2018 Harley-Davidson Flstb

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10173477SERVICE BULLETIN M1510: MILWAUKEE-EIGHT ENGINE - NEW OIL FILTER. REVISION. PURPOSE: To inform dealers of an improved oil filter for the Milwaukee-Eight (MKE-8) engine. The new oil filter uses the same synthetic 5-micron media as the current filter, however, the new oil filter effective media surface area was increased by 25%. The increased media supports the higher oil flow rate of MKE-8 engines. Fitment, clearance and performance testing has only been performed on MKE-8 vehicles. All Twin Cam vehicles continue to use the current oil filter.
• 10173473SERVICE BULLETIN M1514: 2020 SOFTAIL - CLUTCH RAMP RUNNING CHANGE. PURPOSE: To inform dealers of a running change to the inner and outer ramp of the clutch actuation system in all 2020 Softails built on and after March 15, 2020. Changing to the new inner and outer ramp from the previous design is not a warrantable event. Motorcycles Affected: 2018-2020 Softail - Built before March 15, 2020.
• 10173463SERVICE BULLETIN M1510: MILWAUKEE-EIGHT ENGINE - NEW OIL FILTER. REVISION. PURPOSE: To inform dealers of an improved oil filter for the Milwaukee-Eight (MKE-8) engine. The new oil filter uses the same synthetic 5-micron media as the current filter, however, the new oil filter effective media surface area was increased by 25%. The increased media supports the higher oil flow rate of MKE-8 engines. Fitment, clearance and performance testing has only been performed on MKE-8 vehicles. All Twin Cam vehicles continue to use the current oil filter.
• 10158168SERVICE BULLETIN M1450: MILWAUKEE-EIGHT EQUIPPED VEHICLES - LOSS OF POWER OR HIGH ENGINE BRAKING. REVISION. Purpose: 2017 - 2019 model motorcycles equipped with a Milwaukee-Eight? engine can experience a condition known as sumping during extended periods at high rpm or under heavy engine load. Sumping is when an excessive amount of oil is suspended in the engine crankcase and the flywheel must travel through the oil, resulting in loss of power or a high degree of engine braking and potential engine component damage with extended use under these conditions. This bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for determining if sumping is occurring.
• 10139401SERVICE CALL TASK CT2018-005. During a fender assembly process some rear fenders may have been under torqued at the plant. Follow the steps in call task to repair MY2018 Softail Rear Fender Fasteners. Torque 28-37 Nm (21-27 ft-lbs.) as instructed in the service manual.
• 10139400SERVICE BULLETIN M1463: MILWAUKEE-EIGHT - ROCKER COVER GASKET INVENTORY PURGE AND REPLACE. Purpose: To inform dealers that previous rocker cover gasket design on Milwaukee-Eight? are prone to varying degrees of oil leaks. These leaks may occur on certain vehicles with different combinations of painted, polished and chrome parts. Purge inventory of old gaskets and replace with new gasket which has enhanced sealing features.
• 10139399TECH ARTICLE TA0023: TA0023: Crankshaft Rod Bearing. Purpose: Technicians have been falsely identifying connecting rod bearings as failed due to a perception of resistance as the rods are rotated. The clearance of the Twin Cam and Milwaukee-Eight crank pin bearings are maintained to a very tight range. This optimizes performance and maintains low mechanical noise in operation. The connecting rod bore can also distort slightly in operation due to stress relaxation. As a result, bearing clearance decreases due to the contact zone broadening and the load being distributed over more rollers. The combination of a bore being slightly out of round and reduced bearing clearance can result in varying degrees of resistance through the range of motion. Axial clearance is also tightly controlled for proper alignment. For these reasons, zones of resistance can be found when the connecting rods are rotated by hand through their range of motion. Resistance during rod motion, by itself, is not an indication of a performance or durability concern.
• 10125153SERVICE BULLETIN M1450: MILWAUKEE-EIGHT EQUIPPED VEHICLES - LOSS OF POWER OR HIGH ENGINE BRAKING. Purpose: 2017 and 2018 model motorcycles equipped with a Milwaukee-Eight engine can experience a condition known as sumping during extended periods at high rpm or under heavy engine load. This bulletin provides the diagnostic procedure for determining if sumping is occurring.
• 10125151TECH TIP TT462: TEAR-AWAY CABLE STRAP. Issue Description: Damage has occurred on some hand grips or brake levers when using side cutters to cut the cable strap that holds the keys in place. Reason for Tech Tip - The assembly plants are trying a new tear-away cable strap.