Update for my oil leaking M8

[Steve on 3]

I got a call from the dealer this morning. They rode the bike and found that I do have an oil leak (duh) . It appeared to be coming through the breather. They tested it without the breather and found no leak, with the breather there is a leak. They theorize that something was left out of the head, possibly an o ring or a seal. The Moco has a guy onsite this morning to begin tearing the engine down or at least the upper ends. So far , they are full steam ahead on a fix. I want them to take care of business and I want to do what is right by them. They have always treated me well, but this is the 4th bike I have bought since 09.

My question is this.....Would I be out of line in asking for an esp ?

or at least on the engine depending on the fix?

I mentioned to him that according to the trip summary, I only got 25 mpg and used almost half a tank in 60 miles.

He said that is a separate issue.

I think it may be tied in with the other one. If an extended tear down or engine replace, should I ask for a loaner bike if they don't offer one?

Thanks for the opinions and comments. I know it is going to be an awesome trike. When I get to ride it.

Steve

[Capt.Bob]

I got a call from the dealer this morning.

They rode the bike and found that I do have an oil leak (duh) .

It appeared to be coming through the breather. They tested it without the breather and found no leak, with the breather there is a leak. They theorize that something was left out of the head, possibly an o ring or a seal. The Moco has a guy onsite this morning to begin tearing the engine down or at least the upper ends. So far , they are full steam ahead on a fix. I want them to take care of business and I want to do what is right by them. They have always treated me well, but this is the 4th bike I have bought since 09.

My question is this.....Would I be out of line in asking for an esp ?

or at least on the engine depending on the fix?

I mentioned to him that according to the trip summary, I only got 25 mpg and used almost half a tank in 60 miles. He said that is a separate issue.

I think it may be tied in with the other one. If an extended tear down or engine replace, should I ask for a loaner bike if they don't offer one?

Thanks for the opinions and comments. I know it is going to be an awesome trike. When I get to ride it.

Steve

Steve, Sorry to hear about the initial findings on your leak. You are asking several questions that I think would be best addressed with either the Sales Manager, General Manager or owner of the dealership you bought the trike from.

If it were me, I would formulate a strategy as to why I was asking for certain accommodations and would go to the highest decision maker in the dealership that I had a relationship with and attempt to get some/all of the concessions that you mentioned. I would think that the dealership and/or the MOCO would be very interested in keeping an early adopter very happy with the roll-out of a new engine platform that has produced some poor performance in less than 100 miles of use.

These things happen for all manufactured goods at some times in their production cycles and the manufacturers build in cash reserves to help keep their purchasers happy.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

My buddies 16 Street glide did the same thing,ended up that one of the return oil holes thru the cly never got drilled thru at the engine plant,they over nighted a new cly in and that was 5000 trouble free miles ago,hope your issues are solved quickly.As far as ESP they wouldnt let me transfer mine from the 16 to the 17 (new engine design) so they will refund my money,and by the way it runs concurrent with your existing factory warranty,so when this 17 gets about 6 months from the warranty fro running out i will buy it then.

[Steve on 3]

Steve, Sorry to hear about the initial findings on your leak. You are asking several questions that I think would be best addressed with either the Sales Manager, General Manager or owner of the dealership you bought the trike from. If it were me, I would formulate a strategy as to why I was asking for certain accommodations and would go to the highest decision maker in the dealership that I had a relationship with and attempt to get some/all of the concessions that you mentioned. I would think that the dealership and/or the MOCO would be very interested in keeping an early adopter very happy with the roll-out of a new engine platform that has produced some poor performance in less than 100 miles of use. These things happen for all manufactured goods at some times in their production cycles and the manufacturers build in cash reserves to help keep their purchasers happy.

Agreed Bob.

I don't want to be out of line with my requests. I don't want to be a dick. At the same time, I have a decent investment in something that didn't even make it home. The esp would be to protect from damages done which may not show up until the 24/24 warranty was expired. The loaner would be simply for the inconvenience of not having a bike to ride through no fault of my own. I have a great relationship with the owner Chris Preston who instructed my sales guy to "do what he had to do to put me on that trike"

I trust they will do what is fair but wondered how others think I should proceed and what is fair and equitable.

