Completely speechless
First, you should have ordered a service manual the day you picked up your bike. Second, you don't ask a service department that you are depriving of service to borrow their tools so you can do it yourself. The tool in this case is the manual.
Don't get me wrong, I do all my service too, but they are not going to allow you to "page" through their shop manuals after they know you are not going to pay them for service. Why should they? Of course they have them in the back for use by the mechanics...don't you know he was just blowing you off?
Don't get me wrong, I do all my service too, but they are not going to allow you to "page" through their shop manuals after they know you are not going to pay them for service. Why should they? Of course they have them in the back for use by the mechanics...don't you know he was just blowing you off?
I understand your point and would agree with you under most circumstances but I don't think the OP is a bit out of line for this. It would even be different if they had the Service Manuals in stock. It seems he ask to PURCHASE one and they didn't have it, therefore all he did is ask to see the checklist according to that manual. I don't see how that is putting the dealership out one bit.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
The mechanic at our dealership is really good about giving advice. I have and use a manual, but many times there are some tricks to make the job easier and I have found the manual police on this forum to be a pain. I am sure there are some shops that don't want to help customers do their own work, but I've not run into that with cars, motorcycles and even airplanes. I think for the most part mechanics respect mechanics.
Beary
Beary
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu, HI
Haha. Only two more years and I can say the same thing.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 19
From: Cypress, TX
The service schedule and recalls for your bike are on the Harley website. Create an account and enter your VIN. The items on the service intervals are there as is a copy of your owners manual. It doesn't give you specs or show you how but the checklist from the service manual is there. You do need to buy a manual but the specs for an oil change are there. Buy a belt tension tool and you don't need to sit on the bike to check that. If there are any recalls for your bike they will be posted there. for older bikes (not 14s) there is an Android (don't know if it is available for apple) App V twin Reference and it has a lot of handy things like trouble codes and basic trouble shooting.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu, HI
The service schedule and recalls for your bike are on the Harley website. Create an account and enter your VIN. The items on the service intervals are there as is a copy of your owners manual. It doesn't give you specs or show you how but the checklist from the service manual is there. You do need to buy a manual but the specs for an oil change are there. Buy a belt tension tool and you don't need to sit on the bike to check that. If there are any recalls for your bike they will be posted there. for older bikes (not 14s) there is an Android (don't know if it is available for apple) App V twin Reference and it has a lot of handy things like trouble codes and basic trouble shooting.
Here is a picture of me getting it done:
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
How would the OP feel if the tables were turned. Say a guy came up to him while he was maintaining the arresting gear for aircraft. Said he was an experienced Harley mechanic, but got a side job installing arresting gear at another facility. Wanted all the technical specifications and instruction manuals to get the job done, as he had never worked on that specific type of equipment before. Say the guy was pretty **** sure of himself, and of course had no training on the equipment. Remember the responsibility for the two souls on board
It is always a good idea to have someone who sees lots of bikes to take a look after you get a 1000 miles or so. They know which fasteners tend to loosen up, can check all the recalls such as the current hydraulic braking issue as well as listen to sounds that may be abnormal to the bike. They can install all the latest electronic updates and answer any questions you may have on adding accessories to personalize your bike.
After this experienced professional does a going over on your bike, many owners want to go over the bike a second time to make sure all is as it should be. Two sets of eyes on a mechanical device is always better than just one.
As mentioned, these bikes are often going down the road at high speeds with two souls on board. Hard to be too careful. Got to be sure your ego, or wanting to save a few dollars, does not get in the way of having the safest bike possible.
It is always a good idea to have someone who sees lots of bikes to take a look after you get a 1000 miles or so. They know which fasteners tend to loosen up, can check all the recalls such as the current hydraulic braking issue as well as listen to sounds that may be abnormal to the bike. They can install all the latest electronic updates and answer any questions you may have on adding accessories to personalize your bike.
After this experienced professional does a going over on your bike, many owners want to go over the bike a second time to make sure all is as it should be. Two sets of eyes on a mechanical device is always better than just one.
As mentioned, these bikes are often going down the road at high speeds with two souls on board. Hard to be too careful. Got to be sure your ego, or wanting to save a few dollars, does not get in the way of having the safest bike possible.
Supporter
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: NW Ontario
ppl are sometimes a lil too quick to jump in on the conversation!
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Honolulu, HI
How would the OP feel if the tables were turned. Say a guy came up to him while he was maintaining the arresting gear for aircraft. Said he was an experienced Harley mechanic, but got a side job installing arresting gear at another facility. Wanted all the technical specifications and instruction manuals to get the job done, as he had never worked on that specific type of equipment before. Say the guy was pretty **** sure of himself, and of course had no training on the equipment. Remember the responsibility for the two souls on board It is always a good idea to have someone who sees lots of bikes to take a look after you get a 1000 miles or so. They know which fasteners tend to loosen up, can check all the recalls such as the current hydraulic braking issue as well as listen to sounds that may be abnormal to the bike. They can install all the latest electronic updates and answer any questions you may have on adding accessories to personalize your bike. After this experienced professional does a going over on your bike, many owners want to go over the bike a second time to make sure all is as it should be. Two sets of eyes on a mechanical device is always better than just one. As mentioned, these bikes are often going down the road at high speeds with two souls on board. Hard to be too careful. Got to be sure your ego, or wanting to save a few dollars, does not get in the way of having the safest bike possible.
In my opinion gotwages, the point in your favor to rest your hat on is the fact that you made the attempt to purchase the service manual first, only afterwards when they didn't have any for sale did you ask to look at the checklist in one of their service manuals.
There is nothing whatsoever wrong with that. It would be somewhat different if you asked several different times, asked them to make copies of it for you, asked to take it home, or asked to borrow tools.
Asking to buy a service manual first, and then after not having one for sale asking to look at one section of their manual that's not for sale is completely reasonable in my opinion.
There is nothing whatsoever wrong with that. It would be somewhat different if you asked several different times, asked them to make copies of it for you, asked to take it home, or asked to borrow tools.
Asking to buy a service manual first, and then after not having one for sale asking to look at one section of their manual that's not for sale is completely reasonable in my opinion.
Last edited by 1BRAVO9; Oct 21, 2013 at 01:53 PM.