| Author | Message | ||
     Dynasport |
Rant on: I am leaving on a 2,000+ bike trip Monday. I have been looking forward to this for weeks/months even. Well, a few weeks ago I began to experience intermittent problems with my ignition switch not making a good connection. I would sometimes have to wiggle my key around to get a connection so I could start my bike. With my upcoming trip, I immediately went to my local dealer, Brandon HD, and told them I needed to order a new ignition switch. They looked at my key and told me my key was worn and if I had another key I should try it before ordering a new ignition switch. I do have another key that has been put up since I bought the bike, so I went home and tried it. It worked perfectly until last Friday night. So, Saturday morning first thing I show up at the dealer again. At this point I am concerned about them being able to get me a new ignition switch before my trip. I spoke to a man in service who told me he couldn't get me one keyed to my bike in time, but he could get me one with two new keys. The only issue would be it wouldn't be keyed to my fork lock. No problem says I. I'll have here Thursday, says he. You sure? I ask. I am leaving Monday for the trip. No problem, says he. It will be here Thursday. So, I pay for it and cross my fingers. Well, guess what? It's not here. Today now one seems to have any idea when it will be here, but they say there is no way it will be here before next Tuesday. Amazing. Why even tell me it will be here today if there is no way it will be. Just an honest answer would have been fine. My ignition switch has been working fine the last several times I rode the bike, but I'd still like to replace it. The point is, however, I was promised one thing on Saturday, but today no one there sees how what I was told on Saturday is even possible. Rant Off | ||
| Swordsman |
Do dealerships not understand the concept of overnight shipping, or what? Unless it's simply unavailable, they're just not willing to get it in time. ~SM | ||
| Hootowl |
The dyna uses the same ignition switch as the tubers, is that right? If so, I think Al at American Sport Bike carries replacements that are much cheaper than the stock part. At least you would have gotten it in time. Too late now, I know. Oh cool, "A" "S" "B" automatically becomes American Sport Bike when you post. | ||
| Jim2 |
Sorry to hear of your problem. I'm having a similar issue with my ignition. After reading you post I think I'll try my spare key and see if that helps. Mine has been getting worse and today at lunch I didn't think I was going to get my bike started at all.  | ||
| Hootowl |
I don't see what the key has to do with it. ?? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
call Trip at Precision HD, one of our sponsors. (401) 724-0010 He gets the rush parts thingy. Ask him to find the part on the Harley net, then you call the dealer that has it, and ask them to overnight it to you. Could happen, it's a pretty common part. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Alternatively, find a dealer on your route that has one in stock, & get it done on the way. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
hey dan, if you do get a new ignition switch, there used to be a locksmith on faulklenberg just north of 60 that made barrel keys so maybe he can match up the ignition switch to fit the old key. good luck and if there's anything i can do for ya, i'm off tomorrow. | ||
| Kyrocket |
I've had a little problem with my key cylinder but more so it comes from the connection on the other end about 8 - 10" from the cylinder. Are you absolutely sure it's in the key? Just askin'. I've actually had mine go stone cold dead at 80mph and have to reach behind the flyscreen to jiggle the wires. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Dyna...Brandon has fallen way off the map concerning Buell. Any tech worth a damn has been let go. Any parts person worth a damn has been let go...one damn good parts person left on their own (nevrenuf's daughter who was probably the best). They hired a guy to revamp Buell, then said "Ahh screw it!". He left. I hate to say it, but join the club brother. I won't go to Lakeland solely because of the piss poor attitude they carry. The old man loves Buell but has no clue of the way his employees treat each other or customers. Next time you need anything from that place...you talk to Momma Sue. She works in motor clothes but she will get shit done for you and tell you how it is. I know...she's my mom. (Message edited by firebolt32 on September 24, 2009) | ||
| Dynasport |
A funny thing I didn't mention yesterday, is that when the first guy I talked didn't have a clue about my order, he said he'd have a different person call me back when he got back from lunch. I felt bad for the guy because it was 4:00, which seems like a late lunch. Anyway, the guy calls me and says he has tested my ignition switch ten or fifteen times and it was working fine. I asked him what he was doing at my house. I don't know who's bile he was messing around with, but it wasn't mine. That would be funny if it wasn't so troubling. I think I will just see about getting my money back from Brandon and ordering one from Al. My ignition switch has been working fine again for now. At this point I think all I can do is hope it makes the trip with no issues. The broken promises bother me more than anything. This is not the first time they have not come through with something they promised me. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Get one from Al (I just ordered mine yesterday!). They are only $24, as opposed to $112 from the dealer, and they are higher quality. If you call them today, they will ship today and they can overnight it to you. http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/16033.html | ||
