Back ordered part.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

About two weeks ago I took my 17 Tri in for a issue with the idle,they had to order a clutch safety switch.So after a call to the shop yesterday they told me the part is on back order with no idea of when it will come in.

Okay not all that big of an issue except i am leaving for Daytona in less then 3 weeks and i don't want to break down in the middle of Bum* Egypt.So I asked the service writer to ask the general manager about taking a switch off one sitting on the floor then just replace it with the new part.So I will soon see what kind a customer service this shop is willing to offer.

 

[1dn5up]

Idle problem ? Clutch safety switch ? Don't understand the connection :Shrug:

 

[rhino 2]

Idle problem ? Clutch safety switch ? Don't understand the connection :Shrug:

I can only answer for my 17....Because of EPA regs, The M8 has to idle at around 850rpm's And sometimes at an abrupt stop it will drop below that, And if you come off the clutch, At that moment you can stall the engine... The safety switch will give me trouble only if i don't have the leaver hard against the grip...I have an adjustable leaver and i use the #2 out of 8 settings, If i use the #1 setting[closest to the grip] it wont let the lever press against the grip, So it won't start in gear at that setting......

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Idle problem ? Clutch safety switch ? Don't understand the connection :Shrug:

According to the mother ship the switch is sending a faulty signal to the ECM,dont ask me I have been lost since they did away with electronic ign. and carbs lol.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I can only answer for my 17....Because of EPA regs, The M8 has to idle at around 850rpm's And sometimes at an abrupt stop it will drop below that, And if you come off the clutch, At that moment you can stall the engine... The safety switch will give me trouble only if i don't have the leaver hard against the grip...I have an adjustable leaver and i use the #2 out of 8 settings, If i use the #1 setting[closest to the grip] it wont let the lever press against the grip, So it won't start in gear at that setting......

Mine will drop down to around 500 then back up to 1100 a couple times and sometimes it will stall so i will try to make sure that I have the clutch lever pulled in hard and see how it acts.

 

[rhino 2]

Mine will drop down to around 500 then back up to 1100 a couple times and sometimes it will stall so i will try to make sure that I have the clutch lever pulled in hard and see how it acts.

Mine never dropped that low,... When the engine is cold' Like first starting in the morning it will idle at 1100, Till the engine warms up then its back to 850...And in my humble opinion thats to low,....I staled it out a few times when i first got it, Haven't staled a bike in over 50 years till then, Since i got an adjustable clutch lever i haven't had a problem.

But the low idle at times is unnerving and feels like for want of better word's , Like its gonna faint...

 

[1dn5up]

I know with larger grips ya got to yank the clutch into the grips if ya start in gear. Got ta check the idle rpm thing out. The education just never seems to cease :clapping:

 

[rhino 2]

I know with larger grips ya got to yank the clutch into the grips if ya start in gear. Got ta check the idle rpm thing out. The education just never seems to cease :clapping:

To Quote My old man 'Rest his soul.....When You stop learning, You start dyeing.....:cxtv:

 

[MB1953]

Mine never dropped that low,... When the engine is cold' Like first starting in the morning it will idle at 1100, Till the engine warms up then its back to 850...And in my humble opinion thats to low,....I staled it out a few times when i first got it, Haven't staled a bike in over 50 years till then, Since i got an adjustable clutch lever i haven't had a problem.

But the low idle at times is unnerving and feels like for want of better word's , Like its gonna faint...

This is exactly where mine runs... 1100 when cold, then as low as 850, but not until I am at a stop for about 5 seconds or so.

 

[vito]

:Joker3:Jeeze, and to think that my 1966 BSA Spitfire didn't eve have idle circuits in its "GP Pattern" carbonmakers.

 

[ultrafxr]

I too find the low idle on the M8s annoying to put it mildly. What I have learned from my dealer's service manager and verified in actual use is that if you enable ETIMS when it goes active it actually increases the idle speed. On my bike to just a tad under a grand. Now I know some folks don't like the sound / feel of the motor when it is active and the rear cylinder is firing. It doesn't really bother me and I like the increased idle speed.

 

[PosseRider]

About two weeks ago I took my 17 Tri in for a issue with the idle,they had to order a clutch safety switch.So after a call to the shop yesterday they told me the part is on back order with no idea of when it will come in.

Okay not all that big of an issue except i am leaving for Daytona in less then 3 weeks and i don't want to break down in the middle of Bum* Egypt.So I asked the service writer to ask the general manager about taking a switch off one sitting on the floor then just replace it with the new part.So I will soon see what kind a customer service this shop is willing to offer.

