General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Harley "Custom" Paint Defect

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 07:28 AM
  #51  
1flhtk4me's Avatar
1flhtk4me
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Default

I would say in all fairness,HD has to see the paint and not make a decision from a photograph.Put yourself in there shoes.
As with any compony,you have to follow there policies for warranty claims.
I would say as long as you did not try to fix it somehow,they will make it right.
 
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 08:12 AM
  #52  
Not E'nuff Harley's Avatar
Not E'nuff Harley
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 54
From: Texas Panhandle
Default

Originally Posted by badinfluence63
+1+1+1+1 what he said... that and to defensively. They extended an opportunity to fix it, work with them and it'll work out. The world ain't out to get you and the MOCO does care about its customers. Take a deep damn breath and work with them to help you.
That's B.S.. I have issues with a randomly inaccurate speedo. Dealer can't figure it out(no surprise), and H-D first said they don't know what's causing it, then told me it's normal. Customer rep told me "you can replace it at your expense, or simply live with it". Glad I bought an '08 with x-tended warranty. Anyone know if I can cash in the x-tended and get my money back?
 
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 09:42 AM
  #53  
bagman1's Avatar
bagman1
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Default

Originally Posted by 1FLTRI4ME
I would say in all fairness,HD has to see the paint and not make a decision from a photograph.Put yourself in there shoes.
As with any compony,you have to follow there policies for warranty claims.
I would say as long as you did not try to fix it somehow,they will make it right.
+1. You and the dealer saw it first hand, the factory is not going to make a determination from a photo.
 
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 10:01 AM
  #54  
tmitchellof PG's Avatar
tmitchellof PG
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
Default

I'm glad I don't have to take my car back to Detroit every time there is a questionable problem. I guess the car manufacturer's give enough credit to their dealerships, to allow them to make a decision.
I would really be pi$$ed if it happened to me. You paid top dollar for the paint set, now they want you to be without your ride, for I'm sure several weeks, while they decide what to do about their screwup.
I wish you best of luck
Tom.
 
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 10:09 AM
  #55  
Unome's Avatar
Unome
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,423
Likes: 2
From: Ellenwood, GA - The Ghetto Part
Default

Originally Posted by 1Coastie
You should have put the name and location of the dealer in your thread. Chances are sombody who works at that dealership probably visits this site.
You are correct. I once posted about a bad experience my brother & I had at a dealer. A few weeks later, we were back in store and the sales & general manager came over and made comments about what I posted. They weren't asses about it but wanted to know what could be done to regain our business.

Originally Posted by Not E'nuff Harley
That's B.S.. I have issues with a randomly inaccurate speedo. Dealer can't figure it out(no surprise), and H-D first said they don't know what's causing it, then told me it's normal. Customer rep told me "you can replace it at your expense, or simply live with it". Glad I bought an '08 with x-tended warranty. Anyone know if I can cash in the x-tended and get my money back?
Yes, you can. But if you got the extended warranty to get a lower interest rate, that might be another story.

Originally Posted by bagman1
+1. You and the dealer saw it first hand, the factory is not going to make a determination from a photo.
Then the factory doesn't trust the dealer to make a determination that something is wrong and work with corporate on fixing the problem. That is screwed up.
 

Last edited by Unome; Nov 2, 2008 at 10:12 AM.
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 10:40 AM
  #56  
57springer57's Avatar
57springer57
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
From: state college pa.
Default

give them a chance to make it right and have them put the original tank back on so you can ride
 
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 12:19 PM
  #57  
DannyZ71's Avatar
DannyZ71
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Default

Another reason they may want to examine it is to find out WHO screwed it up. If it's under the clear, then obviously, the painter screwed it up. They'll want to know that for the future. They'll also want to see it to determine if it was damaged in shipping, or maybe something that was done to it by the dealership. Either way, they'll want to determine WHO to bill for the cost of the screw-up. If the dealer damaged it, they'll make the dealership fix it on their dime, not the MOCO's. If damaged in shipping, they'll have a discussion with the shipper about it. And if the painter damaged it, they'll make sure they don't get charged for doing another set.

It's all about the money, and someone will have to pay for it.
 
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 12:48 PM
  #58  
MidnitEvil's Avatar
MidnitEvil
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
Default

Originally Posted by JBaker421
Don't you think it's possible that someone in the paint shop wet sanded through the color down to primer when color sanding between coats? If it's under the clear coat, that would be my guess. That's easiest to do on a high spot like that, especially if the color is thin...

??
Tough to say without seeing it. I would think they probably don't sand the color after the graphics are shot (I don't - and don't recommend it to others).
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 05:56 PM
  #59  
Lockman's Avatar
Lockman
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 746
Likes: 1
From: Darlington, MD
Default

That's interesting, a paint "flaw" in the most obvious spot made out of the paint shop, out of the dealership and to the customer and nobody saw it! HHHMMMM! Guess theirs a lesson to be had. A brand new Harley swing arm came into my friends shop this week and it was powder coated over top of rust. The black powder coat is flaking off. Quality control isn't what it's cracked up to be.
 

Last edited by Lockman; Nov 2, 2008 at 06:01 PM.
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 06:42 PM
  #60  
harleydude68's Avatar
harleydude68
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 872
Likes: 1
From: Uxbridge, Ma
Default

Winter is soon to be upon us - Give it to the dealer and let them send it in. You know it's not your fault. HD will make it right while your bike is in the dealer (free storage I might add) get the bike in the spring and ride on!! Remember the song "Don't worry - be happy" - Cooperate with them man - That's my advice.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:13 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE