So i roll into my local HD dealer..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
The difference from 07 to 08.....isn't 08 the first year for the tear drop air cleaner? I thought the backing plate for the tear drop SE cleaner was different but it's my understanding you can interchange them.
When you work in a parts department that probably sells more bolt on accessories than replacement parts you should get a pretty good feel for what will and what will not interchange. A good parts person will have the knowledge the rest should be flipping burgers.
When you work in a parts department that probably sells more bolt on accessories than replacement parts you should get a pretty good feel for what will and what will not interchange. A good parts person will have the knowledge the rest should be flipping burgers.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 3
From: Pennslytucky
if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. if employees were paid what they are worth, the quality of workmanship would be excellent. not all would agree because there are a lot of dedicated individuals working at harley dealerships but many times their work goes unnoticed by management who only have their eye on the bottom line. and tons of people getting paid way more than their work deserves too. sad state of affairs indeed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. if employees were paid what they are worth, the quality of workmanship would be excellent. not all would agree because there are a lot of dedicated individuals working at harley dealerships but many times their work goes unnoticed by management who only have their eye on the bottom line. and tons of people getting paid way more than their work deserves too. sad state of affairs indeed.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,863
Likes: 21
From: Kennewick, WA
Having been in parts for the past....oh....26 years I can only tell you what I have experience in my career. Someone who gives a **** WILL know more than just the basics. Problem is, most parts people are there just for a paycheck.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 3
From: Pennslytucky
ya, problem is finding the ones that know their ****. sounds like this guy he talked to was not that informed or knowledgeable.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,492
Likes: 10
1) The weight difference in the comp. would have a negligible effect on mileage. 4 lbs is nothing.
2) The ECM controls a lot of new stuff including the speedo, so again, he was correct.
3)The air cleaners did change in 2010, on the 103", to a larger throttle body so there are SOME fitment issues but some are OK I'm sure.
Sounds kinda like you were on the offensive side and found just the treatment you asked for.
Mark
2) The ECM controls a lot of new stuff including the speedo, so again, he was correct.
3)The air cleaners did change in 2010, on the 103", to a larger throttle body so there are SOME fitment issues but some are OK I'm sure.
Sounds kinda like you were on the offensive side and found just the treatment you asked for.
Mark
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 651
Likes: 12
From: Broomfield, Colorado
It is kind of a sad state of affairs that usually I know more about what I'm buying than the parts people do. I do all of the research myself and just tell the parts guys the part numbers I'm looking for. I can read the details in the parts catalog.
I have no expectations of the parts folks other than to pull the stuff off the shelf from behind the counter and ring up the sale. I'm seldom disappointed.
Not all the parts people are like this around here, but most are.
Cheers,
Paul in Colorado
I have no expectations of the parts folks other than to pull the stuff off the shelf from behind the counter and ring up the sale. I'm seldom disappointed.
Not all the parts people are like this around here, but most are.
Cheers,
Paul in Colorado
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 826
From: Toronto Canada
kind of reminds me of a guy i worked with many years ago who when asked a question would either give a very detailed answer or say 'I can't think of any reason that won't work'
took me a while to figure out the second answer meant he didn't have a clue and wasn't going to check into it for you
took me a while to figure out the second answer meant he didn't have a clue and wasn't going to check into it for you
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Canada
a lot of the younger guys who are mechanics do not seem to know a lot about the bikes. The plug them into the computers and it tells them whats wrong and thats about it. Thats why I dont go to harley for anything for the bike I find the old geezers who work out of there garage who have been building bikes since the stone age, they are the ones who can tell you the difference for just about anything bike related
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I have a TC96B and a TC96 bike. Both yield the same mileage. Have you looked at the counter balancer in The Softail engine? The weight of the equipment is considerably more than the added weight of the SE compensator. The chain, two counter balancer eccentrics and the chain tensioner have a dramatic impact compared to the little old compensator. They soak up a few tenths of a hp and about 1 ft. lb of torque. That has not shown to be enough to impact mpg. EPA ratings on both engines are identical. Also given that the diameter of the compensator is not far out from the center of the crank , it just does not have any impact at all.
You have some thing else going on. Such as you are riding more aggressive with your wonderful new compensator or you started using E10.
Please tell me just what brand motorcycle dealer has a parts department that is any different? I have had Yamaha's. Honda's, Suzuki's and Kawasaki's. All were no different. Even the parts guys at any car dealer are the same.
The independent auto parts stores are the most likely to have much more knowledgeable counter staff. Their survival is more dependent on it than a franchised dealer where much of the parts are used by the dealership.
As you grow up and become more experienced and knowledgeable you will learn this.
You have some thing else going on. Such as you are riding more aggressive with your wonderful new compensator or you started using E10.
Please tell me just what brand motorcycle dealer has a parts department that is any different? I have had Yamaha's. Honda's, Suzuki's and Kawasaki's. All were no different. Even the parts guys at any car dealer are the same.
The independent auto parts stores are the most likely to have much more knowledgeable counter staff. Their survival is more dependent on it than a franchised dealer where much of the parts are used by the dealership.
As you grow up and become more experienced and knowledgeable you will learn this.
Last edited by lh4x4; Apr 5, 2012 at 12:00 AM.