Dealer Charge For Lug Nut Torque?

[ShapeShifter]

Had an interesting occurrence after having the front and rear brake flush last week. When the work was completed the Service Writer, not sure of her title (she's not the Service Manager) presented the completed Service Order for me to sign, and I notice there nothing annotated that says rear wheels lug nuts torqued to spec. So I question why doesn't it state this? Her response was, the tech says he did torque, but didn't annotate that on the Service Order because we would have had to charge for that. I know the Trike Supplement calls for torque of lug nuts whenever rear wheels are removed and reinstalled. Just didn't know for certain if that is considered a separately charged task for any service requiring removal/reinstall of trike rear wheels.

So I didn't press this issue, but what do you think? I actually thought that task would be part of the hourly rate?

I checked the Trike Supplement again when I got home, and there's definitely nothing there addressing dealer torque charges. Did notice it includes a Separate Note for retorquing after 500-1000 miles.

[rhino 2]

Had an interesting occurrence after having the front and rear brake flush last week. When the work was completed the Service Writer, not sure of her title (she's not the Service Manager) presented the completed Service Order for me to sign, and I notice there nothing annotated that says rear wheels lug nuts torqued to spec. So I question why doesn't it state this? Her response was, the tech says he did torque, but didn't annotate that on the Service Order because we would have had to charge for that. I know the Trike Supplement calls for torque of lug nuts whenever rear wheels are removed and reinstalled. Just didn't know for certain if that is considered a separately charged task for any service requiring removal/reinstall of trike rear wheels.

So I didn't press this issue, but what do you think? I actually thought that task would be part of the hourly rate?

I checked the Trike Supplement again when I got home, and there's definitely nothing there addressing dealer torque charges. Did notice it includes a Separate Note for retorquing after 500-1000 miles.

The way i read/see it........Re-Torquing is part of the installation......That should be SOP' And not be a separate charge.....

[Jack Klarich]

If the wheels come off to flush the brakes IMO the re torquing should be included

Funny how step 1 is most often dis connect battery

Yet there never seems to be a charge for that

[peteg59]

Sounds like the service writer was just trying to cover her "hiney", in that unusual explanation.

More than likely if it wasn't documented on the service order or invoice, it wasn't done.

I'd have insisted they bring the torque wrench out and check or recheck torque spec in front of me before I rode off into the sunset! (Any dealer worth going back to, or who cares about customer service, would gladly oblige!)

If you have any doubt as to whether or not they did set torque on lugnuts, you should either bring it back for them to do, (then they might actually try to bill you for the service), or I'd make a point of checking them myself once I got it back home...

[Jack Klarich]

The re torque check has become standard in the industry for safety and liability issues

I would call and talk to the real Service Manager and get this squared away for peace of mind

Techs work on flat rate charges are in book time according to HD standards

I cannot for the life of me see a charge for the torquing , The wheels come off for a service , this should not be a charge IMO, the brake bleed would be a higher charge plus the wheels should be removed and brake pads inspected before a fluid flush is done. This protects you and the dealer JMO

[ultrafxr]

Don't give them any ideas on how to extract more $$ from our pockets when we come in for service, lol.

Seriously though I agree with what others posted this is all part of wheel removal and re-installation. I would not expect a separate line item stating that it was done. I've never seen or heard of a repair ticket stating that.

I know you are a ways off from the nearest dealer and if you don't have (or have access to) a torque wrench to check for yourself I can see where that could be a concern but inexpensive ones can be had from places like Harbor Freight, Northern Tools and of course Amazon.com.

Good luck getting it sorted.

[ultrafxr]

If you don't mind stating how many hours labor was charged for the brake flush. I see you have a '16 model. Does it have the linked brakes like my '18 with two bleeders per caliper on the front? Thanks.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I keep a torque wrench, extension and a socket in the trunk, just for the wheel lugs ... I can use it to remove the wheel if need be ... also, I have been seen in the parking lot of my dealer "checking the torque" before I leave, the dealer. Not saying I don't trust them, but, there is a reason after paying them $35.05 to program the passing lights to stay on with the hi beams, I checked that they actually did before I left ...

We had an expression in the Navy that holds especially true with car and motorcycle dealers ... "You get what you inspect, not what you expect". If you think Harley Davidson's (or any other) service department is there for your benefit, I got a bridge in Colorado I'll sell ya ... cheap. They are there to make money ... just like Joe the Mechanic down the street.



It don't really go anywhere ... but neither does the thinking the "Service Department" is there for you and not to make $$.

[2006gold]

Old adage from my aerospace machine shop quality control and inspection days - "if it wasn't written down, it didn't happen".

[ShapeShifter]

Had my 1/2" drive torque wrench & 19mm deep socket wrapped in the towel in the trunk. So pulled into a nearby parking lot and ReChecked before hitting the road.

