TIP OF THE DAY for NEW and OLD PANAM OWNERS

dettfly · Jul 16, 2023

Get familiar with how the PanAm works doing your OWN maintenance.
Start reading your owner's manual, if you want to get better, get a PanAm service manual, do the procedures the right way, and be carefull with You Tube advise, some good, but a lot of them are bad.
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1-First task is follow the instructions on how to get the correct oil reading on the PanAm.
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2-Chain adjustment is another easy one, you ONLY need a socket whrench for the adjusters, a tape measure, and a 36mm socket to loose the rear axel, aligment can be checked on the adjuster threads on both sides.

Any questions, let me know.

TheDom · Jul 16, 2023

Also be sure to use a torque wrench to tighten the 36mm rear axle nut properly again. Too loose and you can loose your rear wheel, too tight and you might damage the rear axle bearings. I don't have the torque sheet here right now but i think it was something about 130ish NM.

CrazyEddie · Jul 17, 2023

dettfly said:
Get familiar with how the PanAm works doing your OWN maintenance.
Start reading your owner's manual, if you want to get better, get a PanAm service manual, do the procedures the right way, and be carefull with You Tube advise, some good, but a lot of them are bad.
-
1-First task is follow the instructions on how to get the correct oil reading on the PanAm.
-
2-Chain adjustment is another easy one, you ONLY need a socket whrench for the adjusters, a tape measure, and a 36mm socket to loose the rear axel, aligment can be checked on the adjuster threads on both sides.

Any questions, let me know.

I wholeheartedly agree with you when it comes to performing your own maintenance. My dealer suggested letting them handle the initial 1k maintenance to maintain the warranty (meh included in purchase), but didn't mind if I took over afterwards. Motorcycling has been a cherished hobby of mine for numerous years, and as a passionate hobbyist, I wouldn't engage in it without acquiring extensive knowledge about the hobby as well as the motorcycle itself. Ah, the aroma of oil, gasoline, and a hot engine. Truly remarkable contraptions we humans have created!

dettfly · Jul 17, 2023

3- Do check your tire pressures often.
I recomend to put the tire pressure widget on the main screen.
They vary by +1psi on both wheels from my bike.
So it should be reading 37 and 43psi.
When riding from Hot to Cold, be carefull, keep an eye on your TPM (Tire Pressure Monitor), you'll lose some pressure enough to affect bike hadling on turns.

dettfly · Jul 17, 2023

4-Time to wash your PanAm.
Use your favorite car/bike shampoo.
I do remove the grime out of my wheels with wd-40 on a paper towells.
Use LOW PRESSURE only, to avoid all kinds of errors (at least on my bike).
After washing, I'll dry her using a leaf blower, that works great, followed by a local riding up to 65/70 mph just to get rid of the remaining water.
Don't forget to check and lube your chain.
I use a good and cheap tranny oil and a brush on all sides follow with a wipe down (this is also excellent to clean the chain, if you do a second time due to the detergents in the tranny oil).
While you're washing the tires, use the time to check for nails and other crap attached on your rubber.

dettfly · Jul 17, 2023

5- This one is not for everyone due to the cost.
All the tools I use on my PanAm, can be fit in the bike's tool box that is mounted on the hard cases frame.
If you are riding far and by yourself, carry at least:
1 tire repair kit for the tubeless crowd
2 jumper battery, some of them are like cell phone batt packs, you never know.
And some of them come with a quick battery conection, to avoid removing the skid plate.
3 Zip ties
4 tire gauge

dettfly · Jul 17, 2023

You guys feel free to add any comments.

ODGreenPA · Jul 17, 2023

Don't forget to get fuel, especially before E! It does not mean Enough.

seriously tho a sat phone if/when you venture off the beaten path. I haven't bought one but am looking at them.

dettfly · Jul 17, 2023

ODGreenPA said:
Don't forget to get fuel, especially before E! It does not mean Enough. seriously tho a sat phone if/when you venture off the beaten path. I haven't bought one but am looking at them.

