I bought a 2014 road king at a dealer about 4 hours from home last winter. i put about 1000 miles on it over the winter. On Memorial Day weekend, I was on the way to the Viet Nam memorial and I noticed unusual vibration. I checked the bike over on the road, in D.C., and again when I got home, but couldn't find any source. The next day I noticed primary fluid leaking. I trailered the bike and took it to a dealer closer to home. The dealer took the bike in and called yesterday to tell me that I needed a new primary, because a battery bolt had worn a hole in it. I'm not sure how this could happen, but that was what they said - they also told me that it would not be covered under any warranty and it would run about $400 for fixing it. Wondering if I have any recourse here. I get that it isn't necessarily a "defective part" but it also isn't "wear and tear" or "abuse"! This is my first HD and my first service experience with a dealer. Has anyone seen this kind of damage done by a bolt on an HD before? Is it even possible? Is there anything else I can do besides pay up?

 

First thing you should do is take a trip to the dealership and have a look at it. Have them show and explain how it happened.

 

AND take a few pics and show us EXACTLY what you are talking about! Seems very strange but its a Harley and STRANGE things do happen!!!

 

IMO, unless you touched it, it should be covered. To refuse warranty means you did something to cause it. Maybe try another dealer

 

Something failed to allow the battery bolt to make contact. If you didn't touch it I would think it would fall under warranty. If you have a part that breaks and damages something else I have had that covered On a Triumph I have.

 

Is the bike used? Did the prior owner make any mods that would have caused this?
This the only reason that I can think of to deny the repair, however if you just recently bought it used from the dealer they should fix it.

 

I would try another dealer, maybe call the selling dealer and see if they will help you out.

 

What battery bolt and how in the heck did it chew through the primary? The only bolts in a battery are on the terminal. I would like to see that.

 

something smells fishy here

 

There's a breakdown in communication somewhere here. "Battery bolt wore a hole in primary" doesn't make sense. Neither does getting a "new primary" for $400.