The loaner they will probably do ( It might even be my trade in.

)

Thanks for your reply

Steve

[ronc4424]

Not impressed

I traded my vtx 1800 trike w/Motortrike kit for a superior blue one on 7/3/15.

I put 74 miles on it to my home.

Got up on Sat.

morning and adjusted the front & rear shifters.

Took it down the road to check the shifting. It was perfect. As I was pulling into my driveway the engine sounde like it had a hung lifter.

Called the dlrshp and they were closed until Tues. Needless to say my long holiday wknd s##ked. I trailered itto the dlrshp on Tue. and they said they have had a batch of bad lifters in the Free. I left it there and they would call me when they found out anything.

Got a call on Wed. and was told they were going to change out the lifters.

I called them back and asked if I could upgrade to the Screaming Eagle lifters and they said no problem if I would pay the difference of $121.00. I said go for it.

I received a call later that afternoon and was told the motor was junk ( metal bits ) and they have to send it back to the factory and they would transfer my vin #'s to new engine and ship it back.

The dealer called me yesterday and said I'm all set. I am going out of town until the first week of august so I told them to just put it in the corner and I will see you when I get back.

I've had 2 harleys ( problems ) up to 1980 and then I had a Kawi and then 3 Hondas which all were bullet proof.

I'm pushing 72 and figured what the hell, I'll make my last ride a H-D. Needless to say I'm not a happy camper.Twenty seven and change ( trunk guard & windshield plus freight )I really expected more from the Motor Company.....RonC...

All the dealer did for me was to install all my accessories without charging any labor. They said MoCo couldn't ( or wouldn't ) do anything!..............RonC

[Steve on 3]

Ron,

Sorry you had the problems. This is my 4th new HD since 09 and al the others have been bullet proof. I think anything produced by man has the capability of being screwed up. In this case it happens to be something we area very passionate about. And a trike, be it Honda, Kawa, Stallion, Slingshot HD are not inexpensive toys.

I'll let them do what they need to do.

Thanks for your comments

Steve

[njtrike]

Steve my buddies always say that if you buy a new Harley when they come out with a new model your kind of letting yourself exposed to some expected stress due to new model problems. I saw this occur on the 2014's. In any case I would be asking my friend at the dealer to shoot me a new trike. If they can make one that won't run more than 100 miles than HD needs some heat. This is a heck of a way to treat a good customer and a friend of the dealer. Let them know you are friends with a good lawyer. Seeing your story makes me happy with my 2010. At age 72 with 53k on the triglide that has been trouble free I'm willing to say a few extra prayers to the HD Gods for you. They need to get you another one. You shouldn't even have to ask. Here's hoping you receive what you paid for.

NJ

[Capt.Bob]

Steve my buddies always say that if you buy a new Harley when they come out with a new model your kind of letting yourself exposed to some expected stress due to new model problems. I saw this occur on the 2014's.

In any case I would be asking my friend at the dealer to shoot me a new trike.

If they can make one that won't run more than 100 miles than HD needs some heat. This is a heck of a way to treat a good customer and a friend of the dealer. Let them know you are friends with a good lawyer. Seeing your story makes me happy with my 2010. At age 72 with 53k on the triglide that has been trouble free I'm willing to say a few extra prayers to the HD Gods for you. They need to get you another one. You shouldn't even have to ask. Here's hoping you receive what you paid for.

NJ

Steve, I am not sure if I would jump to the remedy that njtrike suggested right off the bat.

However, if they have to go deep into the engine, disturb all kinds of new stuff and put even the slightest amount of scratches on that new ride, then I think njtrike's suggestion to ask for a new trike might be in order? That is a tough call and it sounds like you are trying to be reasonable with the dealer.

I don't like to play the "lawyer card" because I think that just sets up and adversarial relationship. They (the dealer) in turn need to be reasonable with you if it involves too much downtime and the possibility of an unreliable new trike with extensive engine re-work in the field.

