Problem. I have all the tools, parts and manual to install my cams but am a bit hesitant. You see the bike is only a year old (yesterday, Happy Birthday Rachael) and I still have 1 year of warranty left. I am installing SE 255 cams so I am using HD parts just not sure how the dealer will react if I have a problem down the road.

What would you do??????

Thanks

 

I can see by your signature your parked your bike next to a large water source, that voided your warranty, nothing to lose now, so go for it. lol

actually, I got the same bike, same year, and putting the same cams this winter.

 

me- ? I'd wait for the warranty to run out.*

otherwise it's all your expense should there be a problem with the motor ( even unrelated to the cams)


2.) work like that I'd have it done by someone who does it all day, every day.

- I could do it, I can do it, I have tools and automotive training.

BUT an experienced tech may recognize a problem that I wouldn't-- that is the benefit of experience.


That's my take. I'm surprised daily by riders who try procedures on the Harley, they wouldn't do on their car--- and for some riders, even bolting on an air cleaner or headers seems to be above them


mike

* this was the approach 20 years ago, ride the bag off of it for the 1 warranty period ( now 2 years)--- then once the bike is "yours" do what you want. ( excepting reversible 'bolt on parts)--- I have seen warranty claims denied for modified carbs- first thing they'd do is check the plug over the idle mixture screw which their fingers)
waiting is a small price for the protection should there be a problem with the bike that the warranty would cover

 

I did my 2008 when it was about six months old and had the same reservations. This time around, I did my 2012 when it was 18 days old with 2000 miles on her and aftermarket parts, 4 weeks later with 4400 on her, I ain't lookin' back, would do it again in a heartbeat. I say go for it.

 

Tough call, and how warranty work is handled depends very much on the dealer. For example, in Sept. 2009 I had some tranny work done on the bike which at that time was 10 months after the warranty had expired. By that time I had installed a PCV with Auto-Tune, AC, mufflers, and 255 cams--and my dealer didn't flinch. The tranny problems had been reported before the warranty had expired and HD picked-up the entire tab on the job. I am fairly confident the dealer did not mention any of the mods to HD during their discussions, so a dealer's attitude toward its customers is the biggest hurdle, IMO.

If a warrantable issue pops up after your cam job and it is determined the cam work was at least in part to blame, IMO they would be within their rights to deny the warranty work. OTOH if the cam install was unrelated the issue becomes much more nebulous, and I'm not sure if any legal institutions like the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act would protect you. For example, in the case of my tranny job, why couldn't HD say the cams increased the output of the engine beyond the capacity of the tranny components. That would be bogus but it would be my task to prove them wrong.

 

Pretty much the way it is except for the last line ..... you don't have to prove the dealer's claim is wrong, they have to prove your modifications did indeed cause the problem. In your example, the number of modified engines that have not caused tranny problems far outweighs the number that have, so in that example a dealer wouldn't have a chance. However, if you put in a different cam and spin a cam bearing, bend a valve stem .... that's a whole different battle and could go either way. I know anything can go wrong anytime and warranty is a good piece of mind, but after all the years and miles I've ridden these things, if they don't break in the first 2500 miles, chances are prettty good you're safe. I'm sure a bunch will chime in to tell you different, but for everyone of those there are hundreds who have had no problem. It's all about the percentages, every thing we do in our every day life is a gamble, the question is, do we take the chance?

 

I've already done the stage 1 myself so I guess the dealer would say that was the problem anyway. I haven't read too much on here about spinning cam bearings. Other than that and using the stock push-rods I doubt anything else would go wrong. Oh and by the way the bike has 6000 miles on it right now.