How to Ride a 2008 Harley Fat Boy

Harley FatBoy

In 1990, Harley Davidson introduced a new model to their Softail line of bikes. "The FatBoy was Milwaukee's first novelty bike..." This new model was the creation of Willie G. Davidson, the grandson of the founder, and became an instant sales success. Owners say that because of its low center of gravity, the FatBoy is one of the easiest to ride. The 2008 FatBoy has a 6 speed transmission which also adds to the riders' pleasure.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Safety helmet with eye shield
• Leather driving gloves

1. • 1

     Grab your leather gloves and helmet, approach the FatBoy from the left side. Swing your right leg over the seat and rear fender and sit squarely on the bike. Check the fuel level in both tanks. The 2008 has a fuel capacity of 5 gallons, so make sure that you have enough fuel to get you to your destination.

   • 2

     Put your helmet on and adjust the strap so that it is snug, but still comfortable. If your ignition switch is locked, insert your key and turn the switch to the on position while also checking the emergency kill switch on the handlebar. Make sure the transmission is in the neutral position, pull in the clutch lever on the left side and press the starter button on the handle bar near the grip. After the engine starts, release the clutch lever, pull on your gloves and let the engine warm up for several minutes.

   • 3

     Place both feet squarely on the ground, looking at both sides of the bike to avoid any loose gravel. Grab both handle bars and bring the bike off of the kick stand to the upright position. Disengage the clutch by pulling in the left lever. With your right foot on the ground, put the transmission in first gear by pushing down on the shift lever on the bottom left side on the bike.

   • 4

     Plan your exit route from where you are parked, looking for other vehicle traffic and dangers such as potholes or parking bumpers. With your left foot, swing the kickstand into its upright position. Looking again in both directions, slowly release the clutch lever with your left hand, while twisting the throttle toward yourself with your right hand.

   • 5

     Carefully click up through the gears with your left foot and clutch lever, as your speed and rpm's are increased. In regular traffic, it is not necessary to get into 6th gear. Use high gear when you are out on the open road. Always look ahead, and keep a safe distance from other traffic. Keep checking both rear mirrors to see what is coming up behind you. When slowing down, apply the hand brake, right lever, as well as the right foot brake. Enjoy your FatBoy ride. You are on top of one of the most head turning bike available from Harley Davidson.

Tips & Warnings

• The Experienced Rider Course given by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is a good idea no matter how much saddle time you have logged. Make sure that you have plenty of riding experience and confidence before taking a passenger with you.

• The kickstand is spring loaded; make sure it is in the upright position and has not swung down. If the kickstand remains down, it can snag objects that can cause you to lose control of the bike.

How to Buy Pipes for a Harley

Harleys are known for the awesome sound they make. But after riding it for awhile, the pipes that came with your bike may simply not be doing anything for you, and you may want to upgrade. Here are some tips on how to find that perfect set of pipes for your Harley-Davidson.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. • 1

     Avoid asking others' opinions about the sound made by the pipes you may be considering, because what may sound terrific to them may sound awful to you. Since sound is such a subjective thing, you'll be satisfied only after hearing them yourself.

   • 2

     Never buy Harley pipes from a catalog. Without hearing them mounted on a Harley, you'll have no idea how they'll sound on yours. The pictures in a catalog are there to sell pipes. They might even show those pipes on a custom bike, but you have no idea how they'll look on your machine. Instead, ask the people at your local Harley-Davidson store where you can find a Harley locally with the pipes you think you want.

   • 3

     Don't skimp on buying pipes for your Harley. You may find "that perfect set of pipes” at a bargain price, but it's likely you'll soon become dissatisfied because they're probably made with inferior materials by no-name companies. Remember that your displeasure with your purchase will last far longer than the satisfaction of saving a few dollars.

   • 4

     Go online after you have decided which pipes to buy. Often, you will save up to 33 percent or more on those pipes versus buying them at the dealership. And if you intend to install them on your bike yourself, the savings really do pile up. Be aware that most dealers will build installation into the cost of the pipes they sell, and they probably will not give you a discount if you plan to install them yourself (see Resources below).

   • 5

     Have everything you need ahead of installation if you are doing the work yourself. For example, you will need a reflash or a PCM upgrade if you have a newer Harley that's fuel-injected. For older Harleys, you may need a rejet if it has a carburetor. Without them, you may damage your bike because it will run too lean. Once installed, the proper device will enable you to conform your fuel to your new pipes.

