Bagger wobble and HD Warranty.....
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 242
From: Glen Mills, PA
Bagger wobble and HD Warranty.....
So I have had a little wobble from day one on my 2013 RKC. My 1k service discovered 9# of air and greasing the bearing resolved it for the most part but it came back but only between 41 and 45 mph but only sporadically.
So I take it in to my dealer where I bought it on Monday for an inspection and to replace those cheap spring clips on the bag lids and I get a call from the tech today. I am embarrased to say I only put 4500 miles on it this year. He said they rebalanced the wheel, still there, greased it, still there, adjusted the bearing, wobble still there. They asked me where I did my 1k service and I tell them about my local shop. They said they noticed some non HD grease. I said yes, HD does not pack them so I used high quality waterproof marine grade grease as its great stuff. I asked him why they don't pack them new and why they let it out with no front tire air? Silence.
They did not say direclty but are implying that since I did not use them for the 1k service, and used non HD grease then HD may not pay to replace the bearing under warranty!
So I tell him that I will forward the emails about the wobble and that I still have his voice mail about this issue when its new and they need to resolve it. I also told him that non HD grease and my own shop does not void the warranty.
They are waiting on a call from the mother ship so we will see. I wll announce the name of the dealer only after they make their decision. So either way this will be a fair review.
So I take it in to my dealer where I bought it on Monday for an inspection and to replace those cheap spring clips on the bag lids and I get a call from the tech today. I am embarrased to say I only put 4500 miles on it this year. He said they rebalanced the wheel, still there, greased it, still there, adjusted the bearing, wobble still there. They asked me where I did my 1k service and I tell them about my local shop. They said they noticed some non HD grease. I said yes, HD does not pack them so I used high quality waterproof marine grade grease as its great stuff. I asked him why they don't pack them new and why they let it out with no front tire air? Silence.
They did not say direclty but are implying that since I did not use them for the 1k service, and used non HD grease then HD may not pay to replace the bearing under warranty!
So I tell him that I will forward the emails about the wobble and that I still have his voice mail about this issue when its new and they need to resolve it. I also told him that non HD grease and my own shop does not void the warranty.
They are waiting on a call from the mother ship so we will see. I wll announce the name of the dealer only after they make their decision. So either way this will be a fair review.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Everywhere
as long as the grease used meets the specifications of the grease HD says to use, they cannot void a warranty claim based on that.... no different than using non HD oil. As far as tire pressure, well, that's your responsibility - From what I understand it left the dealer with only 9# and not checked again until the 1k service??? tire pressure is something I check regularly, especially after a dealer has had the bike for service. I once had a rear tire mounted, rode 7 miles home. next morning, checked the pressure and it had 17 lbs of air. I stopped by the dealer that day, told the serv. mgr and he called the mechanic in and said "go to your tool box and get your tire pressure gauge and throw it in the trash, go to parts and get a new one"
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: SoCal
as long as the grease used meets the specifications of the grease HD says to use, they cannot void a warranty claim based on that.... no different than using non HD oil. As far as tire pressure, well, that's your responsibility - From what I understand it left the dealer with only 9# and not checked again until the 1k service??? tire pressure is something I check regularly, especially after a dealer has had the bike for service. I once had a rear tire mounted, rode 7 miles home. next morning, checked the pressure and it had 17 lbs of air. I stopped by the dealer that day, told the serv. mgr and he called the mechanic in and said "go to your tool box and get your tire pressure gauge and throw it in the trash, go to parts and get a new one"
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
If that is correct that the tire was at 9 PSI, OP, I think your personal responsibility needs some work;
1.) either learn what TCLOCS is
( standardized pre-ride checks).
or take it to a technician before every ride.
or shut up.
How many Owners ( I wont use the term "Rider") are going to complain about the machine when they are not willing or capable to do the basic checks that will SAVE THEIR LIVES.
OP, sorry to unload on you, but there have been a number of owners who threaten to sue and blah, blah, blah..then finally it comes out that THEY were negligent.
OK, off the soap box now.
