| Author | Message | ||
     Shea |
Wasn't sure if anyone was still following my "Something Odd" thread, so I wanted to report this and make everyone aware of this problem. Took it back to the guy who said he would work on my bike for me. Turns out, that primary shaft nut IS, in fact, loose. I am so pissed right now. I am having him do it, even though it's warranty, just out of spite to the dealerhip. I am not letting them get paid for their mistake. Think I should call them and let them know they screwed up, or will it be a waste of time? | ||
| Diablobrian |
It would be hard to go back to them for motor warranty work if you tell them someone else was working inside the motor. Just a thought. | ||
| Kdan |
Call them, tell them they screwed up. Someone else may benefit from your experience. You can still get warranty work, no matter who was in there. They would have to show that said person in there broke something to deny any claim. Hell, first thing I do when I buy a new vehicle is get in it and make sure everything is where it's supposed to be. | ||
| Brewtus |
Put it in writing. Let them know that the nut was loose and you had it fixed elsewhere. Give details on what they told you at the Dealer. It will open some eyes. If you don't get answers send it directly to Buell. (Just what I learned in my job.) if you call them it stops at the shop service manager and you get nowhere. | ||
| Shea |
The person who worked on it is a certified Harley mechanic, so I can't imagine they could argue for any problems. I think may just send a letter/email to someone at Harley/Buell. Who would I contact about that? | ||
| Buellistic |
SEND TO BMC !!! | ||
| Jon_s |
The next time a tech suggests to you that the increased racket and vibration is due to synthetic oil, go find another service outlet. Glad you've resolved the problem! | ||
| Shea |
Ok, but where do I find an address for BMC? | ||
| Buellistic |
2799 BUELL Drive East Troy, WI. 53120-1372 | ||
| Thepup |
Shea,when a dealer screwed up my bike,I called Buell.I got the old"Dealers are independent from the factory",good luck there.I would fix it yourself,and never return to that dealer. | ||
| Blake |
In my opinion, this needs to be a recall issue for the XB12s out there. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
and the XB12Ss.... i just had this exact warrenty work done on my 06 about 3 weeks ago! It tore apart the clutch shell and sprocket!! runs fine now! | ||
| Kurosawa |
> In my opinion, this needs to be a recall issue for the XB12s out there. Yeah, but I'm wondering if some corporate lawyer warned that if they did that, there might be successful claims for associated damage. | ||
| Shea |
As far as I know, whether the checking of the nut is warranty or not, associated damage is going to be covered one way or another, because it's associated. The re-torqeing of that nut is covered under warranty if the nut was loose ot begin with and if it was loose enough to cause damage, then it's all associated. IMO, they are aren't making a good rep for themselves with this kind of thing. When I found out how common this problem is and the service techs are being told it's only a service bulletin and nothing they should deal with unless it's already bad, I was pissed. I could easily break down from this and cause an accident or be killed. Motorcycles are nothing to be messing with and them trying to save money is risking lives for something so petty. | ||
| Stretchman |
I had a 98 Sportster that had to have the compensator nut retorqued as well. It is not a new issue. The bikes sometimes do it, sometimes don't. Nothing to it. It makes a little noise is all. If you are getting the noise, stop by the dealer and ask them to retorque it. New gasket is all it takes. Stretch | ||
| C4bird |
I also believe it should be a recall. My XB12Ss is in the shop for it right now. Seems to be happening alot lately. -Nate | ||
| Gowindward |
I wonder what is really the root cause of this problem. My '04 12R has a manufactured date of 6/04. The bike has almost 22k miles on it and this has not been a problem, yet.... Could it be a case of some threads/parts being on the edge of the spec, which in turn causes a less than ideal fit between the nut and shaft. I am considering tightening the nut to this revised torque spec at my next regular service, but wonder if it is really needed on my bike. | ||
| Adamcooney |
How do you tell if this is an issue or not? I was in there for my 1,000 mile service today and they said they adjusted the primary chain and all the other stuff and I mean the bike makes noise but its just noise from the chain and whatnot it doesn't really sound unusual. It sounds like if you open up a car hood when its running like the light "ticking" from the timing chain. How would I know I need this done? My manufactored date of the bike was September 2006. It's an 06 XB12Ss. | ||
| Shea |
I spotted the problem due to more noise coming from the bike than what's typical. I just know what my bike should sound like from running it and 1k miles of running it in a 4 month period I have learned what it should sound like. WHen I got my bike back, the rattleing sound coming from the primary/engine, was very loud. From what I understand, they only check the chain and apparently, they don't check the nut, or they would have found it loose on mine. It actually sounds like the chain is loose, but he told me the chain is fine, it's the loose nut I am hearing. | ||
| Adamcooney |
