Okay, I've calmed down now. Has anyone heard about a problem with the swing arms on Pre 2003 Touring bikes breaking. I posted before about my experience with a local dealer's Service Department. Brought it in for new rubber and a new belt.
Problems noted: [ul][*]Tech calls and says when he was taking my bike for a test ride, he noticed my rear cylinder is not firing. Says he knows this because my left exhaust pipe is blowing cool air. (01 FLHR, Stock Headers, Thunderheader mufflers). Says its a manifold gasket. I don't want to argue, so I say cool, fix it. It always blows cooler than the right side......still does......and I wasn't running on half a motor![*]I requested Formula + in the primary. Receipt reflects Syn3 was added.[*]When I'm driving home, the front end feels loose. As I pull into a parking lot, the front right fork cap begins to disintegrate and fall off the bike.[*]I gather up the parts, call the dealer, and they rush out and fix it with new hardware. Apologize, etc. etc.[*]Go for a ride Sunday, the belt snaps.[*]Dealer picks it up.[*]Calls, says there is a stress fracture in the swingarm near where the axil is mounted. Says that's what caused the belt to snap. He says the swing arm design was changed because this was a problem with the pre-03 touring swing arms.[*]Subsequent calls to another dealer, farther away (and unfortunately not responsible for the repair) says they have never heard of this being a problem. Says they did change the swing arm design in 03, but there are no recalls on the older bikes.[*]Guy at the other dealer says a belt will snap if the wheel is cocked, or over/under tightened, etc. Also says the swing arm probably broke due to it being over torqued.[*]The original service manager says the parts for the repair will run about $800.00.[*]My guy gets me the part nos. and prices: $500.00[*]Wife did not go for the old 'I'll just trade it in for a new Road Glide' routine.[*]Damn.[/ul]So, my problem: I'm stuck with this Service Department, as they did the repair. Has anyone out there heard of this 'swing arm' problem. And if so, can you refer me to the documentation.

I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row.

Thanks for any help with this matter.

 

man that sucks...never heard of the prob...i dont trust dealers at all tho and never take my bike to them to work on

 

No info here, but I wonder how you can trust them to do the repairs when they screwed up this badly. I would at least have a heart to heart with the owner and service manager about which tech will work on your ride.

 

You are getting screwed.

1. Rear cylinder not firing- first of all, the stock exhaust on touring bikes always blows less/cooler air out the left muffler. The header joint there is a 90 degree angle- probably 80% of the exhaust from your rear cylinder exits out the right muffler. Second, a manifold gasket will not cause the rear cylinder to not fire.

2. New belt breaks due to defective swingarm- you didn't mention how many miles were on the old belt, but I'm assuming it went a long time without breaking due to your 'defective' swingarm. Why would a brand new one snap right away? Not aligning the rear wheel properly during installation will break a belt.

3. I have not seen any stress fractures on my 2000 RK swingarm, and don't remember ever seeing a post in this forum from someone who had one. Harley started putting 1" rear axles on the touring bikes in 01 or 02, and may have seen fit to redesign the swingarm to accomodate this change. At the same time, a rear wheel out of alignment will not only break a belt, but will put added stress on the swingarm where the axle is sitting cocked- instead of an even force exerted by the axle head and nut, you have greater pressure against the swingarm on one side of the head and the nut, which can easily cause stress fractures.

You are not stuck with this service department. Take the bike to a reputable service department, and complain loudly to HD about these guys. Letting them correct their mistakes (keeping in mind they managed to screw up every single thing they touched, and ripped you off in the process with their BS about the exhaust) is asking for a something bad to happen next time you ride the bike.

 

Yes. The early models has a different swingarm and there were issues with them breaking!

The beefed up the design starting in 2003.

If you search this site, you'll see others have posted on this in the past.

You may still have dealer issues, but there truely was an issue with the swingarms.

 

Just finished a search and only found one post thread concerning a cracked at the axle swingarm on a pre 03 touring bike. PhilM, I searched 'swingarm'. Is there a better search word or phrase?

 

I have not heard of a problem with the actual swingarm breaking, but I have heard of the rubber bushings/cleve blocks wearing out. This can cause the swing arm to move laterally and cause handling problems, and I guess could ultimately break a belt. I would think you would have noticed other symptoms before you brought it in though. I believe HD made a change at some point and replaced the rubber bushings with brass oilite style busings.

From your description, it sounds to me like the tech who installed your new belt did not get it adjusted right and actually had the wheel cocked. The rear axle must be exactly parallel to the swing arm pivot shaft or the belt won't align properly. There are two adjustments on your swing arm, one for the left and one for the right side of the wheel.

I can understand why you feel stuck with the service department, but they have shown incompetent to do this work and it's your skin that will be hitting the asphalt if they keep it up. Have someone else do the work and go after the other service dept through HD corp.

 

https://www.hdforums.com/m_797572/tm.htm

This is the only thread I found too. However, it does have pics to the break on two bike. I must have seen it on other forums as well, because it's not news to me.

 

Yes, I have heard of the swingarms breaking on early bikes. It usually cracks above and below where the axle goes thru. I have some saved pics of them from another board.

 

DAWG 6,
Ihave seen a thread on another forum, (PM for Name) that referenced this problem. It was related to service and over torque issue. There is an alternative block for the adjusters made of square stock that provides more surface area behind the thin-ish swingarm space. No reference to recall and probably never will be, IMHO. I would look into another dealer.We all will say that, but...
Check here for upgraded adjuster blocks:

http://ridestr8.com/

This not related to the swingarm, but is related to service.
My 96 EGC that was well cared for by two previous owner's (unfortunately with out much docs) for 33K, got a 10K check up at 34K by me at my local HD shop in DC. At about 40K I had the regularincluding a swap to SYN3 all around. 2K later,on the way down to Chattanooga, I had to stop in Stauton, VA tomake sure a squeal wasn't something serious. Diagnosed as a littleoil on the BELT, the guys adjusted the belt after a little clean up, and said I should be good and have it checked back in DC after the Rally.In Chattanooga, the first long distancetwo day run, she marked her spot in the hotel parking lot overnight with half the primary fluid. Got more, filledher up and went to Thunder Creek HD on Saturday morning of the Rally, had them look.They just check my hand tightend primary screws with the T wrench, said it should get me to DC. NOW...
Was asked when I got back with 3.5k on it since to the last hometown service they asked who did the service, cause someone must not have used the proper techniques. Should see the face of a writer when she realizes her shop did the work.Looked at the belt, readjusted the thing, and since I asked to have it really check, they found a rear cyl base, head , exh gasket, decided the quad seal was leaking and 1500.00 later with a new starter, that is not much different than before,all new tranny seals I am begining to ask;why don't I do some of this? Some service is better not performed if not performed correctly.


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