will throw a DTC code and the engine check light will come on. To check it yourself turn you bike's ignition on with the engine run / stop switch in the run position. Do not start but hold the throttle about half way for a few seconds. The cooling fans and the water pump will energize. You can feel the air from the fans and can put your hand on the water pump cover to feel for vibration that it is running.

Thank you, very helpful, exactly what I was looking for

 

[DOKK]

Add me to this list as well. 2 miles down the road this morning heading to work, my temp light and CEL light came on. Turned around and came back to the house. Logged into my FP3 and got the P1019 code. Did the fan and pump test and fans came on but the pump didn't. Guess I'll call the dealer when they open and use my SA again. Dammit.

 

[arnie]

out in Utah a couple yrs. ago & my pump went out. Rode it all the way home to il. No problems what so ever. Maybe I was just lucky? When I got home I smacked it with a mallet & it worked until I traded it a 1 1/2 yrs later! Go figure

 

[DOKK]

Called another dealer other than the one I bought the trike from. They will be here about lunch to pick it up, fix it and bring it back, all under warranty. Can't beat that.

 

[PosseRider]

Rode my 16 from SD back to Ohio to my dealer. Got the new improved (haha) pump installed. No problems riding it back. I guess in stop & go traffic it would be worse.

 

[DOKK]

Well, I called the original purchase dealer and they got me right in and are fixing a couple other things they noticed as well. All warranty work. I’ll be riding it home soon. I did tell them I called another dealer though. Lol.

 

[DOKK]

Back home and 100%. Even took a demo bike to get lunch while I waited. I’m a happy camper now. Lol.

 

[headheaded]

Is HD fixing these bikes that are out of warrenty ? Even all the way back to 15 ? I know i think they should, after all it's a crappy designed pump.

 

[OLDYELR]

No, they don't cover the pump if out of warranty. I have a '15 Triglide that I bought in '19. Pump went out at 17,000 miles on way home from out west. My dealer gave me 15% off parts out of the goodness of their hearts, 2 1/2 months after I purchased it. NO help from Harley.

Also, the technician that checked the pump on my way home talked to an engineer from the factory. He was told what most have been saying. When pump quits, it becomes a regular air cooled engine and won't hurt to ride it home. Just get it fixed when back home.

 

[Rally]

No, they don't cover the pump if out of warranty. I have a '15 Triglide that I bought in '19. Pump went out at 17,000 miles on way home from out west. My dealer gave me 15% off parts out of the goodness of their hearts, 2 1/2 months after I purchased it. NO help from Harley.

Also, the technician that checked the pump on my way home talked to an engineer from the factory. He was told what most have been saying. When pump quits, it becomes a regular air cooled engine and won't hurt to ride it home. Just get it fixed when back home.

Thank you Jack for your good information...now I won't have an anxiety attack, not if but when my pump craps out on my '16. :clapping:

 

[rhino 2]

No, they don't cover the pump if out of warranty. I have a '15 Triglide that I bought in '19. Pump went out at 17,000 miles on way home from out west. My dealer gave me 15% off parts out of the goodness of their hearts, 2 1/2 months after I purchased it. NO help from Harley.

Also, the technician that checked the pump on my way home talked to an engineer from the factory. He was told what most have been saying. When pump quits, it becomes a regular air cooled engine and won't hurt to ride it home. Just get it fixed when back home.

Hey 'Jack.........Welcome To Trike-Talk...........:wave4::wave4:....

 

[DK Custom Products]

Pretty sure it depends on HOW the pump breaks. I learned from experience you do NOT want any air introduced into the coolant tract. If air does get in the coolant tract, the engine will get too hot.

Not sure what happens if it breaks and there is no leaking...ie. no air is introduced into the coolant.

Here are a couple of videos of my experience with the cooling system-



Forum will only let me post one video at a time...next video is in the next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Here's a video on the nuts and bolts of the Twin Cooled System.

If you want to see what Harley Corporate says about a coolant pump breaking, skip to the 17:36 mark in the video below.



Kevin

 

[nucseal]

There is also what looks like a "red thermometer" light beside the " check engine"lite that will come on.

Went out for a ride last night on my 2020 Tri Glide, security light was coming on an off while riding. Then 5 minutes later the engine temperature and engine warning light came on. Throwing DTC codes concerning the fans. Did the fan check and fan are not working. So it will be towed into Alamo Harley tomorrow morning. This is third time it been in the shop since purchase 4 months ago. Starting to hit my frustration level. (Oil Leaks and ABS)