Posted by Ronald O. Christian on May 18, 2011, 1:44 pm
A round for everyone. Coffee for me, black, no sugar. I only put
cream and sugar in bad coffee.
When researching TC88 head noise for Noisy Glide (since solved) I ran
across another observation that puzzled me but was concentrating on
the main problem and didn't pursue it at the time.
Several people on at least two forums opined that the characteristic
TC88 upper end clatter started about 2500 RPM (pretty close, in my
case) which was (they would say) right at the shift point into the
next gear.
That's got me puzzled a little. I rode a pony bike for 12 years and
have had Noisy Glide for about 2500 miles now, and shifting at 2500,
except from first into second in traffic on level ground, seems to be
lugging the engine. A lot.
It's possible that many people don't know when they're shifting. After
all, we should be watching the road and mirrors, not the instruments.
I go by the sound and feel of the engine, but after reading this 2500
thing, I would occasionally glance down to see where I was shifting,
and other than first-into-second it was always a bit over 3000 in
traffic, closer to 4000 on highways, peaking at 4500 at on-ramps when
merge speed is critical. The bike (2003 Ultra, 5 speed) turns
slightly over 3000 at 70, and seems happy at that rpm. In the 55 mile
zones around Portland, the bike is sluggish and balky in fifth gear.
I have occasionally had to give it a squirt of power when the RPMs
were below 2500, and the bike grunts, rattles and generally complains.
The engine doesn't seem happy until it hits about 3K. Not that this
necessarily means anything, but the owner's manual specifically warns
against lugging the engine, although, in typical fashion, it neglects
to define "lugging".
I'm aware that my years on a lighter, smaller bike may be coloring my
perception and riding style. But, although the Ultra will pull at
really low RPMs (1800 to 2500) and go "blat blat blat" it doesn't seem
happy about it, and I want to keep it happy.
What has your experience been? To say "I have no idea what RPM I
shift at, the bike tells me when to shift" is a fair answer. It's the
answer I would have given until I started thinking about it.
In other news, putting a K&N RK3909 on the bike this weekend and doing
an oil/filter change. I'll tweak the mixture a little with the Race
Fueler when I get it back together. Also have to fix the horn. Will
be riding to Old Sacramento for memorial day weekend, gotta be ready.
Wife doesn't feel like riding her bike down, so she will be taking the
bug. Daughter hasn't decided yet whether she's going with me or in
the car. With me, she gets to choose the radio station.
I put a Cobra CB in the car with a magnetic antenna so we can converse
on the road. Never had communication on a bike before; should be
interesting.
Ron
-
2003 FLHTCUI "Noisy Glide"
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com
Definition: Nelp: Contraction of "no help". Colloquial: Help
messages that are of no help whatsoever. Pertains to help files,
messages or documentation that convey no useful information, or
pedantically repeat the blindingly obvious.
Posted by Jinks on May 18, 2011, 2:37 pm
On Wed, 18 May 2011 10:44:48 -0700, Ronald O. Christian
>A round for everyone. Coffee for me, black, no sugar. I only put
>cream and sugar in bad coffee.
<snip>
Thanks for the drink! You've got the shift thing just right,
that 2500 & under stuff is for grandmothers. In fact, don't give a
Harley much gas below 2200/2500. They'll run fine 1800 to 2500 if all
you're doin' is maintainin' your speed but, like you've found, they
lug if you try to get on it.
You might like that RK3909. I've had mine on & off several
times. The problem I find is that they're noisy, & a poor tune seems
to make 'em even noisier. I have a pretty good tune goin' right now
so the noise isn't botherin' me as much as usual.
Jinks ('86 FXRS, '07 FLTR)
#64
Remember, "No good deed goes unpunished"
Posted by Ronald O. Christian on May 18, 2011, 2:58 pm
wrote:
> You've got the shift thing just right,
>that 2500 & under stuff is for grandmothers. In fact, don't give a
>Harley much gas below 2200/2500. [...]
Thanks.
> You might like that RK3909. I've had mine on & off several
>times. The problem I find is that they're noisy, & a poor tune seems
>to make 'em even noisier. I have a pretty good tune goin' right now
>so the noise isn't botherin' me as much as usual.
