Free Wheeler motor questions

[Douglas44]

Hi All YaAll;

I have not yet purchased a trike but have pretty much decided on a Free Wheeler . Several friends have Honda's and I admit they are tempting , but like the big glide model Harley's they just have too much stuff on them that I don't need or want.

My last HD was a 2004 Road King classic , I sold it when it started need in cam chain stuff and I had other bikes so it went down the road.

My questions are motor related : eg which engines I might give a pass to as they have inherent internal issues .

I am budget limited ( self imposed) to a max price for the machine of $15k

I have been looking at the usual suspects in the usual classifieds and see some with reasonable mileage in my price range , but admit to being out of the loop of knowledge engine wise.

I am interested in finding a purely stock motor , not interested in any stage 1 , 2 or what ever "Improvements"

Is a 103 better than a ???

Or is there a very reliable other model I should be looking for.

Thanks for any input , it is appreciated.

PS: I don't want to go fast , I just want to roll along as comfortable and reliable as I can.

 

[nucseal]

103 have been around for years and are solid engine. They are no longer produced since 2017. Newer bikes have 114 or 117. Like any Harley Davidson they have their quirts. I have a 103 16 Triglide and has 40000 miles with no problems.

 

[Douglas44]

Thanks, I see some with the 103 engine in my price range .

Funny , for the life of me I cannot remember what engine size was in my 2004 RK Classic. I do remember it had a single carburetor though.

When I went to pick it up I had the shop swap out the loud cans for some stock ones.

Wife would have none of that noise

 

[rhino 2]

Thanks, I see some with the 103 engine in my price range .

Funny , for the life of me I cannot remember what engine size was in my 2004 RK Classic. I do remember it had a single carburetor though.

When I went to pick it up I had the shop swap out the loud cans for some stock ones.

Wife would have none of that noise

The 103's are fuel injected............

 

[rae mendonca]

freewheeler

Hi All YaAll;

I have not yet purchased a trike but have pretty much decided on a Free Wheeler . Several friends have Honda's and I admit they are tempting , but like the big glide model Harley's they just have too much stuff on them that I don't need or want.

My last HD was a 2004 Road King classic , I sold it when it started need in cam chain stuff and I had other bikes so it went down the road.

My questions are motor related : eg which engines I might give a pass to as they have inherent internal issues .

I am budget limited ( self imposed) to a max price for the machine of $15k

I have been looking at the usual suspects in the usual classifieds and see some with reasonable mileage in my price range , but admit to being out of the loop of knowledge engine wise.

I am interested in finding a purely stock motor , not interested in any stage 1 , 2 or what ever "Improvements"

Is a 103 better than a ???

Or is there a very reliable other model I should be looking for.

Thanks for any input , it is appreciated.

PS: I don't want to go fast , I just want to roll along as comfortable and reliable as I can.

I had a 2015 freewheeler. I maintained it by the book. did every service called for. I didn't lug the motor and also didn't over rev the motor. The bike was heat demon. Passengers feet and legs got so hot they could not keep their feet on the floor boards. The motor was completely stock but I tried love jugs, extended floor boards a second oil cooler cooling wings and tank lift. At about 50,000 miles It started burning about one quart of oil every 1000 miles. By 60,000 miles it burned one quart every 3 to 4 hundred miles. Finally the dealer said he would do the rings. I took the bike in, the next day dealer phoned and said almost every part in side the motor was ruined because of excessive heat. Extended warranty covered the over $8,000.00 repair bill. I drove the bike another 500 miles and it was still a heat demon. It is gone now and I will never again own a factory built trike by Harley. I built my own trike using a 2015 sportster and a Frankenstein conversion kit. Runs like a charm more power than the freewheeler, smoother ride, better gas milage and the engine oil never gets above 210 dgrees

 

[MDO]

Personally, I would look for a 2017 model with the newer 107 cu.in. M8 motor.

This motor corrects many issues the 103 twin cam had.

I would also verify the trike purchased had all recalls completed & that it does not have the transmission oil migration issue.

 

[Douglas44]

Personally, I would look for a 2017 model with the newer 107 cu.in. M8 motor.

This motor corrects many issues the 103 twin cam had.

I would also verify the trike purchased had all recalls completed & that it does not have the transmission oil migration issue.

I have heard a little about this transmission oil migration .

Can you explain it for me please ?

What are the recalls ?

What specific issues did the 103 engine have ?

Thank you.

 

[rhino 2]

I have heard a little about this transmission oil migration .

Can you explain it for me please ?

What are the recalls ?

What specific issues did the 103 engine have ?

Thank you.

For some reason the 107 IN the Free-Wheelers did not have any Oil migration issues...

My 103 had no issues with over 45 thousand miles ...My 2017 /107 Tri-Glide- had major oil migration issues, So without getting into it...Do a search .......

 

[MDO]

For some reason the 107 IN the Free-Wheelers did not have any Oil migration issues...

My 103 had no issues with over 45 thousand miles ...My 2017 /107 Tri-Glide- had major oil migration issues, So without getting into it...Do a search .......

Let's be honest here Bob, your really upset because you traded in a perfectly good 2017 TriGlide with a minor problem that had a $50 fix.

 

[MDO]

I have heard a little about this transmission oil migration .

Can you explain it for me please ?

What are the recalls ?

What specific issues did the 103 engine have ?

Thank you.

Some Motors had a problem with oil in the transmission being sucked into the primary.

In my informal observations, it seemed to me it was more of the water cooled models, but I know some of the air cooled motors had it also.

Like Bob said, do a search of the particular engine your considering and you will find complaints galore.

