[Timmytay2003]

PanAm Pals,

I am looking for feedback from those who really understand how the ARH works. I recently had some extensive work done on my 2022 PanAm Special for a small oil leak. After I got the bike back, I feel like the ARH is not functioning the same as it did before, but I feel like I do not have a great way to actually function check the ARH.

I feel like I have two concerns with the ARH. First, when coming to a slow stop at a light or stop sign, the front suspension does not gradually lower but almost seems to drop somewhat dramatically. In reverse, when I accelerate the front suspension sometime dramatically pops back up. I can however feel the rear suspension lower when the bike comes to a stop. The second concern I have is when I switch on the ignition switch, the ARH does not lower because it seems as though the bike remains in the lowered position. I thought then when the ignition switch was turned, the ARH was supposed to lower the bike.

Is there a way for me to function check the ARH? Any advice or recommendations on my two concerns would be great! Thanks for the support here, I really enjoy everyone sharing their experiences!

Tim

 

[goosegreen]

PanAm Pals,

I am looking for feedback from those who really understand how the ARH works. I recently had some extensive work done on my 2022 PanAm Special for a small oil leak. After I got the bike back, I feel like the ARH is not functioning the same as it did before, but I feel like I do not have a great way to actually function check the ARH.

I feel like I have two concerns with the ARH. First, when coming to a slow stop at a light or stop sign, the front suspension does not gradually lower but almost seems to drop somewhat dramatically. In reverse, when I accelerate the front suspension sometime dramatically pops back up. I can however feel the rear suspension lower when the bike comes to a stop. The second concern I have is when I switch on the ignition switch, the ARH does not lower because it seems as though the bike remains in the lowered position. I thought then when the ignition switch was turned, the ARH was supposed to lower the bike.

Is there a way for me to function check the ARH? Any advice or recommendations on my two concerns would be great! Thanks for the support here, I really enjoy everyone sharing their experiences!

Tim

Wish i could help perhaps somebody put in a different setting but i doubt that all i can think about is the ecm bcm etc doing falts i think HD will not get this fixed in the not so distant future..Perhaps the ARH is in a low postion when the ignition is started again look for the suspension symbol on the screen happened to me a few times also back in for a check in December hope to sort some things out i doubt it though .

 

[Terronaut]

Something sounds like it isn't working right (as you already suspect) - the ARH just shouldn't be that jittery, perhaps another trip to the dealership on that one. On a related note, I never understand why the bike lowers itself when you switch the ignition ON anyway - presumably, shouldn't the bike lower itself when pull up to a complete stop, shut off the ignition, and park it? And shouldn't it just stay that way?? At what point does the suspension raise back up when the bike is turned off?

 

[leroysch]

If I read..and recall...the service manual correctly the bike uses the motion of the rear shock after it's turned off to raise the bike up.

With respect to ARH functioning other forums have documented miswired ARH harnessing which..in my case..prevented the bike from lowering when coming to a stop despite the icon indicating it had lowered.

*SOLVED* ARH PanAm - Harley Davidson Forums

Pan America - *SOLVED* ARH PanAm - As far as we have checked all of the PA are wired incorrect at the wiring harness connecter at the rear shock. This causes the bike and the suspention to behave incorrect. If your bike doenst return to the lowest shock position right before you come to a stop...

www.hdforums.com

 

[Terronaut]

Yea I’ve read too that some weren’t built correctly - very strange that a wiring error wasn’t caught in quality control.

 

[Nimda]

Something sounds like it isn't working right (as you already suspect) - the ARH just shouldn't be that jittery, perhaps another trip to the dealership on that one. On a related note, I never understand why the bike lowers itself when you switch the ignition ON anyway - presumably, shouldn't the bike lower itself when pull up to a complete stop, shut off the ignition, and park it? And shouldn't it just stay that way?? At what point does the suspension raise back up when the bike is turned off?

It’s my understanding that the suspension has been designed to fail safe. The lowering is achieved by removing the pre-load when stopped, and without power the pre-load goes back to its default position over a short time. If it worked the other way, by adding pre-load when pulling away, one blown fuse could sit the bike down at motorway speeds.

Quite a clever design, if a little temperamental.

 

[Bushman]

It’s my understanding that the suspension has been designed to fail safe. The lowering is achieved by removing the pre-load when stopped, and without power the pre-load goes back to its default position over a short time. If it worked the other way, by adding pre-load when pulling away, one blown fuse could sit the bike down at motorway speeds.

Quite a clever design, if a little temperamental.

What he said 😊

 

[Terronaut]

Great information-and makes perfect sense. Thanks.

 

[RonB]

ARH has 3 explicit settings (Short/Long Delay, Auto and Locked). The drop at a stop is one of those settings. It sounds like you ARH settings have been set to this.

Short Delay and Long Delay
The delay function will mean the lowering function is prevented until the bike has completely come to a stop.


I have mine set to the short delay mode, When the bike comes to a complete stop is drops immediately providing the footing I need.

