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[skreminegul07]

In my other post regarding an unknown oil leak below the starter/top of tranny where it was found that the head gasket was leaking, the story took a twist.
First, the head gasket was replaced LAST WEEK at 4500 miles.  It was supposed to fix the other oil leak that I brought it in for.  Well, 400 miles and the oil is still leaking.  Dye was put in the tranny and 10 miles later, I saw the green dye on top of the tranny.  Brought it back later and low and behold, the new head gasket is also leaking.  Also they want to pull the starter finally as it is believed that it could be a crack in the tranny causing the other leak.
Harley Tech support has as regarding the head gasket.  Apparently the root cause may have to do with the cylinders/ liners not manufactured correctly causing the problem.
And yes, they did installt the new part number gasket. 
Fortunately I'll be on a business trip all next week so they can do what it needs. 
I'm not a happy CVO owner right now.
My wife asked if I would have bought this bike knowing what I know now and the answer is NOOOOOOOOOOOOO F'in Way!
I'm not that loyal to anything that much.  This will make two weeks for these two leaks and it aint over.

 

[9 1/2 Beers]

 Sorry to hear about your bike, I am currently going thur the same thing, I keep wondering if the first lot of these bike's where sold to the public to soon?,  I maybe wrong, but I think the moco knows this and instead of contacting the buyers (of the early lots), they are just waiting for the bikes to come back to them so they can address it then. "you can rate me frust"  (frustrated) just my 2 cents

[skreminegul07]

sorry to hear about your bike, i am currently going thur the same thing, i keep wondering if the first lot of these bike's where sold to the public to soon?,  i maybe wrong, but i think the moco knows this and instead of contacting the buyers (of the early lots), they are just waiting for the bikes to come back to them so they can address it then. "you can rate me frust"  (frustrated) just my 2 cents

Mine was built in August, it is an early production bike.  When was yours built?  mileage?  What do you mean that you have the same issues?  multiple head gaskets?  Tranny leak?  I'm very interested.
Manufacturers only contact owners when required by law and specifically for safety issues.

At this point, I believe there is enough victims to warrant a class action suit regarding head gaskets.

your two cents are actually worth $30K

[miker]

I am sorry to hear of y'all's troubles.  I picked mine up in August, put the mods to it before riding and so far (only around 3k miles) no issues.  I am picking up a vibe but I  think it because I put on a ride-srt8/progressive rear shocks to tighten up the rear end.  Time will tell, wish me luck because if I do have troulbe I am going the Hoist way...Indie.

Miker

[Hoist!]

I am sorry to hear of y'all's troubles.  I picked mine up in August, put the mods to it before riding and so far (only around 3k miles) no issues.  I am picking up a vibe but I  think it because I put on a ride-srt8/progressive rear shocks to tighten up the rear end.  Time will tell, wish me luck because if I do have troulbe I am going the Hoist way...Indie.

Miker

I'm not quite there yet Mike. I'm giving this new dealer a shot at it. I have my appointment set for 7/17 with their engine builder. I'm going to see the SM this Sunday to review the whole project and confirm that they're on board with everything. Any issues whatsoever, it goes to an indie. Won't think twice about! This engine will ultimately get built right! Hoist!

[miker]

Good luck with the new dealer.  I hope they make it right for you, but you are right, what a effin nightmare....Same as the tc88 mess, the MC needs to smarten up, they don't build that many units fer chrise sake.

[9 1/2 Beers]

 Bot my bike in aug. I brought the bike to the dealer at 500 miles, and said I can't keep oil in this bad boy. they told me it was new and it is normal.  about a 1000 miles, was telling the dealer that this bike is running to hot and it pings only to be told "it's normal, it has a bigger displacment and they just run hotter". 2500 miles this web site told me about taking the bike into the dealer and they will remap and it will help the pingging and the sputtering when it's cold.

 I told the dealer about this before they knew about it (shocker). 5000 miles came in for just a service and I repeated all my comments, telling them that I am not happy the way this bike runs " somethings wrong", again " it's all normal" .  7500 miles I told the dealer I rode 550 miles in day (semi normal ride for me,that's why I bot this bike).

 In one day I was down almost two qrt. of oil on 550 miles this can't be normal. so I gave them the bike for the 7500 service , they did the service and on the test ride the tech says "there's something wrong" the tech tightened the comesator nut and test road it again. "there's something wrong" they found a blown head gasket and the heads are making a noise (no sheot). dealer calls moco. moco. says "do a leak down test and a compression check", compression was 140/230.  now the moco is talking about  compression release .  so there I am, pissed and frustrated... i'm going to vegas 

[skreminegul07]

I'm just trying to have a reliable ride.  I'm not trying to break the land speed record.  You might as well abuse the crap out of them, it doesn't matter if they are babied or not.  Monday I'll be on the phone to HD and my attorney.

[Hoist!]

I'm just trying to have a reliable ride.  I'm not trying to break the land speed record.  You might as well abuse the crap out of them, it doesn't matter if they are babied or not.  Monday I'll be on the phone to HD and my attorney.

I understand that this is frustrating as hell. But to get a strong reliable bike, don't count on HD to do that for you. All you can do with them is keep bringing it back to them and hope for the best. These are among the finest HD's ever made. But you can either get lucky with dealers, or you can make it right yourself. That's the way it's always been with HD. If it were a $10,000 HD, would that make it any more right. You get the bike and then make it yours. That includes your way of making it reliable. You can make a deal with the devil (HD) and rely on them. Or you can take matters into your own hands. But if you don't have the passion for the bike to deal with all this BS, it might be the wrong brand for you. JMO. Hoist!

