Never Again
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Alberta Canada
Your first mistake was buying into the myth that servicing your own bike will affect your warranty. Keep receipts for oil and filters and document the service. I make copies of the check-off sheet from the Service Manual and use one for each service. Never, ever had a problem.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,109
Likes: 456
From: The Great Midwest
Add me to the list of "never again". I will not be going back to my dealer for service. It's been in three times, and I've had issues on two of those visits. I had also paid for a "VIP" service plan on the front end. I'm not sure where the HD dealerships think they are above the intellectual level of the rest of us, but never again will I be ripped off by my local dealer.
Do the basic service yourself, keep receipts, find a local bike shop that does good work and take your business there. I love my Street Glide, but all of these dealerships are paying on commission basis, so they are all about the coin now.
It's sad that HD is trending in this direction.
Do the basic service yourself, keep receipts, find a local bike shop that does good work and take your business there. I love my Street Glide, but all of these dealerships are paying on commission basis, so they are all about the coin now.
It's sad that HD is trending in this direction.
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Alberta Canada
Ok, so I finally had a chance to go back to the dealer, and talk the service manager. What a complete and total mental midget! After finding the engine oil drain plug loose, I checked over the other plugs. Primary was finger tight! I brought these issues up with him,asking if they torque to 14-21 ft lbs. He told me they don't torque the drain plugs, and that the plugs would tighten when it warmed up! WTF! I'am happy my wife was with me, I had to mind my manners. I came close to losing it with this sharp as a marble idiot. He said they would make it right by giving me a free service, I said they would NEVER touch my bike again! Like other have said, do your own service if you can. It really is a simple procedure, and you then know it has been done right. Found loose heat shield clamps also, so basically a four hundred dollar oil change done wrong. Pathetic.
These stories are exactly why I do my own. When they do a warranty item or recall, I am specific that I do NOT want them to wash my bike.
I've said it many times here... most dealerships have a good mechanic, a FEW dealerships have a GREAT mechanic.
He's not the one doing routine services... the guy changing your oil is the same idiot that rubs a gritty rag on it while washing it.
I've proven again and again "they" don't do what they're supposed to, from loose motor mounts to the simple act of not greasing the head bearings (pre-14)... and there was a zert there to make it simple.
I don't keep reciepts, they actually prove nothing. Your signature on a spreadsheet is just as good as your signature on a receipt. I'm not saying don't keep them, it can't hurt anything.
I have a spreadsheet I made directly from the Service Manual, except I change all 3 every 5k, which will stand up in court as well as anything.
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Alberta Canada
Me too.
I got a chuckle out of that as well
These stories are exactly why I do my own. When they do a warranty item or recall, I am specific that I do NOT want them to wash my bike.
I've said it many times here... most dealerships have a good mechanic, a FEW dealerships have a GREAT mechanic.
He's not the one doing routine services... the guy changing your oil is the same idiot that rubs a gritty rag on it while washing it.
I've proven again and again "they" don't do what they're supposed to, from loose motor mounts to the simple act of not greasing the head bearings (pre-14)... and there was a zert there to make it simple.
I don't keep reciepts, they actually prove nothing. Your signature on a spreadsheet is just as good as your signature on a receipt. I'm not saying don't keep them, it can't hurt anything.
I have a spreadsheet I made directly from the Service Manual, except I change all 3 every 5k, which will stand up in court as well as anything.
I got a chuckle out of that as well
These stories are exactly why I do my own. When they do a warranty item or recall, I am specific that I do NOT want them to wash my bike.
I've said it many times here... most dealerships have a good mechanic, a FEW dealerships have a GREAT mechanic.
He's not the one doing routine services... the guy changing your oil is the same idiot that rubs a gritty rag on it while washing it.
I've proven again and again "they" don't do what they're supposed to, from loose motor mounts to the simple act of not greasing the head bearings (pre-14)... and there was a zert there to make it simple.
I don't keep reciepts, they actually prove nothing. Your signature on a spreadsheet is just as good as your signature on a receipt. I'm not saying don't keep them, it can't hurt anything.
I have a spreadsheet I made directly from the Service Manual, except I change all 3 every 5k, which will stand up in court as well as anything.
I want that in US dollars, none of those loonies and toonies....
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Alberta Canada
Lol. Man, the way the oil patch is here, I'm lucky to still be working. I'am in the aviation side, flying into remote camps for operation of thermal sag dee plants. They shut down there drilling program in January, lots of folk without jobs.
No Loonies or toonies, but thanks a million!
No Loonies or toonies, but thanks a million!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
Your first mistake was buying into the myth that servicing your own bike will affect your warranty. Keep receipts for oil and filters and document the service. I make copies of the check-off sheet from the Service Manual and use one for each service. Never, ever had a problem.
I do not understand the thought behind having the dealer do the first service- all they'll do (If your LUCKY) is change the oil in the three holes, the oil filter, and if they're following the maintenance schedule, do the torque checks, belt tension check, and the other listed tasks. The lucky part is that they don't mess something up, and that they actually do all the stuff they are supposed to. Sometimes I wonder how thorough they are or is it just a really overpriced oil change? Suppose it varies by dealership.
They are not going to give the bike a comprehensive physical looking for warranty items to fix, it's the owners responsibility to report problems as the occur for consideration under warranty. Nothing magical about the first service.