Trailer rash!!

[Lakeman]

We got to Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago. When I cranked the trike to back it out of the trailer it sounded like it was knocking BIG time!! I called the Harley shop to come get it. The tec said when he cranked it it was raising hell. He shut it down and checked it out and all was fine. Then let it run for about a minute and it cleared up and he road tested it for about 5 miles. He called and ask how I got the trike here and I told in a trailer. He said one of the hydraulic lifters had leaked down. He then said that it had "trailer rash" he said they see it quite often, he said that the bouncing and vibrating in the trailer will sometimes cause a lifter to leak down. Has anyone ever heard of this problem? Trikes ruining fine now.

 

[Gorilla]

never heard that one. seems to me it would effect any bike that was being trailered, if that was the case I think it would be well known.

 

[Lakeman]

Gorilla Myrtle Beach has millions of tourist every year. I would think there are more bikes/trikes trailered to Myrtle Beach each year than any place in the US. I am sure they don't see hundreds but enough to know whats going on.

 

[msocko3]

1st I've heard of it, I'd just keep an eye on it because HD did switch lifter designs in 2011 and some folks in the performance community have found them less than desirable. One of the things they suffer from is premature leak down.

 

[Ozarkryder]

I have had lifters leak down, but not from bouncing around on a tailer. Don't know about the Twin Cam, but on the older Evo's about 30,000 miles is about it for the stock lifters. Had one collapse on me and it sounded like the whole engine was coming apart. Installed a good set of aftermarket lifters and adjustable pushrods didn't have any trouble in the next 60,000 miles.

 

[americanbadass]

1st I've heard of it, I'd just keep an eye on it because HD did switch lifter designs in 2011 and some folks in the performance community have found them less than desirable. One of the things they suffer from is premature leak down.

I think you are right about this-I have two friends that have had this problem on their 2011 and 2012 Ultra's. Both have the 110 motor.

 

[Phu Cat]

Lakeman, Had the same thing happen on a '98 bout 14 years ago.Know it's scary listening to it run like that. Was trailering back from The 100th BD of HD at the time.

Phu Cat

 

[gbsb]

I have a 2011 TriGlide that I carry in the back of our 40' toyhauker. Towed several hundred miles to Boone NC unloaded the trike and had a lifter make a lot of noise, happened one other time. After running for a few minuites it quitens down.

 

[Lakeman]

msock03 this is an 2005 Ultra Classic with 29,000 miles on it.

 

[msocko3]

msock03 this is an 2005 Ultra Classic with 29,000 miles on it.

It has the B lifters which are a lot better than the now installed C lifters. Looks like trailer rash is something, just never experienced it,