[skreminegul07]

I understand that this is frustrating as hell. But to get a strong reliable bike, don't count on HD to do that for you. All you can do with them is keep bringing it back to them and hope for the best. These are among the finest HD's ever made. But you can either get lucky with dealers, or you can make it right yourself. That's the way it's always been with HD. If it were a $10,000 HD, would that make it any more right. You get the bike and then make it yours. That includes your way of making it reliable. You can make a deal with the devil (HD) and rely on them. Or you can take matters into your own hands. But if you don't have the passion for the bike to deal with all this BS, it might be the wrong brand for you. JMO. Hoist!

What exactly did I buy then?  I might as well pick the quality parts first and build my own, not buy a running serial number and then put the good parts on. That is why I bought a CVO in the first place.  It was a bike that I liked just the way it was without any intention of making changes other than fuel management to keep it from self destructing and maybe allowing the potential power to be used.  I want to have it when the weather is warm.  As you know its a short season in the northeast.
As far as making it right, who even knows what is wrong with the cylinders, gaskets, o rings, sleeves.... at this point?
Short of replacing the whole motor with a non HD, how could I be sure it is fixed and reliable.
Remember the head gasket replacement on mine didn't last 400 miles.
I'm in a very dark mood right now.  Any postal workers out there?
This is not funny at all.

[Hoist!]

What exactly did I buy then?  I might as well pick the quality parts first and build my own, not buy a running serial number and then put the good parts on. That is why I bought a CVO in the first place.  It was a bike that I liked just the way it was without any intention of making changes other than fuel management to keep it from self destructing and maybe allowing the potential power to be used.  I want to have it when the weather is warm.  As you know its a short season in the northeast.
As far as making it right, who even knows what is wrong with the cylinders, gaskets, o rings, sleeves.... at this point?
Short of replacing the whole motor with a non HD, how could I be sure it is fixed and reliable.
Remember the head gasket replacement on mine didn't last 400 miles.
I'm in a very dark mood right now.  Any postal workers out there?
This is not funny at all.

It's not funny at all! Why do you think I have boxes of engine parts ready to go in instead of stock stuff. And I'm half thinking of splitting the cases myself if my runout is off. Not letting them replace it with more of the same issues. My decision, my expense. We know what the engines need, but you're not getting that from HD. You're getting a bike that'll get thru w.....ty. Then you're on your own. Well why wait. Why fight. I'll get it right, with or without them. If you're keeping this bike, do what you gotta do now to get it right now. I love this SERK and spent a fortune on it already. A few more bucks to make it perfect, instead of saving it and fighting with dealers. Not much choice there for me anymore! My bike's too important for me to waste my time fighting with morons anymore. Like beating your head against a wall. It feels good when you stop! Hoist!

[grc]

I understand that this is frustrating as hell. But to get a strong reliable bike, don't count on HD to do that for you.  .....................................  if you don't have the passion for the bike to deal with all this BS, it might be the wrong brand for you. JMO. Hoist!

Howie,

While I may agree with your first statement, that doesn't make it right, or even remotely acceptable.  And if H-D wants to even dream about a solid future as an independent manufacturer of motorcycles, they need to get their heads out of their collective asses and start providing the customers a top quality, totally reliable product that doesn't require you to have a "passion for putting up with crap".  The fact of the matter is that H-D wouldn't be able to sell enough units to survive if it wasn't for the older generation who grew up with all the idiosyncrasies (another word for crap) from H-D and thus came to accept this stuff as normal.  May the gods help them when they have to depend on the younger generations for all their sales.

I wonder how many other companies selling high end consumer products could survive indefinitely if the customer had to "rebuild" the product in order to make it operate as expected?

JMHO - Jerry

[Hoist!]

Howie,

While I may agree with your first statement, that doesn't make it right, or even remotely acceptable.  And if H-D wants to even dream about a solid future as an independent manufacturer of motorcycles, they need to get their heads out of their collective asses and start providing the customers a top quality, totally reliable product that doesn't require you to have a "passion for putting up with crap".  The fact of the matter is that H-D wouldn't be able to sell enough units to survive if it wasn't for the older generation who grew up with all the idiosyncrasies (another word for crap) from H-D and thus came to accept this stuff as normal.  May the gods help them when they have to depend on the younger generations for all their sales.

I wonder how many other companies selling high end consumer products could survive indefinitely if the customer had to "rebuild" the product in order to make it operate as expected?

JMHO - Jerry

Jerry, I couldn't agree with you more. And I wish it weren't the case. I can't speak about their future. But their fate is in their own hands. I'm just saying that I've been thru this for too many years to be surprised. Those of us spellbound by the bikes for so long have gotten used to having to deal with HD's bullchit QC problems. That's what the aftermarket, indies, and speed shops are for. Doesn't make it right. I'm just not surprised, and not gonna let that from keeping me from making my perfect SERK! I can deal with it, as I know what I'm working with, and know what I'm expecting. Other's may not want to deal with it. Never said or thought it was right. Just the way it is. Too bad too! Hoist!

[StreetDog]

Sorry you guys are having so many problems with your bikes, Mine was delivered in late Sept ( don't know the production date ) and I have only had the one issue with the rocker box clearance. No other problems , head gaskets, Knocking noise, starting issues, overheating......NOTHING. Great bike, I love it....and now scary fast too.

[miker]

Sorry you guys are having so many problems with your bikes, Mine was delivered in late Sept ( don't know the production date ) and I have only had the one issue with the rocker box clearance. No other problems , head gaskets, Knocking noise, starting issues, overheating......NOTHING. Great bike, I love it....and now scary fast too.

I heard the red ones were faster.

Miker