1,000 mile service
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
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RE: 1,000 mile service
I've had similar bad experiences with the dealer I bought my ride from. On the third issue, which they basically ruined the paint on the engine and primary by putting a solvent on it and stated that it wasn't "covered" under warranty I told them that I would contact the factory and try to straighten this out with them. I made the call and was very general with my comments and never mentioned the dealer by name. The next day I called the dealer and told them of my conversation and was told to bring the bike back to discuss options. I meet with the owner who was very nice and ended up getting my engine and trans cases replaced at their cost. I also got them to upgrade me from the grey that normally comes with the FXST to black and chrome, chrome inner/outer primary, and chrome oil tank. The upgrades cost me $500.00 (dealer cost). I was adamant that I should pay their cost as it was their mistake that brought us here.
Go to a service seminar if your dealer provides them, get a manual and you'll find its very easy to do the service yourself. Or you could take your bike to an authorized HD service center which isn't necessarily a HD dealer. I have a Big Dog dealer by me that is authorized (read: won't void warranty) to serivce our rides that I used before I started doing it myself and they charge 1/2 the price. Doing the service yourself also won't void the warranty provided that you save the receipts and use mfg recommend fluids etc.
Go to a service seminar if your dealer provides them, get a manual and you'll find its very easy to do the service yourself. Or you could take your bike to an authorized HD service center which isn't necessarily a HD dealer. I have a Big Dog dealer by me that is authorized (read: won't void warranty) to serivce our rides that I used before I started doing it myself and they charge 1/2 the price. Doing the service yourself also won't void the warranty provided that you save the receipts and use mfg recommend fluids etc.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
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RE: 1,000 mile service
ORIGINAL: lee3fan
Doing the service yourself also won't void the warranty provided that you save the receipts and use mfg recommend fluids etc.
Doing the service yourself also won't void the warranty provided that you save the receipts and use mfg recommend fluids etc.
So, as long as the oil met specs, it couldn't void your warranty. If you can do it yourself with the proper oil how can it possibly void your warranty? But I'm not so sure the tech "lied." It's possible that it's just a training issue. You may be the first person that ever came to him with your own oil, and he has probably been trained that only "approved HD parts and accessories" may be used without voiding the warranty. He may not be aware that other oils are essentially "approved" as long as they meet specs.
I'm always looking at both sides of an issue. I mean why should the dealership care as long you pay the same price for the service? It actually SAVES them money.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
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RE: 1,000 mile service
I finally got time to call HD customer service this afternoon. I have to say that the woman I talked to was very helpful and friendly. I only wish that they had a toll free number. She told me what I was pretty much expecting. HD has not tested any other oils but their own. Therefore, if an oil related problem occured within the engine and HD oil was not used, the warranty claim would be denied, if the problem was traced to improper lubrication. The way I see it is use the dealership and HD lubricants until the warranty is up for peace of mind.
If the service manager at the dealership would have explained it to me the same way that customer service explained it, I would have had a better understanding of their stand on oil. I will definitely change to the amsoil after the 24 month warranty period. Makes me glad that I did not buy the extended warranty. Just that much longer for the dealership to hang it over my head.
If the service manager at the dealership would have explained it to me the same way that customer service explained it, I would have had a better understanding of their stand on oil. I will definitely change to the amsoil after the 24 month warranty period. Makes me glad that I did not buy the extended warranty. Just that much longer for the dealership to hang it over my head.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,477
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: 1,000 mile service
ORIGINAL: kray05
I finally got time to call HD customer service this afternoon. I have to say that the woman I talked to was very helpful and friendly. I only wish that they had a toll free number. She told me what I was pretty much expecting. HD has not tested any other oils but their own. Therefore, if an oil related problem occured within the engine and HD oil was not used, the warranty claim would be denied, if the problem was traced to improper lubrication. The way I see it is use the dealership and HD lubricants until the warranty is up for peace of mind.
