Would you state the Dealership from which you made the purchase?

 

It's amazing to me how my original question got completely lost while a handful of folks, who can't possibly accept that HD could ever make an error, were busy trying to cover a mystical grenade. You've got to appreciate the loyalty, but unquestioning, blind loyalty is reserved for my wife, my dog, and maybe my favorite bird gun.

We bought a defective bike (luck of the draw), the Lemon law is clear in our state and HD was absolutely going to be getting this one back. My inquiry was simply trying to feel the group out regarding prior dealings with the factory-supplied mouthpiece in an effort to make my own decision on whether to waste more time jacking-around with this person, or go direct to arbitration.

Some of the unrelated responses were valid, some comical, I'll attempt to respond to a few of them:

The original dealer is irrelevant as it was purchased there (Seattle HD-Lynnwood) but it was never serviced there, they didn't build it, and I think they've changed hands again since purchase.
As previously stated, the servicing dealer has been Sound HD in Smokey Point, WA and they have bent over backwards trying to fix this bike. The word is that the bike will be getting a whole new power plant dropped in it (apparently the bad one is going back to the mother-ship for forensic tear-down/analysis) and frankly if you're looking for well cared for UC Limited with 15k and a new motor, I'd buy it. I suspect it'll even have fresh rubber on the back as HD drug this on for months and I wasn't about to replace a tire when I knew the bike was going back.

Seriously? Are you delusional? I came looking for a little insight on dealing with HD Corp., not seeking help, sympathy and certainly not validation from anyone. There's a file laying here on my desk, about an inch thick full of Service Orders, letters/emails, phone logs. The facts of the whole ordeal are no secret, but again no one was seeking validation from anyone here. Right now there's a new 2012 FLHTK sitting in my garage where a steaming pile used to be parked, that is all I needed or wanted. Rode 90 miles on Saturday and there's no question the lemon bike definitely had something wrong from day one as it never ran as smooth/powerful as this one. If anyone needs "proof" of something that was never anyone's business to begin with, that's just going to be a problem for them. Only them.

Correct! There is something wrong here and it's called "reading comprehension". Another guy who missed the question entirely, wasn't bitching about anything outside of cust. svc.. Never asked anyone for help in diagnosis or mechanical advice, simply stating the facts. And the dealer was ABSOLUTELY cooperating, they have zero fault in the mess.

There were a couple folks that seemed to want to link a forum member's credibility or honesty with their post count? First of all, I get my motorcycling jollies and satisfaction from the number of sticky, fully worn-out tires piling-up behind the garage, not the sticky, pile of worn-out keyboards generated by yacking about something until I generate a number that gives me an artificial expertise or authority on anything. Secondly, that condescending, "we'll decide who's in the club" BS attitude is a good reason that lots of HD owners can't really get interested in being part of the "Harley Family". We've got our own F'd-up families. Most of whom we love, and then there's that occasional jack-hole BIL that everyone prays won't show-up at Christmas. You know the one, thinks he's the "plant supervisor" but this is only because he has the biggest collection of keys on his belt and no one has the heart to disclose the reality to him.

Anyway, to those that are truly interested gear-head types... The problem with the bike never has been diagnosed/solved. The original symptom was an intermittent pinging sort of a noise, actually sounded like BB's rattling around in a coffee can (there was a poster on this site a few days ago reporting the exact same condition) and the first few times it sounded like fresh chip-seal was being thrown up into the front fender except the road was dry, clean asphalt with zero gravel or debris.

The noise was triggered only on days of 70+* ambient temps. and pulling a grade in 5th-6th gear at about 3,000rpm would allow anyone to hear the noise. It got progressively worse and in the latter months was accompanied by a groaning noise in 6th gear, which soon was being heard in 5th, then 4th, and finally the damn thing just got parked until the final resolution. Towards the end a significant amount of oil was burbling out of the air cleaner and all over the side of the bike/bags/rider. I believe this was a product of a crazy amount of heat being generated by whatever was going on inside the powerplant.

