routine maintenance
routine maintenance
my old man wants me to let him do the 5000 mile maintenance on my softail and I want the dealership to do it while it is still under warranty...I kinda don't want any one to do anything to it while it is under warranty for fear if anything is found wrong it wouldn't be covered if someone else is doing the job.
Am I wrong? or should I allow him to take care of the work himself? of course his reasoning is he can do it for a lot less money then the almost $300.00 the dealership will charge.
Am I wrong? or should I allow him to take care of the work himself? of course his reasoning is he can do it for a lot less money then the almost $300.00 the dealership will charge.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
From: North East, Florida
You are wrong! Your dad will probably do a better job than the dealer and doing your own maintenance will not void your warranty. I personally would never pay the dealer to do a oil change
This is where I was hoping to go with the questions asked...don't they do more then just the oil change? just wondering?
LOL my old man is not my dad but my husband.
LOL my old man is not my dad but my husband.
Last edited by letacur; Oct 23, 2008 at 08:47 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,858
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
You will get a much better job out of hubby than some zitz faced kid. Gives you a chance to jump in and help as well as learn about you bikes different service areas. That's if you two can work together.
Ron
Ron
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
HD cannot deny a warranty claim if you do your own work. There's some court case that set the legal precedent for stuff like this. I can't remember the names, but I'm sure someone here knows it and will chime in.
I'm not sure what all gets done at the 5000 mile service, but if your husband has a service manual for your bike and can turn a wrench, then he's just as competent as most of the knucle-heads working in the service department at your HD dealership. I've always done my own maintenance on my bikes, and I intend to continue to do so. The way I see it, riding a bike is way more dangerous than driving a car, and I don't want to leave anything that could seriously effect my safety in the hands of someone who has no vested interest in the upkeep of my bike.....call me paranoid if you want, that's just my opinion.
I'm not sure what all gets done at the 5000 mile service, but if your husband has a service manual for your bike and can turn a wrench, then he's just as competent as most of the knucle-heads working in the service department at your HD dealership. I've always done my own maintenance on my bikes, and I intend to continue to do so. The way I see it, riding a bike is way more dangerous than driving a car, and I don't want to leave anything that could seriously effect my safety in the hands of someone who has no vested interest in the upkeep of my bike.....call me paranoid if you want, that's just my opinion.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
This is how I feel about it, but that's just me and I hate forking over money for things I can do myself. It's nice to be able to care for your own vehicle, and who know's who is working on it at the dealer.
Trending Topics
Banned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 660
Likes: 4
From: NJ
He can buy the parts, keep his receipts and do the service. Keep in mind it is a service, not just an oil change. He has to go by the service intervals in the service manual.
People are so negative, I guess they think they sound like Billy Bad ***. I wrench at a dealer and treat a customers' bike better than my own. I would not want to risk someone's life because I screwed up. I do not like to be embarrassed by comebacks. I usually have customers raving about my work weeks fter I worked on their bike.
Not every wrench is an idiot. You do not know how many customers screw up their own bike doing their own service. I just had a customer with 15,000 miles on his bike. Apparently he never tightened his spokes (he stated he doesn't have a spoke wrench) he now has to buy himself a new wheel. It also pulls really bad to the left, because he never adjusted the steering head.
A "service" is not just an oil change. Let your "Old Man", S.O, Hubby, Spouse or even your Dad do the service properly using a service manual. LOL
People are so negative, I guess they think they sound like Billy Bad ***. I wrench at a dealer and treat a customers' bike better than my own. I would not want to risk someone's life because I screwed up. I do not like to be embarrassed by comebacks. I usually have customers raving about my work weeks fter I worked on their bike.
Not every wrench is an idiot. You do not know how many customers screw up their own bike doing their own service. I just had a customer with 15,000 miles on his bike. Apparently he never tightened his spokes (he stated he doesn't have a spoke wrench) he now has to buy himself a new wheel. It also pulls really bad to the left, because he never adjusted the steering head.
A "service" is not just an oil change. Let your "Old Man", S.O, Hubby, Spouse or even your Dad do the service properly using a service manual. LOL
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thanks guys your answers are helping even if they are in hubby's favor, and your right it would give me the chance to learn more about my bike, as for working well together it really depends on the situation...I kinda got real pissed at him when he scratched some chrome when helping me with some ****ty saddle bags that I ended up not using at all because the look was all wrong after the install.
Last edited by letacur; Oct 23, 2008 at 09:07 PM.