If the service manager at the dealership would have explained it to me the same way that customer service explained it, I would have had a better understanding of their stand on oil. I will definitely change to the amsoil after the 24 month warranty period. Makes me glad that I did not buy the extended warranty. Just that much longer for the dealership to hang it over my head.
I finally got time to call HD customer service this afternoon. I have to say that the woman I talked to was very helpful and friendly. I only wish that they had a toll free number. She told me what I was pretty much expecting. HD has not tested any other oils but their own. Therefore, if an oil related problem occured within the engine and HD oil was not used, the warranty claim would be denied, if the problem was traced to improper lubrication. The way I see it is use the dealership and HD lubricants until the warranty is up for peace of mind.
If the service manager at the dealership would have explained it to me the same way that customer service explained it, I would have had a better understanding of their stand on oil. I will definitely change to the amsoil after the 24 month warranty period. Makes me glad that I did not buy the extended warranty. Just that much longer for the dealership to hang it over my head.
HD used this same line when guys started using synthetic oil. HD couldn't recommend it because they hadn't tested it. They essentially allowed their dealers to bad mouth synthetics. Then suddenly HD had its own synthetic oil. Voila! It's OK to use now. But since it is the only oil they have tested, they can't recommend some other oil, even though their oil is inferior to Amsoil, Mobil 1, and a slew of others. I have no problem with them saying they haven't tested other oils, so they can't recommend them. My problem is when they spout the crap about "oil related failures", when they know these other oils are equal in some cases, and superior in most cases, to their oil.
If your engine suffered an oil-related failure, any modern oil company would stand the cost of repair. And they'd do that because they want your business, and they are required to by law. Having talked to more mechanics than I care to remember in my life (my Dad was a diesel and Chevy mech for years). I've never met one that saw an oil-related engine failure. Maybe a lack of oil, or worn out oil, but not from bad oil from the oil manufacturer.
I'm sorry guys, I tend to get teed off by HD every now and then. The attitude displayed by certain segments of the company makes me wanna say nasty words and choke people.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 31
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From:
RE: 1,000 mile service
Wow. Was I wrong!!![&o]
I misinterpreted my owners manual. It says: "If it is necessary to add oil and Harley-Davidson oil is not available, use an oil certified for diesel engines. Acceptable diesel engine oil designations include CF-4, CG-4, CH-4 and CI-4." But, a little further down the page it says: "At the first opportunity, see an authorized dealer to change back to 100 percent Harley-Davidson oil."
My dealership made it clear that I had to have all the required service done to maintain my warranty, but said that I could do small things like oil changes myself as long as I kept the receipts. Thanks to you, I now know that those oil receipts had better be for Harley-Davidson oil.
Thanks for the follow-up and letting us know what Customer Service had to say.
And forgive me for spoutin' off when I didn't REALLY know what the hell I was talking about[&o]
I misinterpreted my owners manual. It says: "If it is necessary to add oil and Harley-Davidson oil is not available, use an oil certified for diesel engines. Acceptable diesel engine oil designations include CF-4, CG-4, CH-4 and CI-4." But, a little further down the page it says: "At the first opportunity, see an authorized dealer to change back to 100 percent Harley-Davidson oil."
My dealership made it clear that I had to have all the required service done to maintain my warranty, but said that I could do small things like oil changes myself as long as I kept the receipts. Thanks to you, I now know that those oil receipts had better be for Harley-Davidson oil.
Thanks for the follow-up and letting us know what Customer Service had to say.
And forgive me for spoutin' off when I didn't REALLY know what the hell I was talking about[&o]
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 31
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From:
RE: 1,000 mile service
ORIGINAL: kray05
I'm sorry guys, I tend to get teed off by HD every now and then. The attitude displayed by certain segments of the company makes me wanna say nasty words and choke people.
I'm sorry guys, I tend to get teed off by HD every now and then. The attitude displayed by certain segments of the company makes me wanna say nasty words and choke people.