How to Remove a Harley Fatboy Fender

A Fatboy is a classic Harley Davidson motorcycle. One aspect people love most about it is the suspended rear fender. It hangs over the rear tire and completely covers the whole top quarter of the tire. It may have great looks, but when it is time to take off this tire it can be quite a task. It involves taking off the seat, fender rails and signal light.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Ratchet set
• Pliers
• WD-40

1. • 1

     Remove the seat to the Harley Davidson Fatboy. The seat comes out by unlocking the seat clip and sliding it off the motorcycle. Disconnect the battery cables by loosening the screw in the cable clamps and removing them.

   • 2

     Remove the fender rails by unscrewing the hardware in the fender rails themselves, and then removing the bolts that mount the rails to the motorcycle frame. Use a large screwdriver or ratchet that matches the hardware on your Fatboy fender.

   • 3

     Remove the tail light and turn signals by unscrewing the mounting hardware which connects to the fender. Usually, these are connected with a Phillips head screw, so use a Phillips screwdriver.

   • 4

     Disconnect the wiring from the terminals on the turn signal and the tail light units. Remove the wiring from the terminal connectors on the signal lights themselves and set them all aside.

   • 5

     Now, disconnect the hardware that attaches the fender to the motorcycle frame. Use a ratchet head wrench and WD-40 to loosen this hardware, as heat and weather will make it difficult to remove. Once removed, you can take off the rear fender on your Harley Davidson Fatboy.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase a service manual for your Harley-Davidson's make and model, because each bike has slightly different wiring and accessories.

How to Install Harley Oil Pumps

Harley Davidson oil pumps are two-sided, gear-type, positive-displacement pumps. The oil pump drive shaft is driven by the cam gear-train which passes through the case and into the back of the oil pump body. Two sets of gears are keyed to the drive shaft: a thick set and a thin set. The thin set supplies high-volume, low-pressure oil to the engine's oil system. The thick set, or return set, draws oil that is collected by the breather valve and forces it through the oil filter and back into the oil tank.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Standard socket set
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• New hose clamps
• Hose clamp crimper
• Fresh engine oil
• Pump gasket kit
• 3/8-inch torque wrench
• New oil pump keys (2)

Suggest Edits

1. Installing Harley Oil Pumps

   • 1

     Locate the drive key slot in the drive shaft close to where it exits the case. Insert a key into the slot and insure that it nests fully in the groove evenly without cocking. Slide the thin drive gear onto this shaft and engage the drive gear key into its slot on the gear.

   • 2

     Place the thin driven gear onto its mounting stud on the backside of the pump body and hold it in place. Place the new inner pump gasket onto the locating studs on the case and slide the pump body onto the drive shaft. Rotate the driven gear until the drive and driven gears nest together, allowing the pump body to slide up tightly against the case.

   • 3

     Insert a key into the drive shaft where it exits the front of the pump body. Slide the thick drive gear onto the shaft and engage the drive gear key onto its slot on the gear. Slide the thick driven gear onto its mounting stud and rotate the gear until it nests with the thick drive gear.

   • 4

     Place the pump cover gasket onto the locating studs. Slide the pump cover onto the locating studs and install the cover bolts finger-tight. Tighten the cover bolts to factory spec and in the approved pattern set by the manufacturer. Install the oil return line onto the spigot on top of the pump and install a new clamp with the factory crimping tool.

How to Compare Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

When it comes to choosing a Harley-Davidson, the hardest decision is deciding which one to buy.

All Harley-Davidson motorcycles are equipped with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and belt drives. With over 30 Harley models as of late 2010, the similarities end there.

1. Sportster (XL)

   • The Sportster is the smallest of the entire Harley-Davidson lineup. Specifically created for the urban scene, the Sportster has three tank sizes: 2.1, 3.3 and a 4.5 gallons.

   Dyna (D) and Softail (ST)

   • Dyna and Softail models feature air-cooled, twin-cam 96/96B engines. These are larger motorcycles with loads of street cred. Fuel capacity for both ranges between 4.7 and 5 gallons. Owners can expect fuel economy for both bikes to range between 35 mpg (city) to 54 mpg (highway). In stock form, the bikes are ideal for short trips or cruising down the boulevard.

