Customer Service!
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NY
Customer Service!
Ok, so those of you who followed along with the rain/discoloration of the cam cover on my nightster, the dealership was unable to get it clean, and said it was not covered under warrantee... I wrote a letter to HD and they said they would have the dealer do a touch up spray paint... well the more I digested this idea, the sicker it made me! So I called HD... They said that the offer to touch up/spray paint was from hire up, and all they could do was forward my message torep as they would not speak to me directly. My reply was that if the bike was a couple of years old, well ok, but at 4 months old, spray painting was not acceptable as it would not last and would only put me outside the warrantee the next time. I stated that they needed to replace the part and swap it out. Anything less than that and my next letter would not be to HD, but to the attorney general with pictures... they said they would call me back with their answer! I must add that everyone I have spoken to at the dealership and at HD customer service has been very polite, they just do not have the right answers...lol
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 3
From: Boise, Idaho
RE: Customer Service!
Wow... did they ever give you any explanation for WHY the discoloration occurred? Wasn't it directly below the derby cover? Forgive an ignorant question; but is it possible that a fluid leak cooked on the outside area?.... This shouldn't happen of course.... But I wonder if the new finish on our bikes is not as heat resistant? Who knows
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NY
RE: Customer Service!
Your thoughts are the same as mine, but I am no machanic, nor do I pretend to know something I do not, but that is sure what it looks like to me. Here is the pic again. They have not given me any info as to what they think it is. I will let all of you know any details that I find out along the way!
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 748
Likes: 1
RE: Customer Service!
Without being able to analyze the areas in person it looks to me like a chemical [of some sort] has stained the powder coat. If it is in fact a stain, you won't be able to eliminate it from the current finish without doing some amount of damage the integrity of the powder. It must be either painted over or stripped and powder coated again. Painting over a stain doesn't work 100% of the time since the component that caused it may "bleed" through to the surface again. I'm not saying that WILL happen, but it could.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 0
From: PA.
RE: Customer Service!
Might I ask, What have you been cleaning your bike with? Have you used any spray cleaners?
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NY
RE: Customer Service!
Thats the thing, I had not used any chemicals to clean my bike prior to the stain showing up! I did not even wax anything... well I did use never dull on the pipes, but that is one of the reasons I bought this bike is so I would spend less time cleaning and more riding! I figured I could just use the hose and go! so after the fact I did try simple green with a tuthbrush, and s100 to try to get it off, and the dealer, well I have no idea what they used, but it looks worse after they tried...
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 748
Likes: 1
RE: Customer Service!
Lewd,
I wasn't suggesting you used anything wrong. Oils, greases, gasoline orsomething that was spilled on the road are all examples of chemicals that could have gotten on it without you deliberately applying it. Standard automotive oils and greases shouldn't have that effect on the powder coat, if the proper powder coating was applied. I have to assume the factory didn't use something different on your bike than they've used on all the others. Gasoline will attack the powder if left on it for a while, and in your case it was on a hot engine as well.
If I remember right, you said the problem started after ride through a rain storm?? It is possible there was something on the road that you ran through. If you were riding with someone else you may want to see if their bike has a similar problem. Of course it would be tough to spot on black panels and may not have an effect on chrome so I guess it all depends how the other bike [if any] is set up.
These are just thoughts... I'm not pointing any fingers or concluding anything.
I wasn't suggesting you used anything wrong. Oils, greases, gasoline orsomething that was spilled on the road are all examples of chemicals that could have gotten on it without you deliberately applying it. Standard automotive oils and greases shouldn't have that effect on the powder coat, if the proper powder coating was applied. I have to assume the factory didn't use something different on your bike than they've used on all the others. Gasoline will attack the powder if left on it for a while, and in your case it was on a hot engine as well.
If I remember right, you said the problem started after ride through a rain storm?? It is possible there was something on the road that you ran through. If you were riding with someone else you may want to see if their bike has a similar problem. Of course it would be tough to spot on black panels and may not have an effect on chrome so I guess it all depends how the other bike [if any] is set up.
These are just thoughts... I'm not pointing any fingers or concluding anything.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NY
RE: Customer Service!
It's ok, I did not take it as you were pointing fingars at all... I am drafting my letter to the NY Attorney General with pictures as we speak! I will be faxing it to HD and my dealership if I do not have an answer by friday, and sending it to the AG on Monday if that does not get them in gear. In the end even if they do not make it right I want to buy the cover. Then I will buy all new covers and have them powder coated black. I will store the originals and have the black ones put on! My wife says I am OCD...lol I think she is right! [sm=headbang.gif]