2018 Triglide broke down....sigh

[ultrafxr]

That was a hydraulic leak potential @ the slave cylinder

The fix being refereed to here is supposed to be a cure for tranny fluid migrating to the primary, with mostly epic failures

Harley has so many issues and fixes going on at any time it is difficult to keep up with them, lol.

[Jack Klarich]

Harley has so many issues and fixes going on at any time it is difficult to keep up with them, lol.

Yup, it seems a shame corporate HD seems to want to push bikes out as fast as they can with NO real cures for on going problems

Their market share will continue to slide because of this

[GoSlo]

Got a call from the dealership today and it's a mess. 6th is gone and 5th was about to go. They said it definitely was not a fluid migration problem, just a defective piece that caused a chain reaction. They said they've never seen that happen before.

They ordered about 12-15 parts today and it'll be 7-10 days to get them, so that ends my trip to Arkansas next week. Figure if I hadn't made the ride to Oklahoma and crapping out in Texas, it would have happened somewhere in Kansas on my way to Eureka Springs.

Here's two photos. The first one I have no idea what it is (was), but it looks like it's seen better days.



In the second photo (kind of hard to see), but there's broken pieces. I don't know what they're called, so I'm going to call them "teeth". On the one inside the circle, the "tooth" has a very specific shape on the right side. The left side is snapped off and flat on that side (this happened on several of the "teeth" and that's what caused 6th to go out and it was starting to happen on the 5th gear.



They said that those broken "teeth" cause the transmission to overheat, and the could see where some of the fluid blew out through the breather. That's what cause the guy in back of me to think that the trike was burning up because of all the smoke. It was actually the tranny fluid hitting the exhaust and making the smoke.

So the end result is that I'm down for the next 7-10 days with no ride. I'm not p***ed off, just disappointed.

[1dn5up]

Your spot on Barry , at least it didn’t happen in bum f..k Egypt!

The dealer should overnight a complete trans as the warranty . One would think ��

[FuzzyWuzHe]

So the end result is that I'm down for the next 7-10 days with no ride. I'm not p***ed off, just disappointed.

Will the dealer give you a reduced price on a rental? Or a loner?

[Sidecarbill]

I love it when they say never seen that before. Back in the 70's we got a Fiat x19 at the shop. The timing belt had broken. Timing belts were new technology at the time. Called Fiat they said never saw that. Went to pickup the new belt at the dealer. I had to go through service to get to parts department. They had half dozen or so in service. So I asked why they were there? Yup timing belts broke bent the valves. Just sayin.

[rhino 2]

I love it when they say never seen that before. Back in the 70's we got a Fiat x19 at the shop. The timing belt had broken. Timing belts were new technology at the time. Called Fiat they said never saw that. Went to pickup the new belt at the dealer. I had to go through service to get to parts department. They had half dozen or so in service. So I asked why they were there? Yup timing belts broke bent the valves. Just sayin.

Bill, A few years ago the Harley dealer up your way moved down to my Way so I went to check the showroom out,And then I strolled into the service department and asked the service manager have you have any trouble with the Tri-Glide reverse Motors he tells me he never had a problem so I went on to tell him that’s funny I have pulled mine out three times but I found a guy in South Jersey Who will repair them for $95, So then he asks do you have his phone number we have three of them back here that have to be fixed ! At that point I just smiled at him turned around and walked away 😱📞

[MDO]

That 1st. Picture is your tranny drain plug with same big metal chunks on the magnet.

I'm kinda shocked they don't just replace the whole unit. With that much damage, IMO, everything is suspect.

I highly recommend Redline Shockproof in the new tranny.

[ISP-FL]

I have a buddy from Paducah who blew his 2018 TG tranny. He had his 1,000 miles service done at Space Coast Harley while down in Florida and they put gear oil in his tranny instead of Sny-3.

The Paducah dealer replaced the whole tranny instead of rebuilding it. He wanted them to save a sample of the gear oil so he could at least get a refund for his 1,000 miles service when he went back to Florida. They said they "forgot" to pull a sample and save it for him. One dealer taking care of another I am guessing.

Another reason I try to do all my own fluid changes.

[Jack Klarich]

That sure is a mess

I do not see any signs of blueing on the gears or shaft so I would rule out low lube level

HD has had some problems lately with improper hardening, tho that is more said for shafts

I too would expect a new complete tranny unit

Best of luck to you

[ultrafxr]

I have a buddy from Paducah who blew his 2018 TG tranny. He had his 1,000 miles service done at Space Coast Harley while down in Florida and they put gear oil in his tranny instead of Sny-3.

The Paducah dealer replaced the whole tranny instead of rebuilding it. He wanted them to save a sample of the gear oil so he could at least get a refund for his 1,000 miles service when he went back to Florida. They said they "forgot" to pull a sample and save it for him. One dealer taking care of another I am guessing.

Another reason I try to do all my own fluid changes.

If they charged him the $$ for Syn 3 then I can see his gripe. Otherwise I would prefer a gear specific lubricant in the tranny vs motor oil which is what Syn 3 is.

[Jthubbs]

Regarding the towing policy . . . I switched to AAA and added motorcycle coverage just because of that. AAA will tow you anywhere you want to go up to 100 miles at no charge. Helped me out quite a bit several years ago when I had a breakdown. Had a leaking oil cooler and two closest dealers did not have part. Third dealer who was almost 100 miles away did have it and AAA towed me there. Not sure since not checked since then but all my roadside assistance plans except AAA had mileage limits under 100 miles . . . and I had the H.O.G. Road America as well as my insurance company's plan and a couple others I can't even recall. Cancelled them all and stuck with AAA.