   V-TWIN Racing Street Custom (VRSC)

   • The V-Rod is based on Harley-Davidson's production drag-racing motorcycle, the VRXSE V-Rod Destroyer. All V-Rod models are equipped with liquid-cooled, revolution, 60-degree V-twin engines. Fuel capacity is 5 gallons. Expect to get between 34 mpg (city) to 42 mpg (highway). These bikes are intended solely for boulevard cruising.

   Touring Model (HT or LT) and Trikes

   • Harley-Davidson's Touring and Trike models are designed specifically for long-distance traveling in comfort. All Touring models and Trikes sport new Twin Pack 103TM V-Twin Engines. Fuel capacity for this model is 6 gallons. Fuel economy ranges between 35 mpg (city) to 54 mpg (highway).

How to Install Harley Exhaust Gaskets

Harley-Davidson exhaust gaskets are one-time use components. Made from aluminum thread that is woven into a mesh, the gaskets deform upon compression by the exhaust pipe and flange. Round in shape but triangular in cross-section, the outer peak of the triangle receives the pipe end and seals against it as the gasket is crushed.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Standard socket set
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• Long 3/8-inch extension
• Dental pick
• Brake cleaner
• Shop rags

1. • 1

     Loosen the exhaust flange nuts and spin them off their studs. Remove the nuts from the T-bolts holding the rear part of the exhaust pipe/muffler assembly and slide the T-bolts from their rubber-mounted bracket. Lower the pipes away from the engine and frame.

   • 2

     Remove the old gaskets from the exhaust ports in the engine heads. Reach into the port and hook the old gasket with the dental pick. Pull the old gaskets out and inspect the ports for any lingering bits that may be stuck.

   • 3

     Insert the new gaskets with the flat side up against the inner port shoulder and the tapered edge facing away from the heads. Hold the pipe in position and start the exhaust flange nuts onto their studs just a few turns but do not compress the pipes onto the new gaskets yet.

   • 4

     Re-install the T-bolts into their holes in the rubber-mounted brackets and tighten the nuts finger tight. Tighten the exhaust flange nuts up evenly, drawing the pipe ends into the head and crushing the new gaskets. Torque the nuts to factory specifications. Tighten the T-bolt nuts to factory specifications.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean all fingerprints, oil or grease from the exhaust pipes before starting the engine. Failure to do so will permanently discolor the pipes at the dirty points almost immediately upon starting the engine.

How to Repair a Harley Tire

Repairing Harley tires can be time consuming.

All tires on Harley-Davidson's can be repaired the same way and with the same tools. Harley dealers have the tools and the repair kits for specific bikes. The cost of a repair will depend on the nature of the needed work. The time it will take also depends on the repair. Most tire repairs can be done in a driveway or garage, but others require dealer attention.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Motorcycle lift
• Ratchet set
• Pliers
• Rubber mallet
• Tire bead breaker
• Tire patch kit

1. • 1

     Place the motorcycle lift under the engine and raise the lift plate to the bottom of the engine. Raise the Harley completely off the ground.

   • 2

     Remove the axle nut from the wheel that needs the repair using the ratchet set and pliers. Hammer out the axle bolt using the rubber mallet. Pull the axle bolt from the frame. If it is the rear tire that needs repair, then push the tire forward and pull the drive belt/chain off the rear sprocket.

   • 3

     Remove the tire from the frame. Remove the air valve cap from the tire and depress the metal pin inside the air valve to release air from the inner tube. Slide the edge of the bead breaker between the tire and the rim and lift up on the bead breaker until the tire begins to pop off the rim. Repeat this until the tire is completely off.

   • 4

     Look inside the tire and remove the object that has punctured the tire and inner tube. Fill the hole using the tar from the patch kit. Allow the tar to dry for four hours. Replace the tire on the rim, again using the bead breaker for leverage.

   • 5

     Replace the tire and rim on the frame of the Harley the opposite way that you removed it from the frame. Replace the axle bolt to the axle and the drive belt/chain to the rear sprocket if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need the tire resurfaced or retreaded, bring the tire to the Harley dealer and have them do it for you. A machine is needed for this type of repair. Also, if the inner tube was damaged, replace it before you remount the tire on the rim.