Harley 114 Engine Problems – Issues and Solutions

You may be fond of the excellent performance of the Harley 114 engine. However, if you have encountered multiple issues with them, you are not alone. Most of the owners of this engine face several troubles with it.

So, what are the Harley 114 engine problems – issues and solutions? Oil sumping, fluid leaks, hard shifting, wobbling, and difficulty starting in the cold are common issues. Besides, you may also face engine overheating, knocking, and clutch problems.

Throughout this article, we will enlighten you about a few familiar issues in this engine. We also provide their causes and solutions, which will be beneficial for you. So, let’s start!

Table: Harley 114 Engine Problem And their solutions

Let’s know about a few Harley 114 engine problems along with their solutions

No	Problems	Solutions
1	Wet sumping and oil sumping	Check the oil supply line often
		Replace the damaged crankshaft
		Repair or change the worn-out head gasket
2	Engine overheating	Maintain appropriate coolant level
		Change the defective temperature sensor
		Repair the malfunctioning radiator fan
3	Leaking of fluid	Seal the leakage
		Change the transmission system
4	Refuse to start in cold weather	Shift to a low-grade oil
		Clean the spark plug
5	Knocking problem	Change the faulty spark plug
		Refill the oil to a suitable level
		Fix the oxygen sensor
6	Excessive vibration	Repair or replace the damaged drive belt
		Adjust the loose engine mountings and bolts
7	Hard shifting	Change the damaged shifter
		Adjust the tightness of the chain
8	Clutch problems	Seal leakages on the fluid line
		Replace the old disc

8 Most Familiar Harley 114 Engine Problems: Their Causes And Solutions

In this section, we will provide you with detailed information about the causes and solutions of those Harley 114 engine problems. Here we go.

1.  Wet Sumping And Oil Sumping

This means the problem of oil returning to the tank instead of oil accumulating in the crankcase. And this problem will occur if there is a problem with removing adequate oil from the crankcase.

Sometimes, failure of the oil pump and an insufficient deposition of oil in the oil tank will cause this problem. Besides, oils from bearing traps between the crankcase and flywheels will cause wet sumping and power loss.

Solutions

• Frequently check the oil supply line and repair damages shortly
• Check the cam chain tensioner and adjust it appropriately
• Change the damaged or worn-out crankshaft
• Replace the cracked or damaged head gasket

2. Engine Overheating

It is not only in Harley 114 but also one of the most common Harley Davidson 103 engine problems. For this reason, oil can come in contact with the engine and burn here. Besides, engine integrity is also lost.

Lack of oil supply primarily causes overheating. Also, inadequate level of coolant and failure of the water pump system might be responsible for this.

Moreover, malfunctioning the temperature sensor and radiator fan will hamper the cooling system. As a result, the engine will overheat.

On a side note, also consider looking into the radiator itself. A leaking, damaged, or faulty radiator may also be responsible for it.

Solutions

• Allow the engine to rest for at least 20 minutes to be cooled
• Check coolant, and if there is a lack of coolant, add it
• Check any leaks in the path of the oil supply
• Replace any defective temperature sensor and radiator fan
• Repair any issues with the radiator, if necessary, replace it

3. Leaking Of Fluid

This is more similar to the wet sumping problem. If there is leaking, the level of fluid decreases. After a certain drop in level, it will lead to engine damage. One of the common reasons for leaking transmission fluid is the puncturing of the transmission pan.

Besides, loosening any bolts can lead to the leaking of fluid. On the other hand, any crack or breaking of the fluid line will cause the problem also. Furthermore, leakage in the torque converter is also an important issue.

Solutions

•  If you detect any leak in the fluid line, reseal it
• Install a transmission fluid flush
• Sometimes, the last option is the replacement of the transmission

4. Refuse To Start In Cold Weather

Sometimes, below 10-degree celsius, your vehicle may not start. In decreased temperatures, the battery begins to lose its power. Besides, at low temperatures, the oil may become more vicious. This will cause fouling  in fuel plugs and interrupts sufficient fuel flow.

