Ongoing 2019 Tri Glide Build-Out w/ lots of photos, videos and observations

[DK Custom Products]

Hey Kevin. Yeah I think I have read every thread and seen every picture of thoughts and ideas of mounting an oil temp gauge on the 14's and up. I don't like the looks of the lower door gauge install either. However, I really don't want to have to take my eyes off the road and look down to see a gauge.

I think it could be mounted on the bars but then it would shake a lot, especially on the TC's. I have tried to find a small rectangular digital oil temp gauge that "might" possibly be mounted up near the top of the inner fairing by the vent opening behind the windshield or in that general area. :Shrug:

If I wanted an oil temp gauge, I'd do what Jack suggested and give DD a call.

To me, more important than an oil temp gauge is an oil pressure gauge. I can know about what my oil temp is from my PowerVision. When the engine and oil is being cooled properly, the oil temp will normalize with Engine Temp after an hour or so of riding.

But oil pressure is another matter. Seems like on the M8's HD is wanting to keep oil pressure Top Secret. lol

I still have a bunch of other things higher on my list, but I may eventually give DD a call myself to see about getting some sort of oil pressure readout on the '19 M8.

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

If I wanted an oil temp gauge, I'd do what Jack suggested and give DD a call.

To me, more important than an oil temp gauge is an oil pressure gauge. I can know about what my oil temp is from my PowerVision. When the engine and oil is being cooled properly, the oil temp will normalize with Engine Temp after an hour or so of riding.

But oil pressure is another matter. Seems like on the M8's HD is wanting to keep oil pressure Top Secret. lol

I still have a bunch of other things higher on my list, but I may eventually give DD a call myself to see about getting some sort of oil pressure readout on the '19 M8.

Kevin

I agree with you on this one Kevin. I dunno if HD has an answer about the oil pressure especially with the ever changing oil pumps on the M8 engines. IMO Harley has been more focused on volume of oil circulating, obviously it will take X amount of pressure BUT, I want to know what kind of operating pressure I have @ all times JMO

 

[MDF48]

I agree!

Quote Kevin "If I wanted an oil temp gauge, I'd do what Jack suggested and give DD a call.

To me, more important than an oil temp gauge is an oil pressure gauge. I can know about what my oil temp is from my PowerVision. When the engine and oil is being cooled properly, the oil temp will normalize with Engine Temp after an hour or so of riding.

But oil pressure is another matter. Seems like on the M8's HD is wanting to keep oil pressure Top Secret. lol

I still have a bunch of other things higher on my list, but I may eventually give DD a call myself to see about getting some sort of oil pressure readout on the '19 M8.

Kevin "

Jack "I agree with you on this one Kevin. I dunno if HD has an answer about the oil pressure especially with the ever changing oil pumps on the M8 engines. IMO Harley has been more focused on volume of oil circulating, obviously it will take X amount of pressure BUT, I want to know what kind of operating pressure I have @ all times JMO"



I agree totally with both of you about wanting the oil pressure reading the most. But, luckily I have that on my 16 so i am just looking for a "clean install" oil temp gauge. I do monitor both my engine temp and coolant temps on my PV when riding.

I suspect that Kevin's statement about the temps being close to the same after riding for an hour or so is probably an accurate statement also. However on very hot 90-100 degree down South days in a total traffic jam just moving 50 yards every few minutes for extended time and no SAFE place to just pull over and stop, I would like to have both pressure and temp.

I just want the temp gauge, but I don't want it $300.00 worth. That is about what it would cost me from DD using items from their web site and using there smallest "mini 1 7/8 gauge and some form of a bar mount. Now I know they make very good products and I am not knocking them.... you get what you pay for.

I have not "called" DD, but I have looked at everything on their site. I will give them a call though. I was hoping to find something that would work mounted on the inner fairing, but I don't think that is going to happen. I have a CB module in the left side area, so it can't go there. However the CB won't talk a half mile so I might pull it out one day.

Now, a question for y'all about the M8's. How does HD check the oil pressure on M8's with a pressure problem? Is there an ECM or BCM reading that only their Computer software program can access? Do they install a gauge of some type somewhere in the lines?

 

[Jack Klarich]

Mike, the techs would check the oil pressure on a M8 the same as any other engine

They would use a master gauge set up

 

[Jack Klarich]

Harley M8 oil pressure from the 2017 Manual,

Minimum pressure hot @ idle 5 PSI

Normal pressure @ 2K RPM 30-38

Max pressure 50 PSI

 

[MDF48]

OK.

