Well, I just had an interesting trip to the dealer after work today....

My setup as of today is an '07 Sportster 1200 Custom with 1,960 miles.

So, the past few days I've been noticing a lot of wobble in the frontend of my bike and it got worse over a quick period of time, to the point of scaring the **** out of me on the ride into work this morning. I checked tire pressure, tire weights, etc with all being fine and figured it must be steering head bearings. I headed to the harley dealer after work.... Told them I figured was stearing head bearings, they said "no, wouldn't be that, we will check it out" lol this was after the fact that they hassled me and said they were too busy for the next week and couldn't get me in. told them it was getting worse and my only transportation, so they finally got me in....

so, they take it into back and spend an hour or so on it after riding it. Was steering head bearings being too loose causing the wobble. I made the comment to them that wasn't tightening/adjustment of the steering head bearings part of that 1k service I was in there for about 2 1/2 weeks ago for and paid $250 for..... they told me it must of came loose, etc. Which at this point I know they are full of crap 99% of time anyways, so I just say okay, get a copy of the work invoice for warranty work, and head home.

I keep all my papers from services and work in a folder incase something ever comes up. So I digged back through to that little checklist they gave me from the 1k service.... I look and see the line for steering head bearings and guess what? IT'S BLANK! not even a checkmark and "good" like the rest of stuff they probably never did....

Now, a week and half or two weeks ago, I had a problem with my exhaust clamps. One fell off and the other was extremely loose and about to fall off.... That happened about 5-6 days after the 1k service was done.... Unfortunately they never wrote up a work invoice for that, just fixed it and sent me out door.

So, ever since they did my 1k service, I've had 2 things happen in less than a month. One of which was specifically on the 1k service checklist and the other is something they should have atleast caught.....

I'm rather angry considering I paid them $249.68 to do a friggin oil change on my bike.

I need some recommendations on where to go from here folks. What is the best thing to do?

I have the work invoice from 1k service, the 1k service checklist that they missed the steering head bearings line, printout of what suppose to be done at 1k service on my bike from h-d site for my vin number, and now the work invoice of them fixing the steering head bearings at less than 2000 miles.

I am a 20 year old going to college full time and working full time, and not like I have a lot of money to throw around, so it's really aggravating that I spent $250 roughly for them to not even do what they were suppose to...... A partial or full refund of my 1k service would be great, or a nice chunk of store credit, or anything along those lines would be nice.... Anyone have any ideas on what to do about this? It's seriously getting old to go to harley dealer after work multiple times and wait around a while to have them fix crap they should have done during 1k service....

I've thought about scanning the paperwork in and sending to harley to see if can get anything done about the shoddy service dept but not sure how far that would get me.

Sorry for writing a book, just aggravated and hoping can get some ideas on what I should do.

BTW, if anyone is wondering, the dealer is Harley-Davidson of Pensacola (Pensacola, FL). I've read someone else on here has had it out with the service dept. Unfortunately, I read that AFTER my 1k service....

Thanks

 

If it were me I would definatley go have a sit down with the dealership owner/manager and discuss what you found with him and see what happens. I would even happen to mention how having paid to have those Steering Head bearingsinspected and you have some proof they didn't even look at them that they could have put you in danger of having an accident. If your lucky and handle it with tactperhaps you can get your $250 dollars back or a portion of it. Its worth a try. Otherwise just get a manual and start doing your own work. Matter of fact you may want to consider that for the future anyways.

 

Yep, I am planning to pickup the service manual for my bike this weekend since I have my snap-on torque wrench and everything on hand already, so that expense is already taken care of.

 

I would go back....but in a professional manner. Talk to the owner/manager and see what happens. Explain that this is a serious matter and you could have been injured. They need to know about it and they have nowhere to stand. The ball is in your court here. You paid for a service and was not done correctly. It is your money here!

If they wish to not make it right....I would call Better Business Burea and report them. They do it to you and got away with it, then the next guy, next guy...and so on.

Definately learn to do some things yourself with a manual though.

 

I was going to buy my 2007 custom there. I was told that I would be disappointed with the883 (I'm not). I was told that they would give me a deal of clothes and accessories when I purchased (they never would say what the deal was).

I bought my bike in Fort Walton Beach, FL. 20% off of everything from the day I ordered the bike until I picked it up. Free (yes, free) 1000 mile service. Also was given a "tanks for the the memories" set for filling out the survey sent by the company.

I was in Pensacola one weekend. Stopped at the dealer. Picked up a T-shirt and a helmet that were on sale. The sales persons did not talk to me even though I looked at the bikes first.

No regrets with Fort Walton Beach, FL.

 

Yeah, when I was looking at the 2007 1200C, they told me it was $750 store credit, which they held that end. Basically just went through store and got $750 worth of stuff (engine guard, sissybar, helmet, gloves, tshirts, etc) without sales tax factored in. I also received 1month of 10% discount in store. Wasn't too bad upfront as far as sales, they were fine..... it's mainly just been the service dept and have had some annoyances from the parts dept but other than that, no problems. The last thing I plan to buy from them is MAYBE the service manual, but thinking about just ordering it.

 

Most HD dealers have a if you rode it the warranty is void attitude.I didn't wait until 1000 miles to take it in.I did it myself at around 750.If something goes wrong it will be my fault.Not any different than if they did it and I paid their prices.I will never buy a new bike again at least from Gattos.The salesman was great,it fell apart from there on in.Parts and service sucked more than anything I have seen in my life.Some of the people that know me down there act like they don't.I don't give them a hard time either.If I had a big twin I would get respect there so it seems.The newest parts guy told me a pcIII sucks and you need to use HD's on the new sporties and some dyno time.I said dyno time for what?You only have one map anyhow.You can't tweak a factory download anyhow.Told him see you later,I was only in there for an oil filter anyhow.Took out the HD syn3 and put Mobil 1 in the engine and primary.It cost me more but the principle is what matters to me.If he wasn't a dick I would have bought oil.

 

It is not just your localHarley dealer...it happens in all realms of customer service in every industry.
The muffler clamps are not on the critical fastener checklist.
Harley"s head bearing adjustment is the most rediculousand impossibleoperation toperform accurately. Icarried out the adjustmentexact to the Service manual and found the adjustmentmade the front end wobbly on the highway.
I don't know why they aren't like every other bike manufacture andgive a torque setting.
As far as dealers go, if they are givingyou something, they are taking itaway from you somewhere else.

 

I hear ya onthat. I read that procedure in the manual, with the tape on the fender, pointer, etc. What a bunch of B.S. Torque 'em down and drive on.

 

grrrr went to dealer today after my lunch. service manager wasn't there, so they just made copies of my stuff and left it on his desk with my cell number. he called me just a bit ago, saying the tech opens service manual infront of them while doing the service, and checks off everything as they go through the service. he noticed that the critical fasteners wasn't checked along with steering head bearings but could careless and said if it wasn't in the manual, they didn't do it. then he got pissy and hung up on me.... called up there to reach the general manager but no answer. So I'm headed there after work and raising a stink if nothing gets done. Seriously am tired of this BS.