| Author | Message | ||
     Seanp |
I took the bike to a dealership (which will remain nameless until I give them a chance to rectify this issue) recently for my 15,000 mile service. In addition, I asked them to replace the nuts holding the front exhaust header to the head, because they had both worked loose and I had replaced them with some Home Depot specials, and I wanted the flanged nuts that were supposed to be on there. On my way back from Buelltoberfest to Tallahassee this afternoon, I got hit in the right leg by a big bug. I felt it through the leg of my Aerostich, so it might have even been a small bird. A little bit later I kept hearing this rattle noise as I accelerated, and after a couple of miles I pulled off to see what it was. I saw the collar that goes around the front exhaust header hanging down, rattling at the place where the two pipes meet. Apparently the bird that hit my leg was one or both of the exhaust header nuts. I thought ok, no problem, I am only 15 miles from home. I'll head home, take a quick trip to Home Depot, and replace the nuts again. I pulled into my garage and bent down to see if I could figure out what size nut I needed, and saw this:  Apparently when they replaced the nut, they torqued it a little too much, and now the stud is gone. How bad is this going to be? Is this something the dealer should fix for free, since they were the ones who over-torqued it? And all this the day after I lost a cylinder due to a fouled spark plug, and also a week or so after my warranty expired. Figures... | ||
| Rr_eater |
If you have anything on paper that says they fixed this original request, IE replacing the nutz, then yes, they are at "fault" per say for the failed stud. I will tell you this though, this is a common failure on harleys, and I have seen this on a few different Buells over the years. See if you can be cool with your dealership and either split it or get it done as a good faith deal first, sometimes walking in firing guns will never turn out well no matter how right you are.... Bruce | ||
| Hooper |
Yeah, this happened to my 2007 Harley. I had my dealer install some aftermarket pipes because I didn't have the right tools to access that bolt. During the work, which should have taken a few minutes, they told me that the bolt sheared off and they were struggling to back it out. They were simultaneously trying to get H-D corporate to pay for it under warranty. No luck there. They eventually drilled it out and get it all back together and installed the pipes, but it took over a day - what a nightmare. Seems to me I got taken. | ||
| Seanp |
I have the receipt from the work stating "Replace front head pipe exhaust nuts" on 25SEP. I'm certainly not going to go in guns blazing, as the dealership is pro-Buell, but I do want to make sure that if they try to tell me it's my fault that I have a leg to stand on to claim it's them... | ||
| Ulynut |
Fortunately, that is the easy one to fix. A good mechanic will (should) have no problem getting that stud out. Exhaust studs commonly snap off on all kinds of bikes, not just Harleys and Buells. If I had a nickel for every exhaust stud I've broken over the years, I'd have at least $.25 by now.  | ||
| Prowler |
At the same time they're replacing the exhaust stud you should have them replace the clutch cable wireform........ | ||
| Court |
Very common malady. Very easy fix. Torque is JUST BEYOND finger tight . . Check frequently | ||
| Seanp |
Yeah, I hope it's an easy fix. I hate being deadlined! | ||
| Seanp |
Originally I was going to have to drive 2.5 hours one way to drop the bike off, only to return a few days later to pick it up. Now they got me an appointment for Saturday so I can just go there once and wait... Yay.  This is the kinda stuff that really pisses me off, and makes me wish sometimes I'd bought a bike with dealers closer than 100 freaking miles away. Even when I move to NY, the closest dealer will still be 45 minutes away in another state... (Message edited by seanp on October 06, 2008) | ||
| Ulykan |
Don't think that merely having a dealer close by is all wonderful. It's not. I bought my bike from my local dealer only 15 miles from my house yet if I want to be treated properly I still have to travel 150 miles to a "real" Buell dealer. Good luck and I'm sorry to hear of your problems. | ||
| Dio |
Can it be presumed that Alef's is not a "real" Buell dealer in your opinion? Is Topeka or Hays the location of the "real" dealer? Inquiring minds want to know (in case I need dealer assistance). | ||
| Rotorhead |
Depending where you end up in NY. USMA or Drum there are some good buell guys up there. I was treated great in Binghamton on the spot fixes with no apiontment and bikes in line!! The Syracuse guys are getting better but it does help every Buell owner not going in with guns blazing!! | ||
| Ulykan |
Dio, Let's just say that Alefs and I don't agree that I have a problem with my front end. I was there for service 2 weeks ago and asked them to diagnose and fix a symptom which appears as if I were going over expansion joints on a concrete highway. It's that kind of sensation and becomes noticeable at 70 and very noticeable at 80. Two techs rode the bike and both claimed to not notice anything out of the ordinary. The last one turned the problem over to the service manager. About 20 minutes later the service manager finally came out and spoke with me about it, telling me that if his two techs couldn't find a problem then I don't have one. I bluntly stated that he and his department had let me down and that I had lost confidence in them. He stated that he was sorry I felt that way and walked off. I went to Topeka HD and the service director, Bruce, took the bike on a 35 mile diagnostic ride and while he couldn't identify the problem he did agree that something is wrong. Suspension adjustments were made without making a difference and since Riverfront HD/Buell in Lawrence is Topeka's Buell service dept. Bruce made arrangements for the bike to be looked at there. I have a 10/22 appt. there. Having experienced their service dept. two years ago when I bought my 06 Sportster from them I advised against buying from them and then in July I went against my own advice. Are you in Wichita? | ||
| Seanp |
Rotorhead, I'll be at USMA, and living up in Newburgh, so it's just a quick jump down 84 to Danbury HD/Buell. Those guys are good, and they already hooked me up with some emergency service on my cooling fan when I was riding from FL to CT to WI for Homecoming. I am looking forward to being 45 miles away from a good dealer again, like when I lived in Atlanta and was close to Stone Mountain. | ||
| Dio |
Ulykan, I am in Salina, but bought my '06 new from Topeka. That was before Alef's took on Buell. It's never been back to any dealer for anything since, including the BAS recall that's never been done. Warranty goes over the wall in less than 30 days! | ||
| Ulykan |
Dio, pm me and let's get together sometime. We can talk more then. You're not far from me. Bob | ||
| Seanp |
The dealership took care of it gratis today. They were quite helpful, so it all worked out ok. Thankfully I had the KLX to ride to school over the week. |