I was surprised to read what Harley's Customer Service had to say about the use of their oil, which is probably why I missinterpreted their owners manual. It just doesn't make sense.
It does FORCE owners into the Harley shops. And while your there, who knows, maybe you'll buy that overpriced T-shirt or part that you just can't resist.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,477
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: 1,000 mile service
Don't misinterpret what they've said. They didn't say you HAD to use their oil. If they did they would be required to supply that oil to you, free of charge, IAW the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. What they did was spin the wording to imply you had to use their oil, and then imply the warranty wasn't good if something happened. It's tricky lawyer-ese language. People who talk like that oughtta have their tongues ripped out.
Let me repeat what I posted earlier about the warranty act:
Here's an explanation of one portion of the Act:
"Tie-In Sales" Provisions
Generally, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty. The following are examples of prohibited tie-in sales provisions.
In order to keep your new Plenum Brand Vacuum Cleaner warranty in effect, you must use genuine Plenum Brand Filter Bags. Failure to have scheduled maintenance performed, at your expense, by the Great American Maintenance Company, Inc., voids this warranty.
Now substitute HD muttersickle for the vacuum cleaner and HD oil for the genuine filter bags. See what I mean? HD can't say you must use only their oil.
And while you have to have all the required service done to maintain your warranty, none of it has to be done by a dealer. You can do all of it yourself, not just changing the oil.
Most of the time when you bring your bike in for a required service, the majority of it isn't even done. Do you really think that zit-faced kid doing the oil change is gonna go over every nut & bolt on your bike? They will hit the high spots that experience has shown them might need attention, but the rest of the stuff is given the eyeball and shined on.
Let me repeat what I posted earlier about the warranty act:
Here's an explanation of one portion of the Act:
"Tie-In Sales" Provisions
Generally, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty. The following are examples of prohibited tie-in sales provisions.
In order to keep your new Plenum Brand Vacuum Cleaner warranty in effect, you must use genuine Plenum Brand Filter Bags. Failure to have scheduled maintenance performed, at your expense, by the Great American Maintenance Company, Inc., voids this warranty.
Now substitute HD muttersickle for the vacuum cleaner and HD oil for the genuine filter bags. See what I mean? HD can't say you must use only their oil.
And while you have to have all the required service done to maintain your warranty, none of it has to be done by a dealer. You can do all of it yourself, not just changing the oil.
Most of the time when you bring your bike in for a required service, the majority of it isn't even done. Do you really think that zit-faced kid doing the oil change is gonna go over every nut & bolt on your bike? They will hit the high spots that experience has shown them might need attention, but the rest of the stuff is given the eyeball and shined on.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: My house
RE: 1,000 mile service
Pococj, you are right, they are breaking the law, but you know the old saying I ain't breaking the law until they catch me. They hope you have no understanding of your rights, and that what they tell you is how it is. It's a shame but this happens every day.
If I remember correctly on the Amsoil site there is a section on this very law and what you need to do, if they refuse to use your oil and pressure you to use their brand to not void the warranty.
If I remember correctly on the Amsoil site there is a section on this very law and what you need to do, if they refuse to use your oil and pressure you to use their brand to not void the warranty.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 863
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From:
RE: 1,000 mile service
Right on clammy,I get more confrontational with those thieves as I get older,I raise all the hell I can and then never deal with the offender again
ORIGINAL: Clammy
That would be the last time I would visit that dealer. Lies like that really **** me off, and destroy any trust I would have in the dealer. If I can't trust a shop, I assume they will always try to rip me off, so I avoid it. I would also report it to HD and the BBB.
Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]
That would be the last time I would visit that dealer. Lies like that really **** me off, and destroy any trust I would have in the dealer. If I can't trust a shop, I assume they will always try to rip me off, so I avoid it. I would also report it to HD and the BBB.
Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]