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[Dobeman2000]

Time for my 1000 mile service and I hate to pay the $300 for the tightening of bolts, but I have seen this both ways.  I always change oil myself, but are there some legitimate things that are done to validate the high price?  And the person at the dealer said it takes 3 hrs to do this check up.  What are your thoughts?

[grc]

Time for my 1000 mile service and I hate to pay the $300 for the tightening of bolts, but I have seen this both ways.  I always change oil myself, but are there some legitimate things that are done to validate the high price?  And the person at the dealer said it takes 3 hrs to do this check up.  What are your thoughts?

Invest in a shop manual for your bike and do it yourself.

These days there aren't as many things to "check and adjust", but I've noticed that most dealers haven't lowered their prices for these 1k and 5k service intervals.  While some places probably do follow the checklist and actually check much of the stuff, most tend to just give you an oil change and charge you $300 - $400 for the privilege.  If you want to make sure it actually gets done right, do it yourself.  And btw, if you have a good independent shop you trust you can have them do the service for you.  There is no legal requirement for you to have a Harley dealer do this stuff.  Just get a detailed receipt in case a question comes up in the future.

Jerry

[dartman]

Invest in a shop manual for your bike and do it yourself.

These days there aren't as many things to "check and adjust", but I've noticed that most dealers haven't lowered their prices for these 1k and 5k service intervals.  While some places probably do follow the checklist and actually check much of the stuff, most tend to just give you an oil change and charge you $300 - $400 for the privilege.  If you want to make sure it actually gets done right, do it yourself.  And btw, if you have a good independent shop you trust you can have them do the service for you.  There is no legal requirement for you to have a Harley dealer do this stuff.  Just get a detailed receipt in case a question comes up in the future.

Jerry

A-men $300.00 or more in many instances gets you a sloppily done oil change stripped drain plugs  and an occasional scratch, Most shops don't tie up there head tech on  service work.

[Dobeman2000]

It's the tools I am concerned with-I can do the basics, but what tools am I going to need to do it myself.  And I do have a very reputable indy guy that I go to so I just might use them if the tools list is too much.

Invest in a shop manual for your bike and do it yourself.

These days there aren't as many things to "check and adjust", but I've noticed that most dealers haven't lowered their prices for these 1k and 5k service intervals.  While some places probably do follow the checklist and actually check much of the stuff, most tend to just give you an oil change and charge you $300 - $400 for the privilege.  If you want to make sure it actually gets done right, do it yourself.  And btw, if you have a good independent shop you trust you can have them do the service for you.  There is no legal requirement for you to have a Harley dealer do this stuff.  Just get a detailed receipt in case a question comes up in the future.

Jerry

[D-N-D]

The Harley 1000 MI Service is B.S. !!!!!!!!!!! for the money all you get is all the oils changed if you stand there and watch to make sure they do that.

[Midnight Rider]

The one time I had a HD dealer do service (non warranty work) on my bike, they f'd up more than they fixed.

If your indy shop is indeed a good one, and not one of these old school "Synthetic oil is too slippery" kind of places, and I was either not comfortable doing it myself, or did not have all the tools needed, that's the route I'd take.

While you're at it, put some lube in the transmission that is made for gears...like Redline Shockproof, Amzoil, Belray, etc.  Your shifting will improve.

[T-Hawk]

If you have a good independent shop you trust you can have them do the service for you.

Exactly what I've been doing.  Saving as much as 1/2 the cost that the local H-D Shop charges, and getting things done right the first time.   1K, 5K, 10K, 15k, and 20k... all by the same mechanic, all done with extreme confidence.  

[Hog95023]

I had a harley dealer i bought my bike at do my 1k service thinking they would do the job right. They didn't and was a waste of money. That shop since closed.

[Jerry/MD]

It's the tools I am concerned with-I can do the basics, but what tools am I going to need to do it myself.  And I do have a very reputable indy guy that I go to so I just might use them if the tools list is too much.

Purchase a service manual, 1/2 and 3/8 drive torque wrenches. That will satisify the majority of your service interval needs.

Jerry

[SOTLucky]

I do all work myself and only take it to HD when there is something major to be fixed under warranty.  Those ass clowns screw things up and charge high prices. I try to avoid giving them more money than I absolutely have to.  I dropped one of my previous Ultras off to have the recall for the brake switch replaced, when i got it back I took a 300 mile or so ride and at one of the stops the part they replaced caught on fire.  Lucky a buddy of mine standing next to me had a beer in his hand for me to put the flame out....I should have let it burn to the ground.

[muddypaws]

Do it yourself..

[BakedInMN]

Just took mine in last week. Was a little skeptical, and don't feel it was worth the money. I also had them check the detonation I'm getting and the "loose" feeling in the front end and neither was fixed (but they did test ride it for 20 miles). My main concern was getting it in to document the pinging so there is a record of it when the engine frags itself.

I too usually do my own work, and have never had any luck with anyone other than myself working on my bikes. I usually spend the next day fixing it after they f'd it up.

[grc]

Just took mine in last week. Was a little skeptical, and don't feel it was worth the money. I also had them check the detonation I'm getting and the "loose" feeling in the front end and neither was fixed (but they did test ride it for 20 miles). My main concern was getting it in to document the pinging so there is a record of it when the engine frags itself.

I too usually do my own work, and have never had any luck with anyone other than myself working on my bikes. I usually spend the next day fixing it after they f'd it up.

     That's different, anyone can be trained to drain and fill the fluids, but it might take some real ability to properly diagnose and correct something like steering head bearing preload or detonation.

Oh, btw, obviously not everyone can be trained to do the fluids either.  That's why so many places strip the threads for the drain plugs, over or under fill the oil, forget to install the drain plugs, fail to tighten the oil filter, or just blow the whole thing off and still charge you for the service anyway.

When I become too old and feeble to change the fluids on my vehicles myself, I'll probably also be too feeble to ride or drive them so they'll be put on the auction block and I'll move to the old folks home with a bus stop out front.

Jerry

[ultrafxr]

    That's different, anyone can be trained to drain and fill the fluids, but it might take some real ability to properly diagnose and correct something like steering head bearing preload or detonation.

Oh, btw, obviously not everyone can be trained to do the fluids either.  That's why so many places strip the threads for the drain plugs, over or under fill the oil, forget to install the drain plugs, fail to tighten the oil filter, or just blow the whole thing off and still charge you for the service anyway.

When I become too old and feeble to change the fluids on my vehicles myself, I'll probably also be too feeble to ride or drive them so they'll be put on the auction block and I'll move to the old folks home with a bus stop out front.

Jerry

Yup, has all happened to me.  No more dealer service unless it is warranty/ESP or so complex that I cannot do it myself.  Just sayin'.

[North Georgia Hawg]

Just took mine in last week. Was a little skeptical, and don't feel it was worth the money. I also had them check the detonation I'm getting and the "loose" feeling in the front end and neither was fixed (but they did test ride it for 20 miles). My main concern was getting it in to document the pinging so there is a record of it when the engine frags itself.

I too usually do my own work, and have never had any luck with anyone other than myself working on my bikes. I usually spend the next day fixing it after they f'd it up.

DETONATION? That's very BAD!  How do you know your engine is experiencing detonation? Do you have a tuning device, and/or have you had it dyno tuned?

With everything stock, I'm not very surprised, though. The stock tune with the stock equipment is far too lean for the engine to run well at all, and it will run super-hot. Getting rid of the cat, opening up the exhaust, and getting a good TUNE will fix that.

Ken