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[RickC]

I have two dealers within 15 miles from me and each say if I remove the cats or add any tuner other than what they install they will void my warrinty, They also say I can put any slip on I want on the bike and it will not effect warrinty. 

Doc,

Technically, the dealers are right. Anything done to the drivetrain outside the Harley dealer voids your warranty. Most good dealers, however, will take care of good customers and "turn a blind eye" to changes that don't -- or shouldn't -- have any effect on the problem area.

One approach: keep your stock parts and, if you have a problem, put them back on before you take the bike to the dealer. Of course, this is easier for some parts than others. Also, easier to do at home than when on the road.

Of course, if you have your local Harley dealer do motor work -- heads, pistons, exhaust, tb, etc. -- they may warranty it for a period ranging from 90 days up to a year. However, if you're 600 miles from home and have an engine failure, don't expect the nearest dealer to honor your home dealer's warranty on those parts.

At the end of the day, the dealer wants to get your money for the parts and the labor to install them. Using the loss of your warranty -- factory or extended -- is one of the tools they have to get you to have them do the work so they make more money.

Just my $0.02 worth.

RickC

[Hoist!]

Doc,

Technically, the dealers are right. Anything done to the drivetrain outside the Harley dealer voids your warranty. Most good dealers, however, will take care of good customers and "turn a blind eye" to changes that don't -- or shouldn't -- have any effect on the problem area.

One approach: keep your stock parts and, if you have a problem, put them back on before you take the bike to the dealer. Of course, this is easier for some parts than others. Also, easier to do at home than when on the road.

Of course, if you have your local Harley dealer do motor work -- heads, pistons, exhaust, tb, etc. -- they may warranty it for a period ranging from 90 days up to a year. However, if you're 600 miles from home and have an engine failure, don't expect the nearest dealer to honor your home dealer's warranty on those parts.

At the end of the day, the dealer wants to get your money for the parts and the labor to install them. Using the loss of your warranty -- factory or extended -- is one of the tools they have to get you to have them do the work so they make more money.

Just my $0.02 worth.

RickC

This is what HD can and can't do about w.....ty, regardless of what ANY dealer tells ya!!! They'll make up the rules as they go if they can get away with it.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus01.shtm

And it's not against the w.....ty to remove the Cat. It's against the LAW! But HD ain't the LAW!!!

Hoist!

[Highjagger]

Sometimes I really think about let the bike be stock .......... just kidding Muhuhuhahaha

[RickC]

And it's not against the w.....ty to remove the Cat. It's against the LAW! But HD ain't the LAW!!!

I stand corrected...

[timo482]

the reason the warranty goes is because the epa says the warranty goes. dealers take on a LOT of risk working on non pollution compliant bikes. one thing is true - if a dealer does x or y and its not compliant and that dealer is in, say, wisconsin, and you have a problem in montana. its unlikely that the dealer in montana will warranty the work since its not legal work.

if you have the cash to just have it fixed - then who cares. but if you want hd to fix it, it has to stay legal.

to

[PR3VS56]

This is what HD can and can't do about w.....ty, regardless of what ANY dealer tells ya!!! They'll make up the rules as they go if they can get away with it.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/adv/bus01.shtm

And it's not against the w.....ty to remove the Cat. It's against the LAW! But HD ain't the LAW!!!

Hoist!

You may be correct (no doubt you are!!), but try enforcing it.  I went through an issue a few years back -- ended up on the phone to reps in Milwaukee, etc., and never did get any coverage when I absolutely should have.  You would not believe the runaround.  You cannot force Harley to pay for work, unless you're an attorney yourself & you have nothing better to do with your billable hours.

[grc]

Need to understand that there are two different warranties involved.  There is the regular POS 2 year warranty that supposedly covers everything.  Then there is an Emission Systems Warranty that just covers the stuff that affects emissions.  If you remove a cat or tamper in any way with the emission system (SERT/PCIII/ etc.) the emission system warranty is toast.  However, that does not void the rest of your regular warranty.  Read the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975.  Sure, you may have to consult with an attorney to get the MoCo to comply with the law.  That's true any time you deal with less than honorable companies or people.

BTW - Do you really think a dealer is going to pull your mufflers and look up your headpipe with a flashlight to make sure you didn't remove the cat?  I'd be surprised if very many of them outside of California even know there is a cat.  If you don't tell them, or ask them to do it for you, I wouldn't sweat it.  If you're really worried about the warranty, then don't drill the cat out, just change headpipes to the non-cat version and save the originals.  If the engine blows up, swap the pipes before you call the dealer to come haul it away.

Jerry

HARLEY-DAVIDSON EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY

The following warranty applies to the emission control system and is in addition to the LIMITED WARRANTY, and NOISE CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company warrants to the first owner and each subsequent owner that this vehicle is designed and built so as to conform at the time of sale with applicable regulations of the U.S. Federal Environmental Protection Agency at the time of manufacture and that it is free from defects in materials and workmanship which cause this motorcycle not to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Standards within 5 years or 18,641 miles (30,000 kilometers) whichever occurs first.
The warranty period shall begin on the date the motorcycle is delivered to the first retail purchaser or, if the motorcycle is placed in service as a demonstrator or company vehicle prior to sale at retail, on the date it is first placed in service.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY

1. Failures which arise as a result of misuse, alterations, accident or non-performance of maintenance as specified in the Owner’s Manual.

2. The replacement of parts (such as spark plugs, fuel and oil filters, etc.) used in required maintenance.

3. Loss of time, inconvenience, loss of motorcycle use or other consequential damages.

4. Any motorcycle on which the odometer mileage has been changed so that the mileage cannot be determined.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REQUIRED MAINTENANCE

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ANY EMISSION SYSTEM MAINTENANCE BE PERFORMED BY AN AUTHORIZED HARLEYDAVIDSON DEALER USING GENUINE HARLEY-DAVIDSON REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE MAINTENANCE, REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM MAY BE PERFORMED BY ANY OTHER QUALIFIED SERVICE OUTLET OR INDIVIDUAL. NON-GENUINE PARTS MAY BE USED ONLY IF SUCH PARTS ARE CERTIFIED TO COMPLY WITH U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STANDARDS.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, P.O. Box 653 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, U.S.A.

[HDDOCFL]

With the dealers I deal with I think I will just change the cores and and leave it alone. There sert tuning is less than perfect. I would not mind doing something that can be installed and taken out without leaving foot prints for the dealer to find. I keep reading and learning and I see a few companys now starting to make tuning devices that can be taken out with no footprints, like to have one I could do this to on the road side, Like the 08 XIEDs.  Thanks Doc