Mike
1.) either learn what TCLOCS is
( standardized pre-ride checks).
or take it to a technician before every ride.
or shut up.
How many Owners ( I wont use the term "Rider") are going to complain about the machine when they are not willing or capable to do the basic checks that will SAVE THEIR LIVES.
OP, sorry to unload on you, but there have been a number of owners who threaten to sue and blah, blah, blah..then finally it comes out that THEY were negligent.
OK, off the soap box now.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Oct 2, 2013 at 05:39 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 242
From: Glen Mills, PA
Well MKguitar has a point. I do accept the fact I did not catch the air in front tire until 1k and its my fault for assuming the checked this stuff. Enough said and trust me I learned my lesson on this and check the tires on a regular basis. This is ironic as you will see. I am a competent mechanic, taught by a heavy equipment mechanic and was a 67V in the Army so I am comfortable with a wrench and routine maintenance.
So the tech calls me and says the HD is replacing the front tire under warranty and claim the rear tire is also getting replaced but at the dealer expense. They claim the rear tire has some minor cupping from low tire pressure but feel its a customer responsibility but the dealer will pay. I said I check them on a regular basis after having this issue and I checked it just a few days before when I road to York, PA for the HD open house and they were fine and needed no air and had no signs of cupping. He is holding the tire for my inspection when I get the bike. I said there is no reason the dealer would pay but thanked them for the free tires. They will ride it tomorrow after the tires and see if the wobble is fixed. I said I really doubt this will fix it and the tech seemed to agree but HD will not pay for new stem bearings until the swap the tires.
So far I get free tires and will know more tomorrow. The WWW were getting a little dirty anyway. I asked him what he thought and he said he just replaced the stem bearings on his touring bike...
So the tech calls me and says the HD is replacing the front tire under warranty and claim the rear tire is also getting replaced but at the dealer expense. They claim the rear tire has some minor cupping from low tire pressure but feel its a customer responsibility but the dealer will pay. I said I check them on a regular basis after having this issue and I checked it just a few days before when I road to York, PA for the HD open house and they were fine and needed no air and had no signs of cupping. He is holding the tire for my inspection when I get the bike. I said there is no reason the dealer would pay but thanked them for the free tires. They will ride it tomorrow after the tires and see if the wobble is fixed. I said I really doubt this will fix it and the tech seemed to agree but HD will not pay for new stem bearings until the swap the tires.
So far I get free tires and will know more tomorrow. The WWW were getting a little dirty anyway. I asked him what he thought and he said he just replaced the stem bearings on his touring bike...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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qttracer--that letter was on the forum a while back--seems some dealers were buying bulk oil and using it for oil changes and telling customers it was HD oil.
mkguitar--when you pay someone to do something...check/inspect tires and inflate to proper pressure--they need to make sure that it is done by someone other than the shop washboy or porter. yes, the OP does need to check his air from time to time.
seems the 1k service was done by an indy...he probably never checked the air pressure...since he assumed that the owner was checking it.
i think more people would check their air pressure on a regular basis if it was not so damned hard to do. it is a real pain in the *** to get a tire gauge on the valve stem that comes on these bikes--are you listening moco?
mkguitar--when you pay someone to do something...check/inspect tires and inflate to proper pressure--they need to make sure that it is done by someone other than the shop washboy or porter. yes, the OP does need to check his air from time to time.
seems the 1k service was done by an indy...he probably never checked the air pressure...since he assumed that the owner was checking it.
i think more people would check their air pressure on a regular basis if it was not so damned hard to do. it is a real pain in the *** to get a tire gauge on the valve stem that comes on these bikes--are you listening moco?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: PA
So far I get free tires and will know more tomorrow. The WWW were getting a little dirty anyway.
i think more people would check their air pressure on a regular basis if it was not so damned hard to do. it is a real pain in the *** to get a tire gauge on the valve stem that comes on these bikes
Last edited by AnotherBlackSG; Oct 2, 2013 at 06:17 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 826
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From: Phoenix
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson–Moss_Warranty_Act
Unless HD what's to do free oil changes they cannot tell you what brand to use. Someone needs to tell them their oil is inferior.