Baaaaad vibes
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Update:
I just spoke to my local service dept. Here is their diagnosis.
Vibes = bad front tire. I have 15k miles on it as it's the original tire. He also stated there was a hole in the tread that looked like someone took a leather punch to it. He said it's almost perfect in shape. Had I seen that, I would have swapped a new tire on in a heartbeat. I knew the tire was getting to a point of replacement, just didn't figure it would be today. At least I'll be able to ride to the Smokeout X on Saturday. I love that rally more than anything (well, as far as rallies go) and hate to miss it. I did ask them to inspect the front isolator and the tech stated it didn't look bad, as he compared it to 3 other bikes of the same year as mine and all looked to be in similar condition. I don't necessarily agree with that diagnosis because it could mean all three are on the vurge of bad. I asked if I could replace it under warranty and he said not without it being the direct cause of a problem.
Surging/sporadic idle/high idle: Water in the pcIII connector causing it to occassionally short out. Resolution: he (tech) packed it with dialectric grease and then sealed it in a baggie with a ziptie. I had a V8 moment when he told me because I have read threads upon threads on HDF about that and it never dawned on me to check. Bad Vic.....
I gave them the go ahead to replace the tire and will pick the bike up tomorrow on my way home from Columbia. Hope this helps someone that might experience this same issue.
I'm beginning to differentiate the depts at Thunder Tower HD. I'm gaining respect for the service dept but the salesmen and parts dept have a long way to go. I go there out of necessity, and not desire.
I just spoke to my local service dept. Here is their diagnosis.
Vibes = bad front tire. I have 15k miles on it as it's the original tire. He also stated there was a hole in the tread that looked like someone took a leather punch to it. He said it's almost perfect in shape. Had I seen that, I would have swapped a new tire on in a heartbeat. I knew the tire was getting to a point of replacement, just didn't figure it would be today. At least I'll be able to ride to the Smokeout X on Saturday. I love that rally more than anything (well, as far as rallies go) and hate to miss it. I did ask them to inspect the front isolator and the tech stated it didn't look bad, as he compared it to 3 other bikes of the same year as mine and all looked to be in similar condition. I don't necessarily agree with that diagnosis because it could mean all three are on the vurge of bad. I asked if I could replace it under warranty and he said not without it being the direct cause of a problem.
Surging/sporadic idle/high idle: Water in the pcIII connector causing it to occassionally short out. Resolution: he (tech) packed it with dialectric grease and then sealed it in a baggie with a ziptie. I had a V8 moment when he told me because I have read threads upon threads on HDF about that and it never dawned on me to check. Bad Vic.....
I gave them the go ahead to replace the tire and will pick the bike up tomorrow on my way home from Columbia. Hope this helps someone that might experience this same issue.
I'm beginning to differentiate the depts at Thunder Tower HD. I'm gaining respect for the service dept but the salesmen and parts dept have a long way to go. I go there out of necessity, and not desire.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 894
Likes: 4
From: Newberg OR
Outstanding! Glad you're not looking at some expensive motor work. Hope she smooths out with the new tire.
As for the front motor mount, after a lot of round and round with two dealers I finally got mine swapped out under warranty. One dealer insisted that it was normal for the front motor mount to rest (and rub) on the top of the isolator. In hindsight, I would have saved myself some agony by just forking over the 90 bucks and changed it my self.
As for the front motor mount, after a lot of round and round with two dealers I finally got mine swapped out under warranty. One dealer insisted that it was normal for the front motor mount to rest (and rub) on the top of the isolator. In hindsight, I would have saved myself some agony by just forking over the 90 bucks and changed it my self.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
They do seem to wear out around 20k, don't they? I remember a few times I've glanced at it, I noticed rubber squishing out the sides. Don't quote me on it as it was a quick glance and not a close visual inspection.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 138
From: here
Just Curious
I've been suspecting for a while that my front motor mount is bad too.
Was at the dealers yesterday, asked and was quoted $54.00 for a new front isolator for my 09 FXDF.
Question: When you get warranty work done, do they charge for the labor or is that covered under the warranty? I was told that warranty parts were free but labor might be charged. Never was clear on when and when not so went back once for the 1K and not since.
Given $54 bucks to do the work myself, there is no question, just curious if when the dealer does it are you getting jacked for the laobr.
Thanks,
Tom
Was at the dealers yesterday, asked and was quoted $54.00 for a new front isolator for my 09 FXDF.
Question: When you get warranty work done, do they charge for the labor or is that covered under the warranty? I was told that warranty parts were free but labor might be charged. Never was clear on when and when not so went back once for the 1K and not since.
Given $54 bucks to do the work myself, there is no question, just curious if when the dealer does it are you getting jacked for the laobr.
Thanks,
Tom
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 894
Likes: 4
From: Newberg OR
Double check your quote. A front Isolator (47583-90b) at Zanotti, which is usually 20% cheaper than most dealers is $71.93. A warranty repair should include labor.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 11
From: PacNW; Beacon of Conservatism in a Sea of Liberals.......AZ Snowbird; Just another Conservative
Glad you got her sorted out, Vic. Minimal downtime, too. Front tire causing all the bad vibes?...who'd'a thunk it!?!? My front was nearly gone by 10K...you done good! My younger bro has 18K on his front ('04 Wide), and I keep telling him another 100-mi. and he'll be able to see the air thru the "tread". You going with another Dunnie or trying a different flavor thise time?
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Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
Patrick, I wanted an ME880 on the front but A) I would have been down for about 3 days waiting on the tire to come in and B) the dealer would have forced me to add the matching rear. I don't have that kind of cash on hand, well, not for that anyway.
They had the dunlop in stock which allows me to keep my Saturday appointment with a few forum members and The Smokeout X chopper rally in NC.
They had the dunlop in stock which allows me to keep my Saturday appointment with a few forum members and The Smokeout X chopper rally in NC.