[Steve on 3]

Thanks Bob,

According to tech "it seems to be coming from the front cylinder in the vicinity of the air cleaner. When they removed the air cleaner and rode, no oil leak . Put the AC back on and it leaked. They removed the front cylinder and went over it piece by piece and could find nothing out of place.

They replaced the front cylinder with new gaskets, o rings and seals and are going to test ride about 50 miles if the rain from the outer edges of the Hurricane Matthew subside. Tech doing the work is a Master Tech who has been with HD since 2002 and is the shop foreman. He takes care of the owner's bike. Long list of certs and is the best tech they have. I would feel better if he had found something. It would put my mind at rest.

Also mentioned to him that I was only getting 25.9 mpg on the 60 mile ride home per the trip summary function on the Boom Box.

That doesn't seem right even for a new engine.

Hopefully they will get it fixed and back to me.

I will keep y'all posted.

I think I will get more done by being nice than by demanding a new bike or something. Once you let that Genie out , it's hard to get him back in the bottle.

Steve

[MikeyTX]

Gotta love it. The oem warranty is ironclad nationwide. As long as the mo co fixes the issue within a reasonable period of time, that is all that is required. It is more than obvious from the op's posts that this is being done. Threatening legal action when it is not justified would simply make the op look like a fool and if anything, alienate the service department at the servicing dealer. Not exactly what one wants to do in this situation. If, and only if the same issue should occur again successively over a period of time would the possibility enter into the occasion of filing under the lemon law of his state. I speak from experience with the original twin cam in the Ultra Classic I purchased new the year the engine was introduced at Sturgis.

[rhino 2]

Gotta love it. The oem warranty is ironclad nationwide. As long as the mo co fixes the issue within a reasonable period of time, that is all that is required. It is more than obvious from the op's posts that this is being done. Threatening legal action when it is not justified would simply make the op look like a fool and if anything, alienate the service department at the servicing dealer.

Yep once someone yells, ''Lawyers'' The whole process will grind down to a halt....

Remember you can catch more Fly's with Honey' Then you can with vinegar....

In Jersey though we find we catch more fly's with dead squirrels, Especially in the summer..

[geezerglide11441]

Steve my buddies always say that if you buy a new Harley when they come out with a new model your kind of letting yourself exposed to some expected stress due to new model problems. I saw this occur on the 2014's.

In any case I would be asking my friend at the dealer to shoot me a new trike.

If they can make one that won't run more than 100 miles than HD needs some heat. This is a heck of a way to treat a good customer and a friend of the dealer. Let them know you are friends with a good lawyer. Seeing your story makes me happy with my 2010. At age 72 with 53k on the triglide that has been trouble free I'm willing to say a few extra prayers to the HD Gods for you. They need to get you another one. You shouldn't even have to ask. Here's hoping you receive what you paid for.

NJ

Basically disagree with njtrike regarding a Lawyer at this stage!!

However always leave this bullet in your gun as a last resort (my personal opinion for whatever it is worth!!). It sounds like your dealer is trying to take care of you, however, I would sit down and formulate a check sheet to identify your issues/desires and stick to them when you approach the "powers to be" - i.e.

OWNER!! I would also respect the Dealers/Owners staff management and only go directly to the Owner when all else fails!!

Good luck, as it sounds like they are trying to do the right thing!!

Roger

[MikeyTX]

Yep once someone yells, ''Lawyers'' The whole process will grind down to a halt....

Remember you can catch more Fly's with Honey' Then you can with vinegar....

In Jersey though we find we catch more fly's with dead squirrels, Especially in the summer..

I thought the whole idea was to shut down either the Holland tunnel or the GWB .......

[rhino 2]

I thought the whole idea was to shut down either the Holland tunnel or the GWB .......

Huh!

[Steve on 3]

Harley rep tore down my bike front cylinder where they determined the leak was coming from. . Had everything checked for cracks or defects in production of the parts. Don't know if it was xrayed or exactly what test but he said they didn't find any defects on the machine. Checked all the seals, o rings and gaskets. re-assembled with new seals, gaskets and o rings. They test rode it about 70 miles and no leaks. So I will pick it up in two days. Harley rep said take it and ride the crap out of it. I got 2 years to break it.

