Rear tire replacement
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10
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Rear tire replacement
Hi everyone! I'm new to the site and the forums, and I'm hoping someone out there can give me an answer on a rim and tire replacement issue.
I ride an '05 Low Rider, and recently had problems with the spoked rear rim. Had my dealership replace it with an alloy rim (can't see it anyway, since I've got large saddlebags...on the bike....). Got the bike back Friday, took it out for a little 200 mile spin that evening, and saw a little smoke coming from behind the ignition when I stopped at a store on the way home. My husband immediately took out his flashlight and looked around and under as best he could, but couldn't find the source. Smoke had stopped by that time, so we figured we'd just take it to the dealership in the morning. I was on my way there, stopped for gas, got off the bike and turned back to see 8 inch flames coming from under the seat. Got it put out with a fire extinguisher (and no help from the mini mart folks, mind you), and the fire department guys said the point of ignition was the battery cable being pinched between the seat and the frame.
Here's the question: is there any reason why the service department would have had to remove the seat and/or the rear fender to replace the tire and the rim? HD is of course saying there's no way it was them, but it just seems strange that I have the bike back from them for no more than 24 hours and the dang thing bursts into flames.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
I ride an '05 Low Rider, and recently had problems with the spoked rear rim. Had my dealership replace it with an alloy rim (can't see it anyway, since I've got large saddlebags...on the bike....). Got the bike back Friday, took it out for a little 200 mile spin that evening, and saw a little smoke coming from behind the ignition when I stopped at a store on the way home. My husband immediately took out his flashlight and looked around and under as best he could, but couldn't find the source. Smoke had stopped by that time, so we figured we'd just take it to the dealership in the morning. I was on my way there, stopped for gas, got off the bike and turned back to see 8 inch flames coming from under the seat. Got it put out with a fire extinguisher (and no help from the mini mart folks, mind you), and the fire department guys said the point of ignition was the battery cable being pinched between the seat and the frame.
Here's the question: is there any reason why the service department would have had to remove the seat and/or the rear fender to replace the tire and the rim? HD is of course saying there's no way it was them, but it just seems strange that I have the bike back from them for no more than 24 hours and the dang thing bursts into flames.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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RE: Rear tire replacement
no reason for them to remove but a lot of dealers pull battery cable when working on bike. Seems odd that all of a sudden cable moved. Did you have the battery out for any reason?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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RE: Rear tire replacement
ORIGINAL: dyna07custom
no reason for them to remove but a lot of dealers pull battery cable when working on bike. Seems odd that all of a sudden cable moved. Did you have the battery out for any reason?
no reason for them to remove but a lot of dealers pull battery cable when working on bike. Seems odd that all of a sudden cable moved. Did you have the battery out for any reason?
Not long after the last time I had service done, I found a bunch of marks on my swingarm where some sort of rotating tool scratched it. They wouldn't take ownership of it and I can't prove they did it. But I have no such tools that have been anywere near my bike and I doubt the gremins run around with pnuematic wrenches either. Just one of several reasons I won't go back there for service unless it's for warranty work.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10
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RE: Rear tire replacement
No, no estimate yet. Hopefully today the lead tech will get a look at it. And, yeah, I ahve a good relationship the with GM of the store: I've been their HOG chapter secretary for the past 2 years.
That's a very sweet ride you've got, by the way!
That's a very sweet ride you've got, by the way!
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 212
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RE: Rear tire replacement
I just hope your bike isn't trying to live up to your screen name byrnin rose.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
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RE: Rear tire replacement
Interesting...never thought of the strap down part... I don;t know what kind of luck I'll have negotiating with them, but it's certainly worth my time to have a little sit down with the store manager and lead tech. Don't know if they'll total the bike or what: all electrical under the seat is reduced to ash, half the battery melted, and the bottom of theseat is burned almost all the way throughto the seat surface.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
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RE: Rear tire replacement
I had my tire replaced not too long ago and at the dealership. They have a upstairs portion of the building with windows into the shop. I watched the whole time and never once did the tech take the seat off.