| Dynasport |
Andy, I sure like that price better. I'm not sure how it'll mount to my stock location, though. I just got off the phone with Brandon again and stirred the pot some more. I have been very friendly and polite and won't treat in any way unprofessional, but I have let them know how disappointed and frustrated I am with them right now. We'll see if they can fix this situation or not at this point. | ||
| Dynasport |
Brandon HD called. They have an ignition switch and a $50 refund for me. It seems they got one from Custom Chrome somehow. I will be picking it up this afternoon. I guess my polite complaining worked. I give them credit for going the extra mile to get me one, I just wish I hadn't had to go through this to get it. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Good to hear... | ||
| Aldaytona |
Hope that $50 refund isn't from the $112 price of the Harley-Davidson part. That would be paying $62 for a $20 Custom Chrome switch. Plus tax. Along with the wasted time and aggravation, that would be adding insult to injury. BTW: a couple of years age my Sportster ignition switch started to act up intermittently and I replaced it with the $20 Drag Specialties/Custom Chrome barrel key switch. So Far, so good. | ||
| Dynasport |
Al, actually it is. So the Custom Chrome switch is $20? They charged quite the premium for getting it for me didn't they? Wow. Thanks for the info. I don't begrudge a business making a profit, but that seems a bit excessive, especially considering they didn't get me the part I ordered when they told me they would. | ||
| Dynasport |
You're right, I looked it up. That Custom Chrome switch is $20 and it is the same one I paid Brandon HD $60 for. And they acted like they did me such a favor by locating this part and getting it for me. Boy do I feel like an idiot. Well, live and learn. | ||
| Ourdee |
Last time I replaced an ignition switch, I used three toggle switches that were just out of sight. (slightly hidden) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'm afraid that these days a dealer is my last option when I can't source the part elsewhere. Not HD dealers particularly, it goes for just about anything, from dishwashers to cars. When something breaks or is on the way out, my first port of call is this keyboard. My wife complains about the amount of time I spend on the net but shuts up when I explain to her how much money it's saved us. Example in question; the cheapest I can get an oil filter here for an XB is over $12! So when I order parts for the Dodge from the US I have them lob in a couple of filters at $4 bucks apiece. As you say Dyna, I don't begrudge people making a profit but I won't stand for being blatantly ripped off, just to have a receipt from the dealer. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
+1 Grumpy. There seems to be a rather unfortunate tendency in business now a days to take a predatory attitude towards their customers. Harley is only one of many, even though it may be one of the most egregious, because of the monopoly position it holds on the "Harley Image." Even dear old, environmentally sound, changing the planet for the better, apple computer loves ripping off the faithful. For example, if you buy a new Mac Pro eight core and want 32 gigs of ram, (one of the main reasons to use an 8 core model), apple will charge you $3,700 extra. One the other hand, one might purchase the self same 32 gigs of ram from OWC for $1248, saving $2452, enough to buy an entire, new, 4 core apple computer. And you would still have the six gigs of ram the machine shipped with, even though it would be in six one gig sticks which you would have a hard time giving away, and you couldn't buy if you wanted to. I believe that this deplorable state of affairs is the bitter fruit of the decline in moral values introduced by the "baby boomers", which has negatively affected every aspect of our civilization. | ||
| Odie |
I believe that this deplorable state of affairs is the bitter fruit of the decline in moral values introduced by the "baby boomers", which has negatively affected every aspect of our civilization. Sad but true............. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Ford is the same, check out the price for a rear wheel bearing assembly for a Focus from Ford. €300 appx from the dealer here in France, THE SAME PART Ford stamped & everything, from an online parts dealer in the UK €100. I won't pay for a "name". I appreciate there are shipping costs & stuff to take into account, but even so, a cash cow I aint! | ||
| Fast1075 |
A kid opens a roadside lemonaide stand...his first customer orders a cup and asks how much...kid says $10,000.00..customer says that is just a bit pricey....kid says yeah...but I only need to sell one cup  |
