Just Venting(Long Post)
Just Venting(Long Post)
I have to vent somewhere. Story starts a week ago. I went out to start my brand new 2011 Wide glide and I got was a clicking noise. First assumption was the battery was bad and dead. I put my charger on it and the bike fired right up. Well I took it to my dealer that I bought it from explained to them what it was doing. asked them to check the battery and look for any loose connections. They called me and said I was ready. Told me they check everything and everything checked out ok. The service manager told me to make sure I was getting the Ignition switch completely to the off position that I was not getting it locked in. I wasn't sold on this theory.
Fast Forward a week and half later. I am on a charity hospice ride about 200 miles from home. At one stop the bike reverted back to the clicking noise then would fire right back up did it twice on me during the ride. Well the ride was over was headed home with my buddies and we ran into a storm. We pulled into a gas station to get our rain gear on. Went to start the wide glide and she starting clicking but this time instead of starting the whole electrical system died. No power what so ever.
Ended up calling roadside and had the bike towed to the closest HD Dealer. Luckily their service department was open on Sundays. I got up on Sunday and had them take a look at it. Explained that I had it at my local dealer less than a week ago for the issues with the clicking and then she would start. After they look at it they found a Loose connection on top of the starter right behind the battery box.
Right now I just want to punch the guy who said they found nothing wrong with the electrical and found no loose connections.
Ok I'm done Venting now.
Fast Forward a week and half later. I am on a charity hospice ride about 200 miles from home. At one stop the bike reverted back to the clicking noise then would fire right back up did it twice on me during the ride. Well the ride was over was headed home with my buddies and we ran into a storm. We pulled into a gas station to get our rain gear on. Went to start the wide glide and she starting clicking but this time instead of starting the whole electrical system died. No power what so ever.
Ended up calling roadside and had the bike towed to the closest HD Dealer. Luckily their service department was open on Sundays. I got up on Sunday and had them take a look at it. Explained that I had it at my local dealer less than a week ago for the issues with the clicking and then she would start. After they look at it they found a Loose connection on top of the starter right behind the battery box.
Right now I just want to punch the guy who said they found nothing wrong with the electrical and found no loose connections.
Ok I'm done Venting now.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I know how frustrating something like that can be, especially on something that is new. Just chalk it up to experience and find a different dealer to take it to from now on. Or, if there isn't another one close to you, find a good indy to work on it after the warranty is up.
Oh, and buy a service manual.
Oh, and buy a service manual.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,427
Likes: 2
From: Smack Dab in the Middle of Louisiana
Not sticking up for anybody................Although, sometimes this stuff happens, its just that it bothers us real bad when it happens to us as individuals.
Had it happen to me up in Dallas right after my bike had its 1000 mile service last year, so far no problems since, other than a blown ECM fuse, the bike now has 20,000 plus happy miles on it
Had it happen to me up in Dallas right after my bike had its 1000 mile service last year, so far no problems since, other than a blown ECM fuse, the bike now has 20,000 plus happy miles on it
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels, Texas
I would be real pissed off too. It was a basic connection issue that they obviously didn't even check. No excuse for something that simple. Not like he was at a wal mart lube center.....
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 426
Likes: 2
From: Omaha,NE
For every good dealer there seems to be 2-3 "not so good" ones. At least from my experience so far.
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
I would take the receipt and qoute from the "Sunday" dealership and hand a copy over to the original dealership and ask for my money back in full for the check up as they OBVISOUSLY charged you( guessing they charged you) for a lack of correct service. Then report them to headquaters.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,278
Likes: 1,138
From: southeast PA
It sure seems like the majority of these intermittent problems end up being loose battery cables. Last week I saw a rider with a Sporty on the side of the road, he had the same kind of complaint. It was an easy fix and off he went.