Solutions

• Check the plugs. If something is deposited inside them, clean it
• Properly charge the battery
• To avoid cold weather problems, you can use an insulator cover to cover the bike

5. Knocking Problem

This occurs mainly due to the pre-ignition of fuel in the cylinder. A defective spark plug may fail to ignite the fuel appropriately.  Also, damaged rods and rod bearings can be responsible for this.

Over time, the rod and rod bearings of the piston might get damaged. In this case, the piston will knock on the crankshaft wall. This will lead to a loud knocking noise from the engine.

Accordingly, if the engine is running with an inappropriate fuel grade or low fuel, it can also cause noise. Occasionally, an inappropriate air-fuel mixture ratio can also be responsible for these knocking noises. When the Harley code p0132 arises, it indicates the failure of the oxygen sensor.

In this case, the oxygen sensor will fail to maintain the suitable air-to-fuel mixture ratio. Hence, the uneven burning of fuel will result in knocking issues.

To understand what the knocking problem seems like, watch this YouTube video.

Solutions

• Repair or change the defective spark plug
• Check the spark plug, and if clogged with dirt, clean it
• Check the fuel level and refill it until an appropriate level
• Change the degraded oil and fill the tank with fresh high-grade oil
• Fix the faulty oxygen sensor

6. Excessive Vibration

Excessive wobbling of the vehicle may occur when there is a problem with the drive belt. Sometimes, the drive gets damaged or worn out with time, resulting in excessive engine vibration. Also, the worn-out stabilizer link falls to reduce the engine vibration.

Similarly, loose transmission mounting bolts, isolation mounts, and mounting bolts of the engine lead to excessive wobbling. Also, a faulty spark plug can cause misfires, resulting in the vehicle wobbling while stopping or running it fast.

Solutions

• Change the defective spark plug
• Fix or change the damaged and worn-out drive belt
• Check all the engine mounts and mounting bolts. If they are loosened, tighten them accurately

7. Hard Shifting

Hard shifting indicates the difficulty of changing gears while driving. If the shifter rod gets bent for some reason, the gear will be stuck. Hence, you won’t be able to move the gear further. Also, failure of the clutch system and wear in the shifter will cause hard shifting.

Again, if you use low-grade oil and the distribution of oil is improper, it may lead to shifting difficulty. Also, the bike’s chain can be too tight or too loose. The too-tight chain will render the sprockets, and you will encounter hard shifting.

Additionally, if the chain is loose, it will jump out of the gear and cause shifting failure.

Solutions

• Replace the bent or damaged shifter rod with a new one
• Use appropriate oil grade
• Readjust the mechanism of transmission shifting
• Adjust the tightness of the bike chain appropriately

8. Clutch Problems

Clutch problems lead to the complexity of handling the gear. Sometimes, you may also end up in a severe accident because of this issue. The leading cause of the clutch problem is the leaking of internal fluid.

The common cause of these leakages is the failure of gaskets. Another reason for facing clutch problems is the worn-out clutch disc. However, external pressure on the clutch pedal also leads to clutch issues.

Solutions

• Check all the fluid lines. If any leak is detected, seal it immediately
• Maintain safe pressure on the clutch pedal
• Strengthen the disc. Also, replace it with a new one if it is too old

FAQs

In this FAQs section, we will answer several familiar questions that people ask about Harley 114 Engine problems.

Conclusion

Some problems in the Harley 114 engine are minor, but some are too crucial to ignore. So, as you know about Harley 114 engine problems – issues and solutions, you should fix them without delay. If you follow those steps, you can fix them yourself, saving the extra labor costs.

Problems like engine overheating, knocking, clutch problems, and fluid leaking are crucial and can damage the engine for good. Rest are not urgent to fix, but we recommend not letting them linger.