Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Warranty Debate

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 08:00 PM
  #1  
09BlueRoadKing's Avatar
09BlueRoadKing
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 688
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
Default Warranty Debate

This has probably been covered before but here goes, me and my co-worker have softails (mine 08 RockerC his 07 Heritage) and we are both getting close to the 5000 mile service. I plan on doing mine myself, and asked him if he also was and he said he was taking his to indy dealer because if done yourself it would void the warranty. I thought as long as you documented all of the service details such as reciepts and actual pics of the speedo milage and work done that your warranty will remain intact. Who is correct, please chime in.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 08:42 PM
  #2  
gtnot's Avatar
gtnot
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Default

You have it correct. As long as you document the work with receipts the Magnusson-Moss Act says the warranty is valid no matter who does the service. Dealers will lie until you mention Magnusson-Moss, then they will cave in. Don't let them BS you.

Then take the money you save and buy more "safety chrome" (that one didn't work with my wife).
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 08:54 PM
  #3  
crazybastid83's Avatar
crazybastid83
Banned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 660
Likes: 4
From: NJ
Default

I wrench at a dealership. You can do your own work and be covered under warranty. Keep all your receipts and pick up a marble notebook. Jot down your mileage and the date and all service you performed. Just keep in mind if you break something, it is on you.
 
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2008 | 08:59 PM
  #4  
rbabos's Avatar
rbabos
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Default

In your owners manual in the scheduled maintanance see note #1. You need the tools , manual and know how. Keep records and receipts and you should be good to go.
Ron
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2008 | 03:56 AM
  #5  
robzuc97's Avatar
robzuc97
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, AZ
Default

As long as you document AND you can show a reasonable mechanical aptitude to DIY when an issue comes up. If you say things like "I took pictures of my speedo", I doubt this will happen.
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2008 | 05:05 AM
  #6  
dbleagle's Avatar
dbleagle
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,438
Likes: 6
From: Gulf Coast of Mississippi
Default

Originally Posted by robzuc97
a reasonable mechanical aptitude
Huh... thats what I find lacking at most stealerships...

Yeah... you can do the work yourself and not void the warranty...

But then again its been my experience that the warranty aint all that great in the first place...

So what are you really loosing anyway...

Charlie D.
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2008 | 08:04 PM
  #7  
09BlueRoadKing's Avatar
09BlueRoadKing
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 688
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
Default

When I was refering to taking pics of the speedo I was talking about taking pics of the milage when I perform the maintance. On the last bike I had, I had a seperate folder with all receipts,dates,work performed and actuall pics showing and documenting the maintance that was done. Fortunatly on my last bike I only had one warranty problem and it was a rocker cover gasget that was leaking oil and the dealer never questioned who did the maint. work. Thanks for all the responses, now if I could only get someone to walk me thru this pic posting (im a very competent wrench but when it comes to computers thats another story)I would post some of my Red Rocker, thanks agian guys.
 
Reply
Old Oct 9, 2008 | 11:24 PM
  #8  
wlbowers's Avatar
wlbowers
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,230
Likes: 105
Default

Originally Posted by ROCKERMAN
This has probably been covered before but here goes, me and my co-worker have softails (mine 08 RockerC his 07 Heritage) and we are both getting close to the 5000 mile service. I plan on doing mine myself, and asked him if he also was and he said he was taking his to indy dealer because if done yourself it would void the warranty. I thought as long as you documented all of the service details such as reciepts and actual pics of the speedo milage and work done that your warranty will remain intact. Who is correct, please chime in.

I duplicated the check-off chart in an excel spread sheet. I put a place for mileage and a note section for self installs. Check them off then print it out, and put it in a binder.

Freaked out the service manager. He didn't give me any crap at all.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 10, 2008 | 06:22 AM
  #9  
WarriorHD's Avatar
WarriorHD
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,167
Likes: 7
From: FL & SoCal
Default

This is the only way to do it. I use Excel spreadsheets for everything. Have a documented spreadsheet for every part I installed on both of my bikes, P/N's, cost and date installed. Always keep the receipts too. Not much to argue with showing this kind of documentation and you always know every little detail when it comes time to look something up....It's all about good data... Know one can argue with the facts ;-)

Originally Posted by wlbowers
I duplicated the check-off chart in an excel spread sheet. I put a place for mileage and a note section for self installs. Check them off then print it out, and put it in a binder.

Freaked out the service manager. He didn't give me any crap at all.
 
Reply
Old Oct 16, 2008 | 10:10 PM
  #10  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

Its like we always said at work, "IN GOD WE TRUST" everyone else, keep records, keep records, keep records.
 

Last edited by oct1949; Oct 16, 2008 at 10:17 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:11 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE