Imagine if you had not pulled those until the 5000 or 10,000! The guy had to be a jerk, this is common sense stuff, internet or no. If it were not for the forums we would not be getting any technical information, Harley don't tell us squat and leaves us hanging on stuff like this. My plugs were not pulled on the first one thousand, bare metal to metal coming out so I know nothing had been put on them either. You do their job for them and still get the typical Harley run around. I can see overlooking something like this but to get hyperactive trying to talk your way out of it! You will never find a Harley Tech who will admit when they are wrong.

 

Don't ya just love guys like that and the shame of it is...there a dime a dozen!

 

Got some info. for you which came out of the service manual PN 99483-09. I do have to say I was a tad harsh in my previous post concerning the Service mgr for which I do apologize, out of frustration I called him something I shouldn't have.

Anyway, page 1-7 of the manual has a chart and it says "the table below list the periodic maintenance requirements for touring model motorcycles". The table shows in my case that at 1,000 miles the spark plugs are to be inspected. Then on page 1-47 which is the inspection instructions which tell you how to remove the spark plugs along with how to inspect and what to look for. They give descriptions on what to look for and refer to a table with pictures of examples. Step 7 of the procedure tells you to "apply Locktite Anti-Seize to the spark plug threads install and tighten to 12 - 18ft/lbs". Also on page 1-47 as part of the inspection it tells you to inspect the plug wires along with how to perform the inspection. Part of the plug wire inspection is checking the resistance with an ohmmeter. There is a chart on this page showing what the resistance for the front and rear plug wires should be along with instructions to replace them if they don't fall within the specifications. How many techs perform this step, one will never know. Just looking at the outside tells you only part of the story.

Spark plugs and plug wires are an important part of the the knock control. If the resistance of the plug wires are not within spec the ecm may detect false knock activity or not detect it when it should. As an example, last year I was experiencing some issues with my 06 Ultra. I use a SERT as the tuner so I connected it to the bike and my laptop and performed some data runs. Out of the data runs I was seeing knock activity that I know was not correct, it was pulling upwards of 13 or more degrees of timing out. After checking the resistance of the plug wires I found they were out of spec. I replaced them which solved the problem which was confirmed by performing another data run.

The best money one can spend is buy the service manual. For my 06 I have the service manual, parts manual which is good because of the parts explosions. I also have the electrical trouble shooting manual for the 06, some of these are not needed unless your going to do lots of your own work. For the Triglide I would get the above mentioned service manual which is for those with the 09's along with PN 99601-09 which is the service manual supplement for the Triglides. For those with 2010 models they'll need PN 99483-10 touring service manual and 99601-10 which is the supplement for the trike. If your going to do some home service work spend the money on the proper tools such as a torque wrench in some cases it may require one in in/lbs and one in ft/lbs.

 

Maybe I'm wrong but this could be the next issue Harley has to deal with. I'd almost bet once they are get more claims through warranty or other means they will start applying Anti-Seize at the factory upon engine assembly and expect the dealer network to follow the documented service procedures. The rear cylinder is running way to hot for 2 dissimilar metals to coexist and not gall without anti-seize.

 

You guys got me worried so I went out and checked ours. Both plugs backed right out. Bare metal for me to. Probably should have pulled em when I did the 1,000 mile or before I put the PC V on it .....to have a look see.... but never did. Put some anti-sieze on em and put em back in. Good thing cause usualy with me when something can be F'ed up I'll get one of the F'ed up ones.

 

Sounds like you dodged one. Maybe you should go and buy a lottery ticket, never know when luck might smile upon you.

 

Shoot! If there was a lottery with only 100 tickets available and I had 99 of them you could bet I'd have every one except the winner.

 

Thanks very much for the info. As it turned out, when I talked to the service department supervisor of Dealer A today, he immediately agreed that the plugs must be pulled at all service intervals, and reinstalled with anti-seize compound on them. So, I didn't need to cite the service manual for him. By the way, we have known him for years, and he has always been excellent. He said he will check into what happened at our 1k service, and get back to me.

As I mentioned yesterday, Dealer B was great in dealing with our problem and did all they could to get warranty coverage, even considering paying for it themselves (which would have been way too much to ask, in my opinion, since they had nothing to do with the problem). By the way, Dealer B is Cajun HD in Scott, LA. They have been perfect in their handling of my problem.

We shall see how Dealer A comes out, but they have always been excellent, too, and I expect them to do everything they can this time.

Only the HD company rep was a problem. He has basically just stiff-armed us. That's OK; I have a long memory. I'm starting to review BMW brochures.

You're right about having the service manuals. I have one for the 2008 models, but not the 2009 models yet, since we just traded for them. I will get the 09 manuals soon.

 

For once I kind of can't blame HD for taking that stance. They expect their servicing dealers to perform the work per procedure. In this case it looks like dealer "A" has a technician that is not performing the work as it is outlined in the service manual so in reality they are at fault and responsible to make reparation to you for the damages cause by their technicians short comings. The big question to ask is if they skipped the plug inspection what else did you pay for that didn't get serviced?

 

Good point; however, experience suggests that misrepresentation of charges goes way beyond this one dealer!