Water pump took a dump (maybe)

[Zammy]

We got about 3 miles from the house this morning and the water temp light came on, WTH. We stopped and I checked the level, looks good, but was not warm at all, hmmmmm, not good. We turned around and headed back home, about a 5 minute ride. Has to be the pump or a stuck thermostat in my opinion, called the HD dealer close to our daughters house, they have a pump in stock. Anyhow, going to trailer the bike there tomorrow afternoon, they re-arranged the service schedule to fit us in, this is Ukes HD in Kenosha, WI.

 

[ol' school]

Sorry to hear that Gary! Hope they get you fixed up quickly!

 

[Trail Blazer]

hello Gary

hate to hear you have a problem, but nice you was close to home and a dealer that will work you in. Darlene and I enjoyed you'll in Eureka springs. looking forwards to seeing you'll on another gathering. like Maggie Valley. in Sept.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Good Luck on your repair

 

[PosseRider]

Sorry to hear Gary, at least someone has the part for you. Ride safe

 

[jc1300]

We got about 3 miles from the house this morning and the water temp light came on, WTH. We stopped and I checked the level, looks good, but was not warm at all, hmmmmm, not good. We turned around and headed back home, about a 5 minute ride. Has to be the pump or a stuck thermostat in my opinion, called the HD dealer close to our daughters house, they have a pump in stock. Anyhow, going to trailer the bike there tomorrow afternoon, they re-arranged the service schedule to fit us in, this is Ukes HD in Kenosha, WI.

Ukes is a pretty good dealer...they should take good care of you.

Ask if you can see the building where they keep the vintage bikes. Not open very much, but ya might get lucky.

I had the same thing on my '15. Had me in and out in about an hour {different dealership} Good Luck.

And don't forget, you are only about 10 minutes from the Jelly Belly factory! Always a fun place to get your sweet tooth Fixed...lol

 

[Zammy]

I had forgot about the Jelly Belly factory JC, also the Cheese Castle is nearby, maybe lunch, lol.

 

[jc1300]

I had forgot about the Jelly Belly factory JC, also the Cheese Castle is nearby, maybe lunch, lol.

Have you been there since they opened the new building? Pretty nice, but no history.....But a nice way to make lemonade if ya get me drift - jc

 

[Ozarkryder]

Glad you could get a quick appointment for a repair. Even though the wet head has been our for a while, after all these years with HD, (currently have a 1990 FLHS) it is strange hearing "Harley" and "water pump" in the same sentence.

 

[rhino 2]

Glad you could get a quick appointment for a repair. Even though the wet head has been our for a while, after all these years with HD, (currently have a 1990 FLHS) it is strange hearing "Harley" and "water pump" in the same sentence.

That's like years ago when the truckrs were deadheading and somebody asked them what are you carrying and the reply was a load of Volkswagen radiator caps' Can't say that anymore

 

[Ozarkryder]

There was a guy I used to work with looking under his hood one day after work. He couldn't find the 710 cap.

 

[rhino 2]

There was a guy I used to work with looking under his hood one day after work. He couldn't find the 710 cap.

Happens when the cap is screwed on way too tight...:laugh:

 

[Zammy]

New water pump installed, we're good to go. They worked us in this afternoon around 3 and we were out the door before 5. Thank goodness we weren't out in BFE somewhere when it happened. Kudus to Uke's HD in Kenosha for taking care of us. We have the extended warranty but was curious what the cost would have been for a new pump and labor, service guy said $579.10,

 

[Rooster57]

Glad you got it fixed Zammy

Hey Gary!

....Say, didn't you say your tri glide was a 2015?.................I'm just wondering if you have ever changed your radiator fluid? ........How often did the dealer say these pumps go out? (clearly, I'm concerned as to the possibility of this happening to my 2016 as well).......and I also wonder if the water pump goes out in some remote area = "Could the trike still run long enough to find a dealer without damaging engine?" (as it would now kinda be an air cooled engine) (wonder if my mounted Love Jugs might help with cooling enough to limp trike to a dealer?)

...........Cheers!

 

[1dn5up]

There was a guy I used to work with looking under his hood one day after work. He couldn't find the 710 cap.

Is that like clicking the fuel cap so the gas pump picture is upside down , means it’s a gravity feed to the engine bypassing the fuel pump :Shrug:

 

[ol' school]

New water pump installed, we're good to go. They worked us in this afternoon around 3 and we were out the door before 5. Thank goodness we weren't out in BFE somewhere when it happened. Kudus to Uke's HD in Kenosha for taking care of us. We have the extended warranty but was curious what the cost would have been for a new pump and labor, service guy said $579.10,

Glad to hear they got you fixed up and back on the road Gary!

 

[Zammy]

Rooster, I had 15,000 miles on my '15 when it went out, I really don't know how far you could go without the pump before things got really bad. I remember a discussion about that happening but can't find it right now. Found a couple of older threads for you Randy.

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/31747-2014-Tri-Glide-overheating?p=350905#post350905

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/48000-COOLANT-on-Your-Tri-Glide?p=551643#post551643

 

[Rooster57]

reply to Zammy

Hey Zammy!

Thanks for looking up those threads!!!! 15,000 miles = sounds like another shoddy original stock HD part again! (sorry it had "your" number my man).....well at least you got it fixed with minimal inconvenience...........but it kinda worried me so I replaced my coolant yesterday as a possible preventative re. old coolant being a cause for water pump failure (Yeah I know that's not likely what caused the pump failure but it's all I could do to maybe prevent a water pump issue in the future) ....HD says change coolant at 30K miles and I now have 26K miles on my 2016.