I've only had mine for a month and the other 2 bikes I've heard sound just like mine. Plus mine was built in September so I think I just missed the nut torque thing. | ||
| C4bird |
My bike was built in August 05. You will absolutely be able to tell if it needs it. Sounds like some one shaking a coffee can full of rocks as hard as they can. Mine also had a loud knock that I at first thought may have been rod. Should be no issue now, warranty is covering everything, hope to get it back next week. If yours isn't making noise, you may be ok, but without pulling the cover off and checking, no way to tell if it will be ok or not. -Nate | ||
| Gowindward |
Nate, How many miles on your bike? | ||
| Pokinatcha |
I have had a lot of warranty work as well, they ruined my rear cylinder when removing the gaskets to replace my valve guide seals for the second time within seven thousand miles. I burned and or leaked a quart of oil about every 1000 miles. They were okay to me though and gave me $300.00 of store credit cause I complained. I can buy a t-shirt and a key chain with that much. They had it for more than a month between the four times it took them to finally fix it. 2005 city x | ||
| Rich |
Mine came loose, too! I had it fixed at Milwaukee HD. I was lucky to get in, as it was Harley's 90th anniversary. | ||
| Shea |
I can buy a t-shirt and a key chain with that much. LMAO That is so true. | ||
| Dako |
Had the same compensator nut problem on my 05XBS. All better now. | ||
| C4bird |
Go, My bike had just crossed 1650 miles when it started, only put 2 miles on it after the noise, before it went to the shop. | ||
| Odinbueller |
This has been discussed at length on the BadWeb, but at the risk of sounding unpopular, this is a running change to the XB platform, not really a recall issue. Here's why: A recall is conducted by a motor company when a defect in manufacturing has been uncovered in the field, and is a safety related issue that needs IMEDIATE correction for the safety of the rider. A good example of this is the rear shock recall on the old tubers. Now, there is a "Product Program Update", which is an upgrade to a component or components on a particular model, available to owners of that model at the expense of the motor company. A good example of this is the wheel bearing replacement program on the 2002 model XB models (remember the black bearing seals?). A running change is an update to a process in manufacturing on particular models that supersedes previous model year's specifications or processes. A good example of this is the new torque spec on the crankshaft nut on 2006+ XB models. Now, if your vehicle is under warranty, and there is a problem that can be resolved by this new procedure, then it is a paid warranty repair. Now, if there is no problem to fix, the motor company will not pay to have the component updated to that new spec. There must be a problem to fix before the motor company will pay for that procedure. Now this all comes back to experienced techs and factory training. If you are experiencing primary noise and your chain is adjusted to the proper specification, then there is a reason to check other components in the primary that necessitate the removal of the primary cover. Take your bike to a Buell dealer, and explain your concern in detail, so that the service writer can communicate to the technician what needs to be addressed. Hope this helps, Chris | ||
| Shea |
The problem is now fixed. There is only one Buell dealership within an hour of me, so I took it there, same place I bought it. I told them of the problem. I guess it's not a problem unless they say so. When we loosed the nut to take it off, it slipped right off with very little pressure to loosen. It def was NOT even near being tightened to earlier specs. Put it up to 255lbs and now it sounds normal again. | ||
| Odinbueller |
Good to hear that the problem is taken care of. Red Loctite is a MUST on that fastener, along with proper torque. I know that service personnel are the hardest to come by these days, let alone extraordinary ones. We try to cultivate a feeling of ownership with each customer we take in. Sometimes it just does not or can not happen, given the circumstances. I know I worked the service desk for quite some time, and I can speak of personal experience, that a service writer is THE hardest job in an entire dealership. Good service writers are hard to come by, and some should not be behind the desk at all. Now that I'm wrenching, I get work orders that say "Check brake operation". I then try to get the service writer to elaborate on the "customer concern". There are many steps in getting a work order to a technician, that sometimes the concern just gets lost in the process. I'm not saying that it's right, it just happens. I hope your following experiences at your dealership are better ones. Chris | ||
| Shea |
I agree. I have worked at two dealerships and you are right. Not only are good service personal workers hard to come by, but they are hard to keep too. I did talk to the service person, who simply went and got a tech for me. WHich is prbably the best thing for him to do, considering the tech would be working on the bike. The tech told me that the sound was normal. I got home and it got worse. I called service and the guy was great. When I told him how far I as and that I just got he bike home, he said "If we have to, I'll get someone to your house and get the bike back. It was just a matter of convincing the tech that somthing was wrong. |
