found this out there in cyber space:

http://www.moccsplace.com/images/har...unk/debunk.htm


Debunking the
HD-Maintenance Myth!

Take a closer look at what you are about to pay top dollar for!

Don't let the intimidating Driveway-Jewelry Service and Maintenance Schedule from HD scare you away from owning a great machine.

We deal with maintenance schedule fears and concerns on a weekly basis on the RK forum, and spend lots of typing hours debunking the HD myth surrounding that bread-and-butter maintenance chart that comes with every bike. In short, your new bike will require little, if any more maintenance than the average cruiser by any other brand name, and in many cases LESS!!

Harley's Service/Maintenance schedule is a major income producer for the company, based on its opinion that many of its customers have plenty of money to spend, and do very little riding of their "trophy" bikes. People who actually RIDE their bikes, and have basic mechanical skills and a few tools, can bypass that whole expensive maintenance nightmare scene by simply following a few basic common sense guidelines, and keeping some minimal service records for warranty and resale purposes.

One Price Fits All??


First of all, the single largest scam of the service schedule is the fact that you pay the same price for "inspection" as you do for "adjustment". It takes mere seconds to inspect a drive belt or primary chain for tension specs, but you still pay the full cost of actually adjusting those items (in the rare event that it would even be necessary)! Unless you are a hotdogger, your drive belt will likely never need adjustment between rear tire changes, and the primary chain will likely not need but one adjustment in the first 20, 000 miles, and even then, only one notch on the slider, to make up for initial shoe wear when new.

Wasted Dinosaur Meat


Many shops automatically include a three system oil change with EVERY SERVICE (2500 miles) even though your own service manual stipulates fluid changes at every 5000 mile service. You are paying for twice the number of oil changes as your bike needs. Harley's three-bag oil system keeps specific oil doing specific duties, thereby reducing the wear, tear and breakdown of oil that other single case engines encounter. Additionally, the engine oil is stored in a separate oil chamber from the engine itself, so it isn't pounded by crankcase pressure or excess heat. Additionally, your engine doesn't have to rely on oil that has been pulverized by the transmission gears, or been seared by the clutch plates. Everything works in its own oil, so it stays cleaner, and works longer.

Get your Bearings Straight!


A major expense issue with the maintenance schedule is the high cost of neck and swingarm bearing servicing. Most models have a service schedule that at some point specifies that the neck be disassembled and repacked, even though there is a zerk type grease fitting on some of the touring models!! Consider this...Actual bearing cost is minimal compared to the labor to replace them, which ain't much more than disassembling and packing them. If you follow the "plan" you would have paid for this service whether it was needed or not! Same goes for the swingarm bearings. Ever heard of one single bike ever having a swingarm bearing failure? I'm sure there are one or two out there, but you just don't hear of it. Not even on bikes that never ask for bearing servicing. It would be cheaper to forfeit the warranty on bearing replacements than to pay for unnecessary disassembly and repacking of those bearings.

Tranny Abuse


If you put 10, 000 miles between transmission oil changes, your oil will still look and smell just like it did when you put it in. (how often would a car owner change the gear oil in his/her standard transmission car?). I change my tranny oil every 10, 000 miles, just to keep the accumulated moisture content down. Use transmi

 

Very Interesting!! Good Post!!!!!

 

Well said!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

Good post.

 

Outstanding! I read that info on another web site several months back, and it really motivated me to start accumulating my own tools and do my own work, as well as put on as many accessories as I felt I could handle myself. Thanks for the reinforcement!

Ted

 

Again, Thanks for the post - - I am only going to change my oil every 5K now -- seems it is a waste using syn3 and changing it every 2500 miles - - gets expensive!

 

Interesting read...thanks for the post.

 

Thanks Speed! Great post. I printed those checklists off! Take it easy.

 

Interesting read but I'm wondering.. Who is the guy that wrote this and why should I care what he has to say? I'm not saying that I disagree, I'm just not sure that I should just buy his advise because he posted on a web site.

BTW, if you go to the home page of the site you'll notice that it's devoted to Suzuki owners.