......Interestingly, the old coolant looked as new as the NEW coolant and really had no visual signs of degrading color or anything.......but, at least I did it! I Have seen a You tube or two where dudes have had water pump failure and the old coolant appeared kinda nasty when they drained the line....who knows if old dirty coolant could add to water pump stress or not. Maybe.

...........anyway, you now have a new water pump and I now know exactly where my water pump and thermostat are located and have at least "some insight" on what to do should my pump fail in the future! (as i told you, I am new to motorcycles and am constantly learning about things to look out for)



Cheers!

 

[Goldmember]

I know its been awhile but thought I might chime in. When I was in VA over the summer my water pump went. Called the dealer closest to Richmond and asked the Service Adviser if it was ok to drive till I could get to the dealer. His response was this-"The Twin Cooled engines are first and foremost, air cooled engines. The "wet heads" just help to cool it down more. As long as I wasn't abusing it ie: full throttle, passing everything on the road, it is still ok to drive." I have an FP3 tuner and set it to watch the temp. I drove the trike home from VA to NY, in 80 plus degree weather and the hottest it read was pulling the hills in PA at 280. I do have a DK Customs Remote oil filter mount and several times at rest areas along the way to let her cool a bit. She still runs great and no noises or dreaded particles in the oil filter when I got back. Moral is, don't feel like you CAN'T drive it when the pump dies, I can tell ya from my experience that they are built tough and can handle a little extra heat to get you where you need to go.

Bob

 

[02ultrarider]

my pump went out last Sunday,,,20K + miles, 2014 ,that I bought used.

 

[ultrafxr]

I know its been awhile but thought I might chime in. When I was in VA over the summer my water pump went. Called the dealer closest to Richmond and asked the Service Adviser if it was ok to drive till I could get to the dealer. His response was this-"The Twin Cooled engines are first and foremost, air cooled engines. The "wet heads" just help to cool it down more. As long as I wasn't abusing it ie: full throttle, passing everything on the road, it is still ok to drive." I have an FP3 tuner and set it to watch the temp. I drove the trike home from VA to NY, in 80 plus degree weather and the hottest it read was pulling the hills in PA at 280. I do have a DK Customs Remote oil filter mount and several times at rest areas along the way to let her cool a bit. She still runs great and no noises or dreaded particles in the oil filter when I got back. Moral is, don't feel like you CAN'T drive it when the pump dies, I can tell ya from my experience that they are built tough and can handle a little extra heat to get you where you need to go.

Bob

Glad you had no problem running with the coolant pump not working. I've heard and know of a couple others who have done so but none quite as far as you.

I'm no engine designer or engineer but I have to think that the area where the coolant circulates would not get nearly as much cooling from the air passing over as would be the case in a completely air cooled motor the reason being that the water jacket and the idle coolant in it would I think tend to insulate and actually hold heat in. And not having been designed to be air cooled there is no oem oil cooler.

Each to his own but personally I would not want to run with the coolant pump inoperative.

 

[ultrafxr]

Had a follow up thought to this. If there is a known problem and you continue to operate the vehicle if it should lead to a failure you might have put yourself in jeopardy with regard to factory warranty or ESP. Just saying. They look for any excuse to deny, deny, deny.

 

[Tammy Triker]

A frind and fellow HOG Member was up to the big Harley annaversary they had this summer in Millwalkee. His pump went out on his 2015. Dealer said no proble riding it. Brink it in you are the 6th one in line for a water pump. The factory is sending some pumps over. We will have you ready this afternoon. $575 later he was back on the road.

 

[rhino 2]

You know Fuzzy, Its only a lie when the person telling you the lie knows he is telling you a lie...Most Dealers/Service Managers don't know what their talking about anyway...They just say any stuff that sounds true to them at the time...:xzqxz:

 

[GARYD]

Glad you had no problem running with the coolant pump not working. I've heard and know of a couple others who have done so but none quite as far as you.

I'm no engine designer or engineer but I have to think that the area where the coolant circulates would not get nearly as much cooling from the air passing over as would be the case in a completely air cooled motor the reason being that the water jacket and the idle coolant in it would I think tend to insulate and actually hold heat in. And not having been designed to be air cooled there is no oem oil cooler.

Each to his own but personally I would not want to run with the coolant pump inoperative.

I was told pretty much the same thing, as you just read, from the dealers up in Canada. I went to the Canadian National Rally in Ottawa in 2017. My pump went out and the 2 dealers there were all sold out. They told me "Hey, it's a Harley - it's an air cooled engine - there will be no problem riding in moderation for a while". Well, on my way home I called all the dealers as I traveled west. Finally the dealer in Tonawanda, NY had a pump and was open = IT'S A MIRACLE! since it was Sunday and all the dealers so far were closed. So the TG ran fine for 340 miles. My temp gage showed no difference. It was all highway miles. I bet I wouldn't have had any problems if I had to ride all the way home. My clutch problem on the way home was another thing. That's for another time though.

 

[1dn5up]

water pump

That killed my Maggi Valley vacation. Spent 4 days at a Hilton at Virginia, poolside. :gah:

Came real close as turning into a alcoholic.

 

[mjconde]

Water Pump died on our 2014 TriGlide

Our 2014 Triglide's water pump died while we were attending Bikes, Blues & BBQ last year. Rode it from New Mexico there. had to have it transported to Pig Trail HD. We rode out on a 2018 TriGlide since this was the second major component to fail in 6 weeks. We ordered the 2014 and it was delivered October 2013. Hopefully yours will fair better.