Completely speechless
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu, HI
Completely speechless
So today I went down to the big Harley dealer on the island and the one closest to my house to pick up the oil and kit I needed to knock out my 1000 mile service. I have been a generator mechanic for ten years in the Air Force and I was raised around Harley's so I am very comfortable doing my own maintenance. I feel that the owner is the one who cares the most about the bike so I do all my own maintenance because to many dealers, a bike is a bike is a bike and they could really careless sometimes. Anyways...I get all my oil and gaskets and head down to the device department to see if they had a checklist for the 2014 SG yet or a service manual I can take a look at. I know there is a good list in the owners manual but I wanted to verify a few things first. He tells me they have a generic checklist that they use for all bikes. So I ask him to look at the service manual, they don't have one. So I ask him what he will use when they do customers bikes. He says they will just follow the generic checklist. Well sorry but not all bikes are the same. Most of the items are the same, yes, but he just showed an overall lack of caring when it comes to properly doing a service. On my way out I placed an order for a 2014 SG service manual so I can make sure I did everything I needed to. So I went home, followed the checklist in the owners manual and then checked every nut and bolt I could check for security and tightness with a torque wrench, replaced all the fluids, inspect everything and took it for a ride. So the point me my rant is to be very careful who does your maintenance because they are not only holding your vehicles reliability in their hands but also your life when you're cruising down the highway at 70.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
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?
Yeah, These guys that twist wrenches on Harleys for a living, don't know near as much as you do. Sorry, just had to say it.
Did you check your Fall Away?
How about Belt Tension?
How did you sit on your bike and check correct belt tension?
How about greasing the neck bearing?
Did you do your on Re-Call as well??
Yeah I know my response will get Flack, but geez
Did you check your Fall Away?
How about Belt Tension?
How did you sit on your bike and check correct belt tension?
How about greasing the neck bearing?
Did you do your on Re-Call as well??
Yeah I know my response will get Flack, but geez
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu, HI
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?
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu, HI
Yeah, These guys that twist wrenches on Harleys for a living, don't know near as much as you do. Sorry, just had to say it. Did you check your Fall Away? How about Belt Tension? How did you sit on your bike and check correct belt tension? How about greasing the neck bearing? Did you do your on Re-Call as well?? Yeah I know my response will get Flack, but geez
Yes.
Yes, according to the manual, you don't need to be sitting on it. Would they sit on it and have someone else check it at the dealership?
No because we don't have fitting for greasing the neck bearing.
Yes.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu, HI
Yeah, These guys that twist wrenches on Harleys for a living, don't know near as much as you do. Sorry, just had to say it. Did you check your Fall Away? How about Belt Tension? How did you sit on your bike and check correct belt tension? How about greasing the neck bearing? Did you do your on Re-Call as well?? Yeah I know my response will get Flack, but geez
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Channahon Illinois
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?
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Yes they care. Cuz if they do something wrong or cause damage, which in turn costs the shop. Come backs also cost the shop. Glad you are confident enough to do your own service especially the 1K. And yeah I forgot the new neck bearing is a sealed style so no more lube fitting at the neck
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Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 329
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu, HI
Yes they care. Cuz if they do something wrong or cause damage, which in turn costs the shop. Come backs also cost the shop. Glad you are confident enough to do your own service especially the 1K. And yeah I forgot the new neck bearing is a sealed style so no more lube fitting at the neck