Yeah, had a K&N on the Sporty, will expect it to be louder. I was
tempted to go for the RK3910 (it's only a few dollars more) but was
concerned by reports that the cover rubs against your right calf. And
of course, it would be noisier still.
I'm hoping I can tune it sufficiently on my own. It should only need
slight enrichening.
Ron
-
2003 FLHTCUI "Noisy Glide"
http://www.christianfamilywebsite.com
http://www.ronaldchristian.com
Definition: Nelp: Contraction of "no help". Colloquial: Help
messages that are of no help whatsoever. Pertains to help files,
messages or documentation that convey no useful information, or
pedantically repeat the blindingly obvious.
Posted by frito on May 18, 2011, 3:36 pm
"Ronald O. Christian" wrote in message
> A round for everyone. Coffee for me, black, no sugar. I only put
> cream and sugar in bad coffee.
> When researching TC88 head noise for Noisy Glide (since solved) I ran
> across another observation that puzzled me but was concentrating on
> the main problem and didn't pursue it at the time.
> Several people on at least two forums opined that the characteristic
> TC88 upper end clatter started about 2500 RPM (pretty close, in my
> case) which was (they would say) right at the shift point into the
> next gear.
> That's got me puzzled a little. I rode a pony bike for 12 years and
> have had Noisy Glide for about 2500 miles now, and shifting at 2500,
> except from first into second in traffic on level ground, seems to be
> lugging the engine. A lot.
I dunno, lugging is a two part equation. Looking at rpm alone doesn't tell
all. The rpm is just half the story, the load/throttle position determines
if you're gonna be lugging at that point in time. I don't lug my bike, but
in normal operation I shift in the 2.5-3K range. If I shift at 4K or more
I'm really getting motivated. <sfsf> I guess it reflects my riding style
lately. I used to be all about drag race starts, but any more I find myself
easing out from a dead stop and leveling off around 65.. That said, my bike
is tuned towards the low end and pulls like a tractor down low. I've been
running 21g cams, 95", and .030 head gaskets (no ping) for a good while.
Since I've picked up the FJR, my bagger seems painfully slow. I'm not too
aggressive on the throttle of the FJR either. But.......shifting it at 4k
will have you moving out smartly, twisting it up really makes things happen.
BTW, my bagger does rattle like hell at pretty much any RPM. When I had the
heads off I checked the rocker side clearance and it was a bit wide. It
doesn't concern me enough to do anything about it and after ~70K miles I
hardly notice it anymore.
--
"frito"
Fred Snetzer
'01 FLHT, '06FJR
TOMKAT
IBA #10549 BS #162
http://eddiekieger.com/
Posted by Lowrider Sport on May 19, 2011, 9:12 am
On Wednesday, May 18, 2011 1:44:48 PM UTC-4, Ronald O. Christian wrote:
> Several people on at least two forums opined that the characteristic
> TC88 upper end clatter started about 2500 RPM (pretty close, in my
> case) which was (they would say) right at the shift point into the
> next gear.
>
> I go by the sound and feel of the engine, but after reading this 2500
> thing, I would occasionally glance down to see where I was shifting,
> and other than first-into-second it was always a bit over 3000 in
> traffic, closer to 4000 on highways, peaking at 4500 at on-ramps when
> merge speed is critical. The bike (2003 Ultra, 5 speed) turns
> slightly over 3000 at 70, and seems happy at that rpm. In the 55 mile
> zones around Portland, the bike is sluggish and balky in fifth gear.
>
> What has your experience been? To say "I have no idea what RPM I
> shift at, the bike tells me when to shift" is a fair answer. It's the
> answer I would have given until I started thinking about it.
>
I'm still new at this compare to just about everyone in here, and I struggl=
ed with where to shift for a while. After 5 years riding the thing, I find =
that the ~600lbs Evo/5speed FXR (EV-27 cam) likes to slowly roll around be=
tween 1600 and 2500 through town (riding like a grandma), occasionally roll=
ing up to 3000 for a shift. I generally don't twist WOT until 3200.
I also found that with the stock (read that "quiet") exhaust, I tend to rol=
l around at 2200, where with the louder exhaust I tend toward 1800. I don't=
like drawing anyone's attention.
I'm just a mouse on a motorcycle, sneaking past the cat to get the cheese.
---
Steve P
BS284, EKIII
'93 FXRS-C
XML Sitemap
>cream and sugar in bad coffee.