Of course, I do carry a spare gallon of fuel in my hard cases.
Missed that one👍🏻
Get that extra gallon of fuel and run your bike dry.
When you first get the 1/4 fuel left and the gauge becomes red, compare the remaining miles shown on the display to how far you can ride (I did reduced my top speed to 65mph until the bike ran out of fuel), that will build your confidence on the remaining fuel.
You'll be surprise for sure.

dettfly · Jul 18, 2023

If you ride over 4hrs a day on a PanAm, get one of this, works great, about 90 bucks at amazon

dettfly · Jul 18, 2023

My wife also loves it

dettfly · Jul 18, 2023

If riding at night or for more visibility during the day, same lighting power as my F250 truck.
Expensive but totally worth it with CanSmart.
D7 lights from Denali.

dettfly · Jul 18, 2023

If you have people cutting you off at the hwy at 80mph+, get this.
Nice and easy installation with CanSmart.
It will take a couple oj more minutes extra to remove or installing the gas tank, totally worth it.

dettfly · Jul 18, 2023

I know they are expensive, just posting stuff that really work well and add tons of safety.

dettfly · Jul 18, 2023

For the off road riders.
Check the left side wires coming from the left fork, close to the left front caliper.
HD has little plastic wire holders to keep the wires together.
Remove ALL of them, and zip tie them together.
The left fork tube has the compression valve wire coming lose from the wire holder and getting cought between the front wheel and the fender, just cough that crap in time after some front suspenssion errors.
The wire was almost cou off, hanging by a few copper remaining wires, the insulation was completelly gone.
All cover by warranty, but it took almost a month for the dealer to get all the parts.
The left fork tube had to be replaced, since the sensor could not be replaced by itself.
For off road those little plastic wire holders WILL COME LOSE.

Jazzy · Jul 18, 2023

dettfly said:
For the off road riders.
Check the left side wires coming from the left fork, close to the left front caliper.
HD has little plastic wire holders to keep the wires together.
Remove ALL of them, and zip tie them together.
The left fork tube has the compression valve wire coming lose from the wire holder and getting cought between the front wheel and the fender, just cough that crap in time after some front suspenssion errors.
The wire was almost cou off, hanging by a few copper remaining wires, the insulation was completelly gone.
All cover by warranty, but it took almost a month for the dealer to get all the parts.
The left fork tube had to be replaced, since the sensor could not be replaced by itself.
For off road those little plastic wire holders WILL COME LOSE.

Re the plastics clips, I noticed this condition last night after being stuck on the interstate at a 5 mph avg for 20 minutes on an 85 degree day. I can't say for sure it's related but I'm thinking the extra heat softened up the clips and allowed them to unclip from the wires. I'll be zip tying them this evening.

roadrash83 · Jul 18, 2023

If you have a 21 or 22 PA, look into getting the heat shield that Harley put on the 2023 PA. The right side heat shield part #65400687 that goes on the collector below the brake pedal works well and is less than $40 if I remember right.

dettfly · Jul 20, 2023

CHECKING THE SPOKE WHEELS.
Practice, practice, practice.
I do have the service manual for the PanAm, but do my spokes the "old school".
Easier method would be with the wheels off the bike (easier to reach the spoke nuts) but it can be done with the wheels on the bike.
My prefer method is tapping all the spokes and listening the "pitch" of everyone.
Normally I tighten the "lower pitch" to match the "high pitch" sound spokes.
Do this tightening the opposite spokes on the wheel to avoid a wheel off center.
There are many good videos available on YouTube.
Don't worry about exceeding the maximum 35ft/lbs according to the manual.
Keep in mind:
1 There are inner and outer spokes.
2 Inner spokes act more on bringing the wheel up and down in relation to the axe.
3 Outer spokes act more on the side-by-side alignment of the wheel.
4 After a few re-checks every 5000 miles or whatever the manual calls for, the spokes will be properlly set, and not as frequent adjustments will be needed.
I know its a long post, but to post an entire class here is impossible.
You can send me a post any time.
Here to share.

dettfly · Jul 20, 2023

Installing Denali lights and Can Smart.
Make sure to zip tie all connections that do not have a tab to lock the 2 connectors in place, to avoid popping the gas tank a second time.
For the awesome and soooo loud Sound Bomb horn, you need to losen the horn bracket if you need to remove the gas tank, and completelly remove the engine mount bolt, not a biggy.

dettfly · Jul 20, 2023

If you need to remove one of the crash bars on a PaAm.
The easiest way to install it back, is to losen the opposite side and the 2 bolts at the head bearing post that holds the head lights/front bracket.
That makes installation a breeze.

TIP OF THE DAY for NEW and OLD PANAM OWNERS

dettfly

TheDom

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dettfly

dettfly

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dettfly

ODGreenPA

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