 

[USMC Old Dog]

2015 Frewheeler

For what it is worth to you my 2015 Freewheeler 103 has 20000 miles and so far no problem at all. I went up from a 96 cu in Heritage Classic.

Just buy what suits you and treat it right.

Ride safe.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I have heard a little about this transmission oil migration .

Can you explain it for me please ?

What are the recalls ?

What specific issues did the 103 engine have ?

Thank you.

The oil migration problem can be found on any HD with a hydraulic clutch dating back as far as 2014. That said the Freewheelers with 103s are good machines, the 17 M8 I have has had NO issues other than the clutch recall

Here is the oil migration bulletin



















TechArticleTA0022:Transmissionto PrimaryOilTransferTA0022Reference2017-09-27LastModified2014:FLHP, FLHR,FLHR103, FLHRC,FLHRSE,FLHTCU,FLHTCUTC,FLHTCUTG,FLHTK,FLHTK103,FLHTKSHRINE,FLHTKSE,FLHTP,FLHX,FLHX SHRINE,FLHXSModels2015:FLHP,FLHR,FLHRC,FLHTCU,FLHTCUTC,FLHTCUL,FLHTCULTC, FLHTCUTG,FLHTK,FLHTKSHRINE,FLHTKL,FLHTKSE,FLHTP,FLHX,FLHXS,FLHXSE,FLRT, FLTRUSE,FLTRX, FLTRXS2016:FLHP,FLHR,FLHRC,FLHTCU,FLHTCUTC,FLHTCUL,FLHTCULTC, FLHTCUTG,FLHTK,FLHTKSHRINE,FLHTKL,FLHTKSE,FLHTP,FLHX,FLHXS,FLHXSE,FLRT, FLTRU, FLTRUSE,FLTRX, FLTRXS2017: FLHP, FLHR,FLHRC,FLHRXS,FLHTCU,FLHTCUTG,FLHTK,FLHTKSHRINE,FLHTKL,FLHTKSE,FLHTP, FLHX,FLHXS,FLHXSE,FLRT, FLTRU, FLTRX, FLTRXS2018:FLHP,FLHR,FLHRC,FLHRXS,FLHTCU,FLHTCUTG,FLHTCUTGANV, FLHTK,FLHTKANV, FLHTKSHRINE,FLHTKL,FLHTKSE,FLHTKSEANV, FLHTP, FLHX,FLHXANV, FLHXS,FLHXSANX,FLHXSE,FLRT, FLTRU, FLTRX, FLTRXS,FLTRXSETransmissionCategoryDescriptionDuringserviceintervals,customersor dealersmay find oil level in the primaryabovethe clutchcover opening.This also is accompaniedby low transmissionoil level.CauseThis is occurringbecauseoil is transferringfrom the transmissioncavityto the primarycavity.Harley-Davidsonhas confirmedsome vehiclesshow higheramountsof transferthan expected.While some oil transfercan occur, instanceswhere150 ml (5 fl oz) or more have transferredinless than 8,000 km (5,000mi) shouldbe reviewedper the direction.Action2014- 2016VehiclesFor Twin-Cammodels,replacethe oil seal (Part No. 12068)and sprocketshaft spacer(Part No.24009-06).TA00221 / 22017andLaterVehiclesRefer to Figure1. Checkthe primaryand transmissionoil levels and adjustthe oil volumesasneeded.Verify oil levels again in 1,600 km (1,000mi).1124301Figure1. PrimaryLubricantLevel2 / 2 TA0022

 

[PosseRider]

I just traded my 16 TriGlide with 45,000 on it. Only problem was a water pump. Still runs great ,just wanted a new trike.

 

[Douglas44]

I spoke with my local HD independent guy ( he took very good care of me and my RK Classic) .

We discussed the pro's and cons of the more recent engines.

He likes the M8 ( single cam) motors over the twin cam.

Nothing particularly wrong with the twin cam's just his personal opinion.

So I'm hunting through the used classifieds, but so far nothing that's in my self imposed budget ( 15K + -) a little either way has come on the radar.

Please put the word out in the community .

Thanks, Doug

 

[MDO]

I spoke with my local HD independent guy ( he took very good care of me and my RK Classic) .

We discussed the pro's and cons of the more recent engines.

He likes the M8 ( single cam) motors over the twin cam.

Nothing particularly wrong with the twin cam's just his personal opinion.

So I'm hunting through the used classifieds, but so far nothing that's in my self imposed budget ( 15K + -) a little either way has come on the radar.

Please put the word out in the community .

Thanks, Doug

Check Cycle Trader. You can limit your search to any number of miles from your home. I know several people who have gone over 500 miles to get a good deal & trailer their new trike back.

 

[PosseRider]

Hey Doug,, Lewisville,Ohio ??

 

[Douglas44]

Hey Doug,, Lewisville,Ohio ??

Lewisville, North Carolina.

Just west of Winston Salem, or 90 miles north of Charlotte

 

[BillR]

Funny , for the life of me I cannot remember what engine size was in my 2004 RK Classic. I do remember it had a single carburetor though.

Hi Douglas, the 2004s were 88 inch. They went to 96 inch on 2007 I think.

My 2000 Fatboy with a cam and Mikuni carb would walk a stock 96 incher.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I have a 2017 Tri Glide and before the M8 i had a 2016 103 Tri glide and a 2012 Road Glide with a 103.I have had many issues with this 2017 including oil migration.The 103 motor is a rock solid engine IMO but to each their own,if you can find a low mileage 103 at a fair price you wont regret it.There are those who have not had any issues with the M8,but i'm not one of those folks.So good luck with your search.

 

[Old Road Dog]

Douglass 44, call Mica at Crossroads HD 336-667-1003 and ask him to put the word out.