I'm glad to hear that you had good luck with AAA. My experience wasn't that positive. I was at a bike night about 40 miles from home. Like you I had the "Extra" coverage for the bike. My throttle cable broke and I wasn't able to travel. I had several other guys with me that night. I pulled over at a convenience store lot. and called AAA. They replied they would get someone there as soon as possible. This was around 10 PM on a Thursday night. After several calls AAA finally informed me they couldn't help me, this was well after midnight. Alas, I didn't renew my AAA membership. I've been happy with the services provided by my HOG membership.

[GoSlo]

I went to the dealership again this morning and asked why they aren't replacing the entire transmission and was told that Harley corporate makes that decision. If they feel it's easier (cheaper) to replace a few parts, they opt for that. The service guys said that it would actually be easier and cheaper in the long run to pull the old one (I think they called it a "cartridge") and slide in a whole new one (the block is still good) as opposed to taking it apart, replacing all the pieces, carefully checking and cleaning the entire thing and putting it back together again, which is going to take a lot more labor. Kind of reminds me of that old saying "penny wise, pound foolish". I've used this same mechanic for about 15 years now and trust him, so I guess it is what it is.

Fuzzy, I thought about asking for a loaner (my old trike is still sitting in the dealership), but when I found out I probably couldn't go, the other two people canceled rooms, so the trip is definitely off. Guess I'll just have plan another week-long trip this summer.

So in about a week from now the new parts should be in and then hopefully a day or so after that I'll get the trike back.

[Jack Klarich]

I went to the dealership again this morning and asked why they aren't replacing the entire transmission and was told that Harley corporate makes that decision. If they feel it's easier (cheaper) to replace a few parts, they opt for that. The service guys said that it would actually be easier and cheaper in the long run to pull the old one (I think they called it a "cartridge") and slide in a whole new one (the block is still good) as opposed to taking it apart, replacing all the pieces, carefully checking and cleaning the entire thing and putting it back together again, which is going to take a lot more labor. Kind of reminds me of that old saying "penny wise, pound foolish". I've used this same mechanic for about 15 years now and trust him, so I guess it is what it is.

Fuzzy, I thought about asking for a loaner (my old trike is still sitting in the dealership), but when I found out I probably couldn't go, the other two people canceled rooms, so the trip is definitely off. Guess I'll just have plan another week-long trip this summer.

So in about a week from now the new parts should be in and then hopefully a day or so after that I'll get the trike back.

Any idea what they will put in for lube?

Do you have a choice?

[GoSlo]

Any idea what they will put in for lube?

Do you have a choice?

I'm going with the Amsoil transmission fluid this time. I've used the Syn3 on most of my other bikes and didn't have any problems. I did ask about RedLine, and was told that their shop doesn't recommend it. They'll put it in for people, but don't push it at all and strictly offer Amsoil and H-D's fluids. I used RedLine on one of my other bikes and it seemed to run really well and as others have said it quiets down the clunking noise when shifting, which never bothered me in the least.

[Fearless]

I'm going with the Amsoil transmission fluid this time. I've used the Syn3 on most of my other bikes and didn't have any problems. I did ask about RedLine, and was told that their shop doesn't recommend it. They'll put it in for people, but don't push it at all and strictly offer Amsoil and H-D's fluids. I used RedLine on one of my other bikes and it seemed to run really well and as others have said it quiets down the clunking noise when shifting, which never bothered me in the least.

I'm running Amsoil tranny now and very pleased with it. Shifts smooth neutral is easy of course clutch adjustment is critical for that. Travel safe Fred

[ISP-FL]

If they charged him the $$ for Syn 3 then I can see his gripe. Otherwise I would prefer a gear specific lubricant in the tranny vs motor oil which is what Syn 3 is.

Of course they charged him for the Syn-3. They were suppose to put it in all three holes. He is a retired diesel mechanic and as soon as he smelled the tranny when it trashed he said it smelled like burned gear oil, so hard telling what kind or type of gear oil went in there.

[headheaded]

Nothing wrong with Redline at all. I've run it my bikes for years. Have a pal that has 115,000 miles on his trans running nothing but Redline.

As far as replacing the entire transmission ( which i think they should) HD has been stepping over dollar to pick up a dime for years. And at the customers time spent without their bikes.

[GoSlo]

Update: The trike is fixed and the trip is back on!!

I got a call from the service department Friday afternoon saying the parts that were supposed to take 7-10 days, got here overnight. They knew about my trip, so the mechanic who’s worked on my bikes/trikes for 15 years now, worked late Friday and came in early on Saturday to finish it up. I think he may have also been sick and tired of seeing it in his bay...😳

I talked to the GM this morning and asked how the parts got here so quickly. He just smiled and said he’s got connections. So I’m not sure if it was just a phone call he made or if the dealership paid for expedited shipping. Either way, it’s all put back together and now we get to head out Monday morning as planned.

I did get both the mechanic and the GM a good bottle of bourbon for their efforts. So a big shout out and thank you to Rocky Mountain H-D!!

[1dn5up]

Update: The trike is fixed and the trip is back on!!

I got a call from the service department Friday afternoon saying the parts that were supposed to take 7-10 days, got here overnight. They knew about my trip, so the mechanic who’s worked on my bikes/trikes for 15 years now, worked late Friday and came in early on Saturday to finish it up. I think he may have also been sick and tired of seeing it in his bay...😳

I talked to the GM this morning and asked how the parts got here so quickly. He just smiled and said he’s got connections. So I’m not sure if it was just a phone call he made or if the dealership paid for expedited shipping. Either way, it’s all put back together and now we get to head out Monday morning as planned.

I did get both the mechanic and the GM a good bottle of bourbon for their efforts. So a big shout out and thank you to Rocky Mountain H-D!!

See —— There is a God ☎️