10000 mile service why does it now have these problems
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
I have been around a long time and got tired of servicing my four wheel vehicles quite awhile ago and recently thought the same about the Harley. So, I had enough "chrome cash" from my HD visa to pay for my 10K service and figured what the hey why not let them do it.
Well, I guess I forgot that the top mechanics (I still call them that rather than techs) do not do the "service" chores. They are busy tearing into the engines and doing the more knowledge requiring stuff.
Riding the bike home from the dealer, I thought it felt a little different but figured they had adjusted my air shocks to the recommended pressure and I had set them previously where I wanted it by trial and error. The next day I was planning on leaving for a ride to Colorado so that morning I went over everything and discovered 47 lbs. of air pressure in each tire. Corrected that to 36 front, 40 rear and headed out. I tried to call the service manager to let him know that one of his employees needed more training but it was his day off.
Two days later in the middle of nowhere I got a code on my speedo indicating a problem with the front cylinder. Turned out that the spark plug wire had not been pushed down tightly on the plug.
God knows what else may have been done incorrectly but so far so good.
Fortunately, it appears that nothing more serious was screwed up.
I guess I'll be doing my own service from now until I'm too weak or senile to do it better than someone else.
Well, I guess I forgot that the top mechanics (I still call them that rather than techs) do not do the "service" chores. They are busy tearing into the engines and doing the more knowledge requiring stuff.
Riding the bike home from the dealer, I thought it felt a little different but figured they had adjusted my air shocks to the recommended pressure and I had set them previously where I wanted it by trial and error. The next day I was planning on leaving for a ride to Colorado so that morning I went over everything and discovered 47 lbs. of air pressure in each tire. Corrected that to 36 front, 40 rear and headed out. I tried to call the service manager to let him know that one of his employees needed more training but it was his day off.
Two days later in the middle of nowhere I got a code on my speedo indicating a problem with the front cylinder. Turned out that the spark plug wire had not been pushed down tightly on the plug.
God knows what else may have been done incorrectly but so far so good.
Fortunately, it appears that nothing more serious was screwed up.
I guess I'll be doing my own service from now until I'm too weak or senile to do it better than someone else.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 629
Likes: 3
From: Mission, Texas
I do some of the routine stuff myself, but if I'm too busy which is more often than I like, I just take it in and they've always done a good job, but I ask questions too just to let them know that I know the jobs...like torque values, HD recalls or service bulletins for my model that I read about on this forum, etc.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 47
Likes: 1
From: Utah
It was done at an indy that restores bikes and had a good rep. I know the tech that worked on mine was going on vacation ,needed the money and just rushed through it. We live and learn I will do my own work from now on ,i have a winter to fix the problems and do some mods. i cant afford another bike and really like mine. Thanks all for your comments!
Scott
Scott
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
All I'm going to say on this is the mechanic makes all the difference in the world. When my bike was new I had it serviced at Naples HD and it always came back with more problems than it went in with. The service manager and I had a knock down drag out in the middle of the service department. He blamed the problems on me rather than his crappy dishonest technicians. I moved the bike up to PA and have Zannotti service it now. Funny, all my problems with the bike went away. How strange is that? Food for thought for ya.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 0
From: South of Raleigh, and west of the coast, NC.
I have been around a long time and got tired of servicing my four wheel vehicles quite awhile ago and recently thought the same about the Harley. So, I had enough "chrome cash" from my HD visa to pay for my 10K service and figured what the hey why not let them do it.
Well, I guess I forgot that the top mechanics (I still call them that rather than techs) do not do the "service" chores. They are busy tearing into the engines and doing the more knowledge requiring stuff.
Riding the bike home from the dealer, I thought it felt a little different but figured they had adjusted my air shocks to the recommended pressure and I had set them previously where I wanted it by trial and error. The next day I was planning on leaving for a ride to Colorado so that morning I went over everything and discovered 47 lbs. of air pressure in each tire. Corrected that to 36 front, 40 rear and headed out. I tried to call the service manager to let him know that one of his employees needed more training but it was his day off.
Two days later in the middle of nowhere I got a code on my speedo indicating a problem with the front cylinder. Turned out that the spark plug wire had not been pushed down tightly on the plug.
God knows what else may have been done incorrectly but so far so good.
Fortunately, it appears that nothing more serious was screwed up.
I guess I'll be doing my own service from now until I'm too weak or senile to do it better than someone else.
Well, I guess I forgot that the top mechanics (I still call them that rather than techs) do not do the "service" chores. They are busy tearing into the engines and doing the more knowledge requiring stuff.
Riding the bike home from the dealer, I thought it felt a little different but figured they had adjusted my air shocks to the recommended pressure and I had set them previously where I wanted it by trial and error. The next day I was planning on leaving for a ride to Colorado so that morning I went over everything and discovered 47 lbs. of air pressure in each tire. Corrected that to 36 front, 40 rear and headed out. I tried to call the service manager to let him know that one of his employees needed more training but it was his day off.
Two days later in the middle of nowhere I got a code on my speedo indicating a problem with the front cylinder. Turned out that the spark plug wire had not been pushed down tightly on the plug.
God knows what else may have been done incorrectly but so far so good.
Fortunately, it appears that nothing more serious was screwed up.
I guess I'll be doing my own service from now until I'm too weak or senile to do it better than someone else.
Guess that is what you get when you pay in "chrome cash" instead of real cash.......
Stage IV
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
10000 Check Up - Now Brake Light and Turn Signals Not Working
Just had the first 10000 mi. check up done on my 08 Ultra Classic. On the way home from the shop, I lost my brake light and turn signals. Checked the fuses and found all ok. Anyone have any ideas? Have no confidence in dealer techs due to problems in the past.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
Food for thought, fellow riders, if you find a shop that cares about how your machine is serviced, i would suggest sticking with them. in the tulsa area, route 66 has been great, and very professional with any work i've needed done on my streetglide. the techs have been around for a few years, some of them, many years, so they're sure not the new kids on the block. I change my oil, do routine maintenance, etc, but when it requires something that i don't want to tackle, they do it, and i know it's done right. short version of this is, if you find a shop that treats you right, and you trust, stick with them.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
Food for thought, fellow riders, if you find a shop that cares about how your machine is serviced, i would suggest sticking with them. in the tulsa area, route 66 has been great, and very professional with any work i've needed done on my streetglide. the techs have been around for a few years, some of them, many years, so they're sure not the new kids on the block. I change my oil, do routine maintenance, etc, but when it requires something that i don't want to tackle, they do it, and i know it's done right. short version of this is, if you find a shop that treats you right, and you trust, stick with them.