Front end whacked
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 45
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From: New Mexico
Front end whacked
I took my 2008 Softail Deluxe in for 70,000 mi checkup/maintenance to local Santa Fe NM Harley Davidson dealer and when I rode away at first turn I felt I had to struggle to make the turn. I've had it in for regular 5k, 10k, 20k etc. maintenance and never had this problem when riding away. I've ridden a couple more times and feel a wobble at around 25-35 mph. When I make a turn it's like fighting against a gyroscope forcing you to stay up. It feels really bad. I called the shop today about it and it sounds like they are hesitant to fix it no charge. I told them this was after I got it back...that if it was doing it before I came in I would have mentioned it to get it fixed. Anyways, what specific is it do you think they tightened wrong?
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Texas, USA
I took my 2008 Softail Deluxe in for 70,000 mi checkup/maintenance to local Santa Fe NM Harley Davidson dealer and when I rode away at first turn I felt I had to struggle to make the turn. I've had it in for regular 5k, 10k, 20k etc. maintenance and never had this problem when riding away. I've ridden a couple more times and feel a wobble at around 25-35 mph. When I make a turn it's like fighting against a gyroscope forcing you to stay up. It feels really bad. I called the shop today about it and it sounds like they are hesitant to fix it no charge. I told them this was after I got it back...that if it was doing it before I came in I would have mentioned it to get it fixed. Anyways, what specific is it do you think they tightened wrong?
It was at that point you should have turned around and went back to the dealer.
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 45
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From: New Mexico
Yes they did. Something tightened to tight was what I suspected. They called me back and asked me to bring it in to check it out. Nice shop actually...I'm taking it in this morning. Thanks for the lead.
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: New Mexico
Outrageously simple!!! I dropped it off mid-day and a couple of hours later the HD shop called me and gave me the result. They rolled the bike in to the technician and he instantly noticed the front tire low on AIR! It only had 26 lbs and should have 40 lbs he said. OMG, I park at home in gravel and park at work on gravel...never noticed! After a 70k mile maintenance I didn't even ask how it was left with that low of air pressure...or mention how dumb I felt for not noticing. We had a good laugh, fist bumps and expressed appreciations for patience and good humor. Aired up, It rolls like a brand new roller skate! They are a great shop! Thanks forum for the few replies...I'll start with checking the front tire air pressure next time anything goes bad on the bike. Oil drips...check the front tire air pressure. Rear end squeak...check the front tire air pressure......
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Joined: May 2010
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Remember a few years ago had the same problem, really hard to make a tight right turn. Straight away thought it was a steering problem, turned out to be a slow puncture just made it home before it went completely flat.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: San Diego, CA
Outrageously simple!!! I dropped it off mid-day and a couple of hours later the HD shop called me and gave me the result. They rolled the bike in to the technician and he instantly noticed the front tire low on AIR! It only had 26 lbs and should have 40 lbs he said. OMG, I park at home in gravel and park at work on gravel...never noticed! After a 70k mile maintenance I didn't even ask how it was left with that low of air pressure...or mention how dumb I felt for not noticing. We had a good laugh, fist bumps and expressed appreciations for patience and good humor. Aired up, It rolls like a brand new roller skate! They are a great shop! Thanks forum for the few replies...We will have to disagree that they're a "great" shop...
A "great" shop would have checked the tire pressure during a "70,000 mi checkup/maintenance".....
On every HD maintenance checklist I have for my three bikes (and use during my self service), there are bullet points that say;
"#4 Inspect tires, tread depth, and adjust pressure." then there are spaces to record the tread depth & pressure.... they seem to have missed that one
and
"#21 Road test to verify component and system functions."... they either skipped this or couldn't feel what you felt on your "first turn"...
So you know for a fact they skipped two of the easy maintenance bullet points... gotta wonder, did they actually "#23 checked torque on critical fasteners".....??
The numbers for the bullet points vary by model & mileage of service checklist, but they are always there, in every checklist...
That's why I chuckle when people say you should have the Dealer perform the first service, "so nothing is missed'... comical, but also sad..
They should have thanked you for your patience for their substandard service.... IMHO...
You are now one of the legion, who know first hand that a dealer doesn't always provide the best service....
Last edited by hattitude; Nov 9, 2020 at 10:30 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Arkansas
As a dealer service tech, yes the point above is correct. The service tech who did your service did it half assed. No bike rolls out of my service department without at a minimum tire inflation checked. Front tires should be 36 PSI for stock and manufacturer recommended for other brands rear should be 40 for stock and manufacturer recommended for other brands. Secondly I cannot release a bike to a customer without being willing to put my own *** on the seat so if it was that noticable to you the tech should have noticed the issue. Was there a nail or any leak in the tire? How long did you wait to pick it up after the service? This would be the only thing that might excuse the tech who may have inflated the tire properly but a slow leak caused it to leak down between the service and you picking it up.
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