do I have to live with the $250 to $300 dealership charge for the 5,000 mile checkups until my warranty expires to keep my warranty in effect?!! Can't I just do it myself without violating my warranty....or do I need to continue to be violated? Thanks

 

You can perform your own maintenance.
Keep detailed receipts of the oil/filters used.
Keep track of the dates it was completed in your owner's manual.

 

You will not void your warranty unless the work done (or not done) caused specific damage. Example, if you have neck bearing problems at 15K and it hadn't been greased since the factory did it, you will probably be in for a fight to get it covered. If your frame cracks, it's unlikely they would be able to prove that you doing your own scheduled maintenance caused that problem.

 

Thanks...will do!

 

thats what a lot of us do.

 

Appreciate all the info...I"m no mechanic BUT I can do basic things and the first thing is I"m gong to get a service manual. I was annoyed when I went to get my 10K and without calling me my dealer just decided to put new plugs....Harley's own specs don't call for new plugs at 10K!!!!!...when I brought that fact up to the service manager he said "but we believe it's best to do it at 10K"....WTF!....other little things like that annoy the %&*&@!! out of me. Just shoot straight up but don't get me from behind when I'm not looking!

 

Look up the magnusson moss act. This explains a lot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuso...s_Warranty_Act

Drew

 

Thank you Drew. I was hesitant to go to my local dealer but out of convenience I did...the alternative is 30 miles away....however I will make the journey for future needs. I was told the dealer was less than honest on their repairs but wanted to make that judgement myself...they proved the rumors true IMO. Not that this will do any good, I will let HD know of the incident and cc the dealer. Thanks for the info..not an attorney, however, seems they may have violated a federal consumer protection law.