Out for a ride today and my bike's power starts cutting out intermittently. I pull over to a side street and figure I've got a short. I had recently installed an air horn so figure it's probably the culprit. No prob- I grab my HD issued tool kit to get a phillips head screwdriver to pull the seat. But there is no phillips head bit in the kit. WTF... $20,000+ for a bike and Harley can't put a 50 cent bit in the tool kit?

Maybe I'm unlucky and it was left out?

After looking at the assorted crap they put in there I'll be investing in some decent tools for my road kit.

Luckily I was able to use a key to get the screw out and fix the short.

*** UPDATE ***

As pointed out by a few members here the screwdriver shaft is removable and the bits are included on the other end. Thanks for pointing this out fellas. Lesson learned. Ride safe.

 

Don't know how long you've been riding, and I don't know how long you've had the bike. But one of the first things I ever do before I go for a ride is make sure my tool kit is with me. MY tool kit, the one I put together so that I have what I need to fix or at least asess the problem. I wouldn't be too quick to blame the MOCO, you're a big boy, and you bought the Harley of your dreams. Is it too much to think you might have put together some tools? (Just in Case) I bought my HD new and there was NO tool kit with it, or with the 7 or 8 previous ones. So I wouldn't get too excited about them missing the phillips bit you should have known was required to pull the seat. JMHO, not a flame, just an opinion. I mean you've got a 2008 Glide with Rinehart Duals, Big Sucker A/C and a Power Commander III. Didn't it ever cross your mind that you might have to do something to them while you're out on the road. I'd hardly blame the MOCO.

 

Every bike I've owned has come with basic tools and I've never seen one without a screwdriver. This is my first NEW Harley. Is my expectation of finding a phillips head bit in their toolkit unreasonable?

 

I too have built my own tool kit.. and keep it in the right saddlebag on the RK.

It has 472 different tools in it, because the MOCO uses but metric and standard. I have 7 different length screwdrivers, along with wiggler heads and knuckles for them... because I have to remove 4 things to get the part that is broken. I also carry replacement fasteners for everything on the bike, cuz wrenching a part out 3 times either strips the thread or rounds the head (even the hex heads)... the MOCO uses grade 0 steel I think!

Hell, I can't even get down the road sometimes, cuz the right bag is dragging the GROUND!

/was mostly sarcasm, with quite a bit of truth !!!/

 

This could get long! I have an aftermarket tool kit that is made to fit the teardrop toolbox that is sold for the softail. I have augmented the kit with things that come in handy that weren't included with the kit as purchased (like sticking a spare spark plug in the plug socket), but this kit was pretty well thought out, and included the metric wrench for the battery.

Always amazing what your brothers and sisters can come up with when you're stopped by the side of the road broke down!!! What a site to see someone carrying a battery across I-40 in AZ this past April to jump a fellow rider's bike...and I happened to have the socket that was needed to tighten down the loose bolt on the voltage regulator (you know, the one with the ground wire attached to it!!!!!!).

 

Did you try pulling the shaft out of the torx driver? On mine, the shaft is reversible and on one side is the torx and on the other are the screw driver bits.

 

Did you check the shank of the driver and its handle? Many riders have been embarassed to be told here on the forum that the bits are in there.

Not saying yours are.....just saying they might be !

 

Mine too.

 

Cruz Tools

 

No, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a phillips bit. But I do think you ought to take some responsibility for what happens out on the road. Is it unreasonable to expect that you would have looked at the tool kit to see what was in it? And did you pull out the bit that was in the driver to find that the phillips was inside on the other end? Everyone is so quick to flame out the MOCO, i.e. $20K for a bike, and no .50 cent phillips bit....Geez, take a little responsibility for what could have easily been avoided. Was that the first time you opened the tool kit? Come on now, think through this a little.....