The interesting thing is that everyone was chasing a fuel issue at first and we even got sold Stage 1, SERT, octane boost.... Finally dealer tears into motor and finds cylinders out of spec and unusual wear on rockers/lifters so both cylinders/pistons/rockers etc... get replaced. Noise remains. Second time they find loose valve-guides in heads, so they get replaced. No change. There isn't too much that wasn't replaced in the upper end of the engine, and the fact that gears started making noises would suggest primary/trans. is where this noise has been coming from all along. It's a little crazy that these other engine defects were found, but obviously no relation. The bike had a few other small problems from day one, but the funniest was when the tech discovered that the little keeper/plate/bracket on the sidestand that keeps the stand from folding-up was installed upside down even though it is clearly marked on the part. F'n priceless.

Everybody have a great day.

 

H-D didn't foresee the need for improved customer service when they started marketing their bikes to yuppies. That is, the types of people that whine, bitch and moan about every little thing. They were used to real bikers who usually wrenched on the bikes themselves or had a local Indy shop that did a job worth paying for do it. It also didn't help that they seemed to have cheaped out on some of the parts they use now days. And combine that with the increasing use of technology and you have a formula for increased problems and low customer satisfaction.

 

jerkedaround Sounds like you truly got a lemon! What are you going to replace this bike with?

 

my 2011 UC had lifter problems twice. at 13,700 miles. the dealer did everything he could to fix it to no avail. they shipped a new motor. and in 4 days i had my bike back. of course it had been in for two weeks prior to this. but they didnt mess around. havnt had a problem since. the service advisor did tell me that part of my problem may have been caused by amsoil. i justed laughed at him... but just to be on the safe side i now run Mobil one. hope your nightmare gets settled quickly. Mike

 

Well I guess all's well that ends well. Glad you got it resolved, and had the strength and patience to put up with all that because that can wear on you.

I'm not looking at the same amount of $$$ here, but at this time I'm on the losing end of a remote start issue on my Ford Fusion. Starts only from 10 feet away. Dealer tells me "we say it starts from UP TO 1000' away". Want to take over the fight for me?

 

Thanks for the detailed follow up. Very uncommon, and as such, folks around here get skeptical when a new guy comes here and posts about a Moco problem. But, don't let a few knuckleheads scare you off of a pretty good resource. Lots of good folks here.

I'm glad the Moco finally got (or was forced to get) a new bike to you. I hope you enjoy many trouble free miles on the new one.

PS - stick around and let us know how you like the new bike. Maybe change out that user name

 

Still not one bit of proof....

Good thing that we all know from personal experience that no brand new member would ever sign on to this forum and tell us terrible tales about HDs that were not 100% true.

Oh, and if you truly thought it wasn't anyone's business then why did you post it on a public forum?

 

To answer the OP's question, yes I've gotten service out of Harley-Davidson, but it took some arm twisting on the part of the dealer to get it.

Back in '01 I had to get the engine rebuilt as a consequence of the lifter failure four years previously. I went with the HD engine remanufacturing program, and at the same time, had the dealer go throught the rest of the bike (belt, primary chain, steering head bearings and a bunch of other wear items).

The new engine turned out to be a piece of junk. It was quiet as a mouse as far as mechanical noise, but it overheated from day one, developed no power and Satan himself couldn't light a big enough fire to get it to start on a cool morning. Then, with 6,000 miles on it, it threw a rod bearing. To this day, I believe the pistons were too tight in the bores. It was still under the warranty.

The dealer and Harley argued back and forth for two weeks as to who was responsible to fix it. The dealer stood their ground, and Harley took it back. One week later, the engine came back with no explanation, but new cylinders, heads and all parts from the cases up! Didn't cost me a dime. Harley paid for the engine, the shipping and all labor to remove and install it.

I'm still riding the bike and that engine.

 

Maybe he just waited until he had something to say. I for one am glad to read some of the post relating to the Lemon Law. Fortunately I don't have any problems with my bike at the moment. But if sometime down the road I have issues that could fall under the Lemon Law protection, I now have a little better understanding. Thanks OP for your post.