Mike, the techs would check the oil pressure on a M8 the same as any other engine

They would use a master gauge set up

Well, I guess I should have been a little clearer. Obviously they have to install the gauge somewhere into the engine. Kevin's statement about HD keeping the oil pressure secret is what had me wondering. So, I now assume he meant keeping the ability to get the info from the ECM/BCM is what they are keeping secret.....NOT how to install an external gauge to get the info. So, It appears you can install a gauge somewhere if you want an external pressure gauge. I have seen videos of oil pressure gauges being installed on m8's on you tube. Again "assuming" was not so good. :blush:

 

[Jack Klarich]

Well, I guess I should have been a little clearer. Obviously they have to install the gauge somewhere into the engine. Kevin's statement about HD keeping the oil pressure secret is what had me wondering. So, I now assume he meant keeping the ability to get the info from the ECM/BCM is what they are keeping secret.....NOT how to install an external gauge to get the info. So, It appears you can install a gauge somewhere if you want an external pressure gauge. I have seen videos of oil pressure gauges being installed on m8's on you tube. Again "assuming" was not so good. :blush:

I think I understand now. Yeah I wonder how the ECM can report to the info center, yet the oil pressure ( read by the sensor) appears to be in the operating range. What does the ECM know that we cannot find out? I have NEVER liked oil idiot lights of any kind, I prefer a known trusted gauge

 

[DK Custom Products]

Yes, all I meant was that HD was not giving us an easy way to read the oil pressure. They obviously have it for the idiot light that is built into the screen to work...AND, I do not believe it would cost them a penny more to make it a digital # readout vs. the digital "OK" that is currently displayed on the screen.

They are "hiding" it from us, possibly for a few reasons-

1. They do not want to deal with folks writing/calling them with concerns about the numbers they are seeing

2. Something in their market research showed the their "target market" does not want to be bothered with the numbers, they'd just rather know if it is "OK" or "Not Ok".

Probably a combination of the two.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Got the replacement Temp Gauge today, hopefully the replacement will last many years.

Broken one and new one-

New one installed!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Yep! Every time I tapped on the glass the needle jumped to a different temp. :laugh:

Hoping the new one lasts longer...otherwise I will go back the the HD digital one.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Wow! It was 64* when I rode in this morning.

It rained a bit this afternoon. You can see the ceramic coating is holding up well.

It's still a bit wet, but will be about 60* when I ride home....

BUT, it is going to snow tonight and tomorrow. If there is any accumulation I may ride. Otherwise, it'll be a couple of days before it's back in the high 40's - low 50's.

Kevin

 

[rae mendonca]

oil temp

Yep! Every time I tapped on the glass the needle jumped to a different temp. :laugh:

Hoping the new one lasts longer...otherwise I will go back the the HD digital one.

Kevin

If the air filled one fails (and it probably will) Ask him to send you the oil filled one, it will last for years. The air filled ones always have the needle fall off for some reason.

 

[DK Custom Products]

If the air filled one fails (and it probably will) Ask him to send you the oil filled one, it will last for years. The air filled ones always have the needle fall off for some reason.

Already have the replacement in air-filled. But if it fails, like the first one did, then I will ask him to replace it with an oil filled one.

Thank you.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Learned about a new feature on the 2019 Tri Glide Today.

I decided to wash it, moved it to the end of the driveway.* (don't ask me how long it's been...I don't remember.* )

When I was done, there was about a 60 foot stretch that I had to back up.* It was level, but it was the furthest I had ever used the reverse on the '19.* At about 45 feet the voltmeter has a battery icon that lit up RED behind the needle.* Never seen that before, but it appears I had pulled the battery down so much with the reverse that it tripped whatever benchmark they programmed in for that battery to light up red.

When backing up I generally put the RPM's about 1500, when I saw the red I jumped it up to 2000 rpm.* It stayed red.* When I stopped using the reverse it stayed red (still at 2000 rpm) for about 10 seconds.

Very interesting.* I generally don't use the reverse for more that 10-15 feet and have never seen that before.* I may experiment a little in the future to see if backing up an incline will trip that even sooner.

With the problematic reverse these Trikes have, this may be a good "idiot" light to prevent overusing it.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

It has been 9-10 months since ceramic coating the the two bikes and the 2019 Tri Glide. The ceramic on the paint is amazing, holding up well..today is just as nice as the day it was applied.

​​​​​​​However, the coating on the aluminum wheels is NOT doing a great job. It is better than nothing, but is is NOT holding up as good as previous wheels that were treated with a rattle can clear coat. Oh well, lesson learned.

Kevin

 

[ultrafxr]

It has been 9-10 months since ceramic coating the the two bikes and the 2019 Tri Glide. The ceramic on the paint is amazing, holding up well..today is just as nice as the day it was applied.

