To make a long story short, headed out Saturday morning for a short trip my wife and I are cruzing along about 75MPH (65 if any police officers are reading this) in the left lane of a 5 lane freeway. All of a sudden I start losing power, I down shift and am still losing power. Then I smell burning rubber. I motion to the guy riding behind me that I need to pull over.. I start to pull over and then the back-end starts sliding but I was able to maintain control and get on the shoulder. Get off the bike and notice a rear flat. So I'm thinking damnit! Lovely Houston roads picking up trash again. Start looking at it only to find that the valve stem had broken at the base of the rim but was still partially attached. So I call my trusty local HD shop and say hey come get me my valve stem broke. The service manager proceeds to tell me that 1.5 weeks ago when I had the bike in for rear tire replacement that they did NOT change the valve stem. He should have never told me that!

Put my wife and I in harms way for a $1.50 valve stem on a job they charged $115.00 to remove and replace the rear tire with a tire I purchased from Drag Specialties. Any reputable tire company around here that I trust to replace tires on my car will without questioning you replace the valve stems on a rim. If they charge you $5 for it, so be it.. they just do it! It's a natural occurance.

Needless to say I'm pissed (albeit thankful for the way it turned out) and I'm going down to talk to the service manager's supervisor today. Just curious as to how you would handle this and what you would say to the guy...

 

When you went to the dealer, prior to him doing the work you must sign a form that states the work to be performed. You read and signed it. If it mentioned a valve replacement and you did not get it. Shame on them. If it didnt mention it and you wanted it, shame on you. It is incumbant of you to know what they will be doing to your satisfaction. Why blame someone else when you didnt check the work done and ask the right questions.
This is just another blame someone else poor little ole me story. Take the blame, pony up and stop blaming others for your job not done.

 

good point but I'm still pissed! LOL I guess my mistake was trusting that they do the right thing. I mean really/truthfully how many people bring a bike in and specifically ask "are you going to change the valve stems"? unless you're changing them out to something else like the steel or chrome types I wouldn't think many people would even think about asking that question

Live and learn I guess.

 

Well I think you set the presedent by taking an outside suppliers tire into them to handle. I would think if they supplied the tire, the valve stem would have been part of the question asked if you wanted it replaced.
It happens everyday all over the world. The key is to make sure the supplier of any service understands and knows exactly what YOU want. Than make sure YOU get what you want. Its a lesson for all of us and we are all guilty.

 

I really love my Cycle Hill tire changer

 

I'd have to wonder if the stem was damaged during the tire change. I normally change them every time.
I also agree with carlgrover. My tire tools have paid for themselves long ago.

 

Should I assume since you are in the Cypress area the dealer was at Crossroads??

 

you would be correct Astro. I took the bike in last Tuesday morning when they opened and talked to the service manager. I had every intention of going in there and chewing some a$$ but on the way there, I reflected on what ClutchCargopa said above. So, the ole catch more flies with honey thing is the approach I took. They were real nice about it and took care of it immediately. Removed tire, removed valve stem in tire, took out the valve stem that was installed and put a HD valve stem back in there. All said and done, 1 hour later and $40 and I was out the door a happy camper. The bottom line is I was happy and once again riding with no worries.

To ClutchCargopa's point about the tire being purchased somewhere else; According to the service manager;
1. This particular dealer doesn't care where the tires are purchased. There are several dealers around here that will not touch any parts that were purchased from anyone other than themselves and that includes other HD dealers.
2. Unless there is a need (or request) to change the valve stems, they do not do it regardless of where the tire was purchased.

So lesson learned, when I have a tire replacement done, I will from now on REQUEST the valve stems be replaced. And hats off to Jeb and the service department at Mancuso Crossroads.

 

Standard practice is to replace valve stems when the tires are changed,the tech should have known this.

 

+100...
Surprised they knew enough to put air in.