If it hasn't broken by then, it isn't going to.

We are going to have a discussion about an ESP when I get down there.

I think they did what was reasonable and I am satisfied.

Steve

[Capt.Bob]

Harley rep tore down my bike front cylinder where they determined the leak was coming from.

.

Had everything checked for cracks or defects in production of the parts. Don't know if it was xrayed or exactly what test but he said they didn't find any defects on the machine. Checked all the seals, o rings and gaskets. re-assembled with new seals, gaskets and o rings. They test rode it about 70 miles and no leaks. So I will pick it up in two days. Harley rep said take it and ride the crap out of it. I got 2 years to break it.

If it hasn't broken by then, it isn't going to.

We are going to have a discussion about an ESP when I get down there. I think they did what was reasonable and I am satisfied.

Steve

Congrats on them stopping the leak.

The only thing I cannot understand is what caused the leak in the first place? I would press the dealership and the Harley rep to get a more definitive answer.

We are ALL very interested in their findings.

I think the subject of some ESP accommodation might be in order. Not sure that I would press for a total freebie but would definitely expect them to seriously discount that sucker. After all, it is a profit margin item and if they sold it to you at actual dealer cost, that might be fair for all parties?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

<---- has fingers crossed for you

[Steve on 3]

Thanks Fuzzy

[roadking2]

Steve my buddies always say that if you buy a new Harley when they come out with a new model your kind of letting yourself exposed to some expected stress due to new model problems. I saw this occur on the 2014's.

In any case I would be asking my friend at the dealer to shoot me a new trike.

If they can make one that won't run more than 100 miles than HD needs some heat. This is a heck of a way to treat a good customer and a friend of the dealer. Let them know you are friends with a good lawyer. Seeing your story makes me happy with my 2010. At age 72 with 53k on the triglide that has been trouble free I'm willing to say a few extra prayers to the HD Gods for you. They need to get you another one. You shouldn't even have to ask. Here's hoping you receive what you paid for.

NJ

Shoot you a new trike?

Threaten them with a lawyer? Your suggestions are a sure way to ruin any relationship he may have had and assures him of never getting a good deal at that dealership ever again.

They are working on it and they will probably get it resolved shortly. I think your remedy is a little over the top.

[Steve on 3]

Went to pick the trike up today. Was told again that they didn't find anything. I had carried one set of keys and fob and left with the trike so that they could start it. Got there and they took it to the gas station and refilled the tank. They said they had ridden 60 miles with no problems. I said good. Fixed it and I am good to go, Gave the wife the key and fob that had been with the bike and she went to her car. My fob would not disarm the security. I told the service guy and he said probably the fob battery, I will get one. Came back and did not have one. I said ok I have one and will install.

Should have lnown something was not right.

Went next door to Quaker Steak and lube for supper.

Opened mayo for burger and squeezed it and it popped and squirted the wife with mayo.

She isn't happy. Halfway through the meal, I sat my glass down and promptly spilled a full glass of tea on the table. Should have quit while I was ahead.

Left and got exactly 11.4 miles down the road and the check engine light and temp light came on. Stopped, pulled over and let it cool. Texted sales guy. No response, called sales guy..no response. By this time I am very pissed.

Decided I would take the trike back to dealer and see if they had a key drop, leave it outside and call them in morning. Eureka, someone is there.

Tried to leave keys with him and he said he couldn't accept them. He was finance guy.

I threw both sets of keys on his desk and said it's outside service. He asked what I wanted him to do.

Told him fix my damn trike. He said no what to do tonight. I said either put it inside or leave it outside I don't care. It is insured but you have the keys so if something happens to it, I am looking to the dealer to make it right.

I am to the point that they have ridden it more than me and have had it more than me. Right now I want a new motor or new trike or my trade in back and my check back. I think this trike is snake bit.

What are your thoughts?

What would you ask for?