Which Dealer in this area ?

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Which Dealer in this area ?

Piqua.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Okay,good news they called today and said they found a switch and i will take it in this Monday,hats off to Piqua Harley.

 

[The Q]

Revised idle speed

Harley has changed the idle speed of the '17 M8. There is an updated flash for the ECM to fix the very problem you are experiencing. I'll see if I can locate the info. It had been posted on another forum. I'm running the SE Street Tuner and Harley has updated the Stage 1 tune twice now. The first update raised the idle from 850 to 950.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Harley has changed the idle speed of the '17 M8. There is an updated flash for the ECM to fix the very problem you are experiencing. I'll see if I can locate the info. It had been posted on another forum. I'm running the SE Street Tuner and Harley has updated the Stage 1 tune twice now. The first update raised the idle from 850 to 950.

I have already had the newest upload on the ECM installed in Aug,it was ok for a while then back at it,so they claim its the clutch safety switch.

 

[hddocfl]

I can only answer for my 17....Because of EPA regs, The M8 has to idle at around 850rpm's And sometimes at an abrupt stop it will drop below that, And if you come off the clutch, At that moment you can stall the engine... The safety switch will give me trouble only if i don't have the leaver hard against the grip...I have an adjustable leaver and i use the #2 out of 8 settings, If i use the #1 setting[closest to the grip] it wont let the lever press against the grip, So it won't start in gear at that setting......

I have had the same problem .

 

[hddocfl]

Mine will drop down to around 500 then back up to 1100 a couple times and sometimes it will stall so i will try to make sure that I have the clutch lever pulled in hard and see how it acts.

Same problem with mu 2017. Have to keep the clutch lever hard against the grip.

 

[rhino 2]

Same problem with mu 2017. Have to keep the clutch lever hard against the grip.

The low idle has nothing at all to with keeping the cluch lever against the grip, Thats just to start in gear, The switch is a red herring, Likewise the ETIMS, The only time you can change the idle [raise] is when you put the trike in reverse ...

 

[Texan]

The more I read about the new bikes, the M8's the happier I am with my 'ole '13. Reading all these gyrations you are having with low idle issues, having to stand on you head using 3 hands to start 'em......so on and so on!!! Have 22,00 on my tricycle and plan to put many more before I'd even think about buying a new one. Smooth motor or not !! But being 73 I'll probably won't out live the '13.

8~\o

 

[rhino 2]

The more I read about the new bikes, the M8's the happier I am with my 'ole '13. Reading all these gyrations you are having with low idle issues, having to stand on you head using 3 hands to start 'em......so on and so on!!! Have 22,00 on my tricycle and plan to put many more before I'd even think about buying a new one. Smooth motor or not !! But being 73 I'll probably won't out live the '13.

8~\o

Every bike iv'e ever owned 47+years , If i wanted to start it in gear, I would hold the clutch in and step on the brake, And hit the start button just like i do with my 17, Don't need three hands.. I don't know what issue some are having with that?... The low idle is more of an annoyance than an issue.:Shrug:...

 

[Texan]

Every bike iv'e ever owned 47+years , If i wanted to start it in gear, I would hold the clutch in and step on the brake, And hit the start button just like i do with my 17, Don't need three hands.. I don't know what issue some are having with that?... The low idle is more of an annoyance than an issue.:Shrug:...

I'm kinda like you but buying a few more years. Bought my first bike, a '48 Mustang in '51, and have never had to step on the brake to start 'em. Even today I don't have to do anything but pull the clutch in to start my '13. And Harley didn't add the clutch safety 'til the early '90's if I remember correctly to prevent 'jackrabbit' starts with the bike in gear.

But like I said seems a lot of issue with the newer bikes.

8~\o

 

[rhino 2]

I'm kinda like you but buying a few more years. Bought my first bike, a '48 Mustang in '51, and have never had to step on the brake to start 'em. Even today I don't have to do anything but pull the clutch in to start my '13. And Harley didn't add the clutch safety 'til the early '90's if I remember correctly to prevent 'jackrabbit' starts with the bike in gear.

But like I said seems a lot of issue with the newer bikes.

8~\o

It is very common for the clutch plates to stick together on a cold start, So i learned many years ago, If i'm going to start my bike in gear i always stepped on the brake, And its become a force of habit even with the new bikes...