The Auto mode could perform the above as well as the gradual lowering offered from below 10 MPH as you slow, that all depends on how aggressively you come to the stop.

I created a custom (copy of another Mode) and set the ride height the way I wanted.

 

[BhamRA311]

If I read..and recall...the service manual correctly the bike uses the motion of the rear shock after it's turned off to raise the bike up.

With respect to ARH functioning other forums have documented miswired ARH harnessing which..in my case..prevented the bike from lowering when coming to a stop despite the icon indicating it had lowered.

*SOLVED* ARH PanAm - Harley Davidson Forums

Pan America - *SOLVED* ARH PanAm - As far as we have checked all of the PA are wired incorrect at the wiring harness connecter at the rear shock. This causes the bike and the suspention to behave incorrect. If your bike doenst return to the lowest shock position right before you come to a stop...

www.hdforums.com

You are correct. I was curious how they managed to pump the shock back up as that would seemingly require a hydraulic pump in the suspension system. It does in fact use the motion of the suspension to pump it's self back up which would only require (what I assume) is a solenoid valve to let off the pressure to lower it. I turned my ARH off because for about a mile after leaving a stop I could tell the bike was lower in the rear and it felt like I was driving a boat. Curiously the only way to turn off the ARH (on my bike at least) was to set up a custom ride mode with it disabled. Even more curious is that when I first turn the ignition on, even when it is in my custom ride mode, both the forks and the shock let themselves all the way down. After they pump up it does stay locked until I cycle the ignition again. The system seems to have a mind of it's own to some degree.

 

[leroysch]

You are correct. I was curious how they managed to pump the shock back up as that would seemingly require a hydraulic pump in the suspension system. It does in fact use the motion of the suspension to pump it's self back up which would only require (what I assume) is a solenoid valve to let off the pressure to lower it. I turned my ARH off because for about a mile after leaving a stop I could tell the bike was lower in the rear and it felt like I was driving a boat. Curiously the only way to turn off the ARH (on my bike at least) was to set up a custom ride mode with it disabled. Even more curious is that when I first turn the ignition on, even when it is in my custom ride mode, both the forks and the shock let themselves all the way down. After they pump up it does stay locked until I cycle the ignition again. The system seems to have a mind of it's own to some degree.

Thanks for the confirmation.
I believe lowering when first turned on is the design intent of the system regardless of ride mode. It seems logical to optimize flat footedness when just getting underway.
The thing I find frustrating is the short shrift ARH calibration is given in the service manual. I've found out in involves, among other things, someone sitting on the bike during part of the process. I'd love to find out the theory of ARH operation and how the calibration process relates to the design.

 

[EdyMr-Harley]

PanAm Pals,

I am looking for feedback from those who really understand how the ARH works. I recently had some extensive work done on my 2022 PanAm Special for a small oil leak. After I got the bike back, I feel like the ARH is not functioning the same as it did before, but I feel like I do not have a great way to actually function check the ARH.

I feel like I have two concerns with the ARH. First, when coming to a slow stop at a light or stop sign, the front suspension does not gradually lower but almost seems to drop somewhat dramatically. In reverse, when I accelerate the front suspension sometime dramatically pops back up. I can however feel the rear suspension lower when the bike comes to a stop. The second concern I have is when I switch on the ignition switch, the ARH does not lower because it seems as though the bike remains in the lowered position. I thought then when the ignition switch was turned, the ARH was supposed to lower the bike.

Is there a way for me to function check the ARH? Any advice or recommendations on my two concerns would be great! Thanks for the support here, I really enjoy everyone sharing their experiences!

Tim

to test your ARH system put the bike to bech table or ask somebody to hold the bike from front , no side stand or center stand then shake the rear shock by hand from the passenger handles up and down 3-4 times and the last shake try to let the bike as upper as you can then after 20 sec open the IGN and you will see the rear shock goes down itself
PS you can do the same to test the front fork ARH

 

[honkydory]

PanAm Pals,

I am looking for feedback from those who really understand how the ARH works. I recently had some extensive work done on my 2022 PanAm Special for a small oil leak. After I got the bike back, I feel like the ARH is not functioning the same as it did before, but I feel like I do not have a great way to actually function check the ARH.

I feel like I have two concerns with the ARH. First, when coming to a slow stop at a light or stop sign, the front suspension does not gradually lower but almost seems to drop somewhat dramatically. In reverse, when I accelerate the front suspension sometime dramatically pops back up. I can however feel the rear suspension lower when the bike comes to a stop. The second concern I have is when I switch on the ignition switch, the ARH does not lower because it seems as though the bike remains in the lowered position. I thought then when the ignition switch was turned, the ARH was supposed to lower the bike.

Is there a way for me to function check the ARH? Any advice or recommendations on my two concerns would be great! Thanks for the support here, I really enjoy everyone sharing their experiences!

Tim

Here is a helpful article on ARH:

StackPath