Wasn't completely sure, but Felt it wasn't worth the effort to challenge someone willing to make statements like that so loosely. I'll bring it up to the actual Service Manager when I see him during another visit. If questioned, pretty sure her response will be, I don't recall saying that, he must have confused that with another discussion.

Since I do some of my maintenance and most upkeep on both cars, my truck and the 01 Dyna T-Sport, I have 3/8" and 1/2" drive torque wrenches and a couple in pound ones. Just wasn't uncomfortable with flushing the brakes,. Oh! Total time on the order was listed as 1 1/2 hours.

To my knowledge all Rushmore Models have Linked Brakes. Certain Rushmore Models had OE Linked Brakes and ABS and for some others ABS was available as a factory-installed option.

Just seems professionalism in the workplace seems to be a dying or dwindling art.

[Gideon]

Had my 1/2" drive torque wrench & 19mm deep socket wrapped in the towel in the trunk. So pulled into a nearby parking lot and ReChecked before hitting the road.

Just seems professionalism in the workplace seems to be a dying or dwindling art.

May I ask what reading did you get on your torque wrench?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

May I ask what reading did you get on your torque wrench?

The rears call for 90-110 ft ibms ... If I remember right (I know the 90 is right for a 14 Tri, not sure about the 110 ... but 100 is in spec) ... I keep my torque Wrench set at 100 ft ibms.

[ShapeShifter]

May I ask what reading did you get on your torque wrench?

I torque my rears to 95 ft lbs and check them once a quarter. So when I checked in that parking lot the wrench clicked based on that setting. However, I realized that doesn't mean they were properly torqued. I've had them overtighten screws, bolts and nuts before. So when I got home, I got my 1/2" drive breaker bar and slightly loosened them and retorqued all to 95 ft lbs.

On one occasion to perform a diagnostic check, they had to remove my outer faring, when I later went to remove it, the screws holding the windshield and the two longer ones at the top of the inner faring were so overtighten they creaked badly when I began loosening them. Fortunately, they didn't pull the inserts out or damage them. And I viewed this as an instance of overtighten, not over torqueing!

So trust in always having things done iaw spec's isn't high on my list.

[peteg59]

So trust in always having things done iaw spec's isn't high on my list.

Doesn't really give one a good feeling that the $100.+/hour labor rate they charge is money well spent, does it?

[Jack Klarich]

The rears call for 90-110 ft ibms ... If I remember right (I know the 90 is right for a 14 Tri, not sure about the 110 ... but 100 is in spec) ... I keep my torque Wrench set at 100 ft ibms.

You mean you set your torque wrench to 100ftlbs right?

Do not leave torque on your wrench

[Rmitchell55]

Had my trike in for service last week and was told when the service writer handed me my keys, "Bring it back after about 500 miles so we can check the torque on the rear wheels."

[ShapeShifter]

Doesn't give one a really good feeling that the $100.+/hour labor rate they charge is money well spent, does it?

I have a great relationship with the Service Manager (great individual and a professional), he's also Manager of the Parts Department. I feel he had the misfortune of inheriting individuals from the previous owners, who allowed them to worked in an environment where they were could to play fast, loose, unprofessional and not strictly follow procedures.

This is just my unofficial opinion, based on a little more than a years worth of observations. Had little need of their services before the Tri Glide, as my 01 Dyna is old school with carb and cables, and virtually no hi-tech electronics, so it was easy for me to maintain and service.

Oh!...The difference between Parts Department Personnel and some Service Personnel is like...Light Years!!

[ShapeShifter]

One other thing of concern has come to mine ... earlier in the year I was on Harley's Web Site for the Store and placed an inexpensive item in my cart to see if shipping cost to home was reasonable or just free ship to the local dealership and make the drive. Well I noticed Harley's Preferred Dealership had defaulted to Harley of Bossier City, LA. When I later asked local personnel at the dealer, I was told; "oh, another customer said the same...were looking into that".

Hum!!..I can feel the caution hairs on the back of my neck going "WOO-WOO-WOO".

[David792]

Torque Wrench was one of the first tools I bought. I agree with Fuzzy. I had my clutch recall done this winter. I picked up the Trike and rode it home and found coolant blowing all over the right lower, the brake pedal and the footboard. I discovered that they had not replaced the coolant fill cap after the service. I had a hell of a time getting that all cleaned up.

My lesson learned: Check absolutely everything in the parking lot before leaving the dealership. I also service my own Trike, but this was a warranty recall. And... I have a 7 year warranty so chances are that the Trike might be back at the dealership at some time or another.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

You mean you set your torque wrench to 100ftlbs right?

Do not leave torque on your wrench

Correct ... I meant the torque, not the wrench