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Every bike iv'e ever owned 47+years , If i wanted to start it in gear, I would hold the clutch in and step on the brake, And hit the start button just like i do with my 17, Don't need three hands.. I don't know what issue some are having with that?... The low idle is more of an annoyance than an issue.:Shrug:...

The low idle isn't the issue with my bike,its that it will drop down to about 500 then up to 1100 a couple times before it settles in at 850 or once it drops to 500 it will stall with the clutch pulled in while still rolling up to a stop.So stalling in traffic is a issue since you have to either put it in neutral or come to a complete stop to start in gear.

 

[rhino 2]

The low idle isn't the issue with my bike,its that it will drop down to about 500 then up to 1100 a couple times before it settles in at 850 or once it drops to 500 it will stall with the clutch pulled in while still rolling up to a stop.So stalling in traffic is a issue since you have to either put it in neutral or come to a complete stop to start in gear.

Steve, I understand, There are two things going on....

One]' Is for some not being able to start in gear...

Two]' Is the problem you are having, The idle bouncing up and down at a stop and if you let the clutch out at the down moment [sometimes it can't be helped] the engine stalls.. And if you can't get it in neutral , Then you have to step on the brake, Hopefully with out someone tailgating you..:gah:

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Steve, I understand, There are two things going on....

One]' Is for some not being able to start in gear...

Two]' Is the problem you are having, The idle bouncing up and down at a stop and if you let the clutch out at the down moment [sometimes it can't be helped] the engine stalls.. And if you can't get it in neutral , Then you have to step on the brake, Hopefully with out someone tailgating you..:gah:

It will stall even if the clutch is held in,it has nothing to do with me releasing the clutch.I was messing with it last weekend,coming up to a stop bump it in neutral while still rolling then releasing the clutch and coming to a stop the idle work as expected every time.But if i would come up to a stop down shifting into first with the clutch held firmly in then stopping it would start to have the erratic idle or it would stall with the clutch held in.

 

[vito]

It will stall even if the clutch is held in,it has nothing to do with me releasing the clutch.I was messing with it last weekend,coming up to a stop bump it in neutral while still rolling then releasing the clutch and coming to a stop the idle work as expected every time.But if i would come up to a stop down shifting into first with the clutch held firmly in then stopping it would start to have the erratic idle or it would stall with the clutch held in.

IMHO your trike is broke. My 17 and 17 Freewheeler and several 2 cam trikes never had the problem you describe (Idle dropping to 500). If the dealer can't fix it I'd call H-D directly to report a real safety problem.

BTW, wasn't the 51 Mustang a pull start? :gah:

 

[rhino 2]

It will stall even if the clutch is held in,it has nothing to do with me releasing the clutch.I was messing with it last weekend,coming up to a stop bump it in neutral while still rolling then releasing the clutch and coming to a stop the idle work as expected every time.But if i would come up to a stop down shifting into first with the clutch held firmly in then stopping it would start to have the erratic idle or it would stall with the clutch held in.

Not good, Not good at all....And the Dealer/Harley is telling you what...?

When i had the thousand mile oil change done, I ask about the 850 to thousand rpm bounce, The mechanic said mine is good, They seen worst...:Shrug: So they know theres a problem....And its not the safety switches ,Its in the engine control module.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Not good, Not good at all....And the Dealer/Harley is telling you what...?

When i had the thousand mile oil change done, I ask about the 850 to thousand rpm bounce, The mechanic said mine is good, They seen worst...:Shrug: So they know theres a problem....And its not the safety switches ,Its in the engine control module.

I don't think its the switch either,but when its under warranty you have to let them play ball but under your supervision.The Tech that's working on it is a senior tech whom I have personally known for over 20 years and very good at what he does,when he told me that the new bikes are a pain in the %&@ to work on because almost everything electrical runs threw the ECM I had a feeling this was going to take some time to track down.And we all know that Harley is well known for not wanting to admit that there is a issue.

 

[rhino 2]

I don't think its the switch either,but when its under warranty you have to let them play ball but under your supervision.The Tech that's working on it is a senior tech whom I have personally known for over 20 years and very good at what he does,when he told me that the new bikes are a pain in the %&@ to work on because almost everything electrical runs threw the ECM I had a feeling this was going to take some time to track down.And we all know that Harley is well known for not wanting to admit that there is a issue.

Since the fine Harley had to pay out, And the buy back of some tuners, They are very careful about messing with the EPA regs on the ECM Settings...