​​​​​​​However, the coating on the aluminum wheels is NOT doing a great job. It is better than nothing, but is is NOT holding up as good as previous wheels that were treated with a rattle can clear coat. Oh well, lesson learned.

Kevin

But you can clean and re-apply the ceramic. Not so much with the rattle can clear coat.

 

[MDF48]

Miles?


How many miles have you got on the wheels since you treated them?

 

[DK Custom Products]

But you can clean and re-apply the ceramic. Not so much with the rattle can clear coat.

True that!


Yes, it is much easier to remove, and yes it can be reapplied. I am preferring something that I don't need to do that.

Got this advice from a pro..."for the wheels, 22PLE makes one of the best wheel coatings that anybody can buy."

So I may look into that and do that at some point.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Here is the latest video made regarding the 2019 Tri Glide. A lot done, still more to do.



Kevin

 

[Barry17tg]

Hey Kevin any updates

I have been following this thread and have watched all of your videos. I have a 2017 Tri Glide. In the last year I have installed many of your products with good results. I have installed the 14" Pro Action shocks, the Power Vision, the tank lift, floor board extenders and most recently the oil cooler and filter relocation. I have the SE AC and Cobra 909 slip ons. I bought your EBS but have not installed it yet.

So far I have dropped my ET as read on the Power Vision to around from@300 to @280 at 55mph on a 90 degree day. Don't know what the oil temperature is but suspect it is lower than ET. Still need to install the DFW and EBS. Haven't tried Auto Tune yet. Hope these changes will get another 10 to 15 degree drop. What does your ET run under these conditions. Any updates since your last post? Front suspension?

 

[DK Custom Products]

I have been following this thread and have watched all of your videos. I have a 2017 Tri Glide. In the last year I have installed many of your products with good results. I have installed the 14" Pro Action shocks, the Power Vision, the tank lift, floor board extenders and most recently the oil cooler and filter relocation. I have the SE AC and Cobra 909 slip ons. I bought your EBS but have not installed it yet.

So far I have dropped my ET as read on the Power Vision to around from@300 to @280 at 55mph on a 90 degree day. Don't know what the oil temperature is but suspect it is lower than ET. Still need to install the DFW and EBS. Haven't tried Auto Tune yet. Hope these changes will get another 10 to 15 degree drop. What does your ET run under these conditions. Any updates since your last post? Front suspension?

Hey Barry,

Thank you for your business, we appreciate it. Good to hear you are enjoying the parts. Thanks, also, for watching our vids.

At around 55 mph on a 90 degree day, after fully warmed up, my ET will be around 260-265. My oil temp will be around 215 degrees.

I rode home from the shop last week and it was 101 degrees. At 60 mph, country road with hills, ET was 268-270 and oil was 220. Then on the interstate (ran out of country road) running between 72-80 mph, the ET hit 274 (highest I normally see) and oil climbed to 225.

Hope that info is useful for you.

Man, I am glad you posted here. I have done quite a bit to the Tri since I last posted in this thread. I need to update this thread with the things I have done. Thank you.

Interesting that you ask about the front suspension. For front suspension on the Trikes (really all FLH's) I have run the AK20's, the FST and the Intiminators with springs...and have been happy with all of them. See our front suspension Report HERE.

For this, 2019 Tri, I wanted to test out some different front suspension, and maybe find something better, or as good as one of the above, but with less cost.

I have tried 3 different (new) front suspension set ups. A $300 kit, a $450 kit and a $850 kit. While they are all better than stock, unfortunately, I was disappointed with all of them.

In fact last week I tested one, and actually recorded a video of the test process...while I was disappointed in the results of the suspension, I thought it was a pretty good video...then I went to watch the raw footage, and the mic in my helmet was not working...so the whole video is worthless.

Thanks again! I will be updating this thread soon.

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

What do you think of my color match here on the oil cooler cover?

 

[trikeman]

:clapping::wave4:

 

[DK Custom Products]

What do you think of my color match here on the oil cooler cover?

Jack, that is sweet. Your wife did a great job!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

I have not forgotten about updating this thread. Headed into the shop shortly to do some testing on a couple of prototypes on the Tri.

In the meantime, here is a video of one of the upgrades to the Tri that is already done.



Kevin

 

[blucrsr]

I added the Grasshopper backrest a couple weeks ago. Very nice addition to the TG.

 

[DK Custom Products]

I added the Grasshopper backrest a couple weeks ago. Very nice addition to the TG.

Cool. I am really enjoying it also, I like the little spring it has in it.

Kevin