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[RedDevil]

RD, at the sharp end of things actually with the broken product first it's understandable that the first few people know before the larger community.  But after that it's unforgivable.  It's also wrong, lazy and potentially speaks to an avoidance behavior that is far more troubling.  It's also annoying as hell. 

Dealers like you describe make it better.  Those that will actually listen a bit.  But the information trail being what it is compounded by a dealer who assumes you can't know more than they do is a disaster.

Concur with that Don.  You can't expect the MoCo or the dealers to react to an issue and treat it as a major problem for the first couple of instances.  You handle those under warranty and continue on smartly.   But when, like I stated with the Customer Service rep at the MoCo, they are not surprised and don't even attempt to feign surprise, that you're having the same issue, then, like you said it's unforgiveable that they are addressing the problem on a larger scale than still treating them on a onesy-twosy basis.  To stick your head in the sand and refuse to admit that there's a problem does not make the problem go away...all it does is makes it worse for everyone concerned.  But you know what's even more sad about this whole thing? I'll still ride and buy HDs for the rest of my riding days, even with the problems.     And what's even more sad is that the MoCo knows this and they just sit up on their non-oil-leaking ivory tower in Milwaukee and pretend that there isn't any problem. 

     

[Twolanerider]

But you know what's even more sad about this whole thing? I'll still ride and buy HDs for the rest of my riding days, even with the problems.     And what's even more sad is that the MoCo knows this and they just sit up on their non-oil-leaking ivory tower in Milwaukee and pretend that there isn't any problem. 

     

I know.  We tell folks half jokingly that "if I have to explain it you wouldn't understand."  But we can't even understand it ourselves some of the time.  We just keep on keeping on.

Part of it is Pavlovian.  We're historically used to having to deal with bike issues.  At least those that have ridden long enough to know that not all Harleys have belt drives.  And when systems were simpler, when a distributor could be tweaked on the side of the road, that was a different issue. 

Failures now are terminal though.  These things shut down on a shoulder just outside of BFE and you ain't making it go with pliers and a matchbook cover.  Modern automotive reliability standards are such that competence suggests what we endure with the bikes is unnecessary.  That being so there are choices made somewhere between reliability and bottom line.  It is sadly unfortunate that when pausing to consider that choice the ivory towered soul isn't appropriately concerned that it's our bottoms on that line when the machines fail.

I wish people would get so fed up they'd ride something else.  The company (to borrow a term from a bygone era with a better meaning then) righteously deserves that they would.  But the old farts like us won't.  Thank god for the more critical and actually more discerning trailing generations.  They'll have the nads to buy something based on whether it's actually good or not.  Not whether they have to make it that way themselves after the fact.

[old wrench]

I know.  We tell folks half jokingly that "if I have to explain it you wouldn't understand."  But we can't even understand it ourselves some of the time.  We just keep on keeping on.

I just wear the patch on my jacket so I dont even have to tell them. Bought my first Harley when I was 16, worked on it 2 days before I got it to run, been workin on and ridin them ever sense then, if I had one I didnt have to work on I would take it back too the dealer and tell him hey there is something wrong with this bike.

Have always loved them and always will

[DESERTBEAR54]

AWESOME Very Well Said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hoist!]

Desertbear, I can verify what you said.  My 110 finally succumbed to the dreaded rear cylinder oil seepage problem.    I called my dealership and they had the 7A's in stock and I told them about the 7B's.  They said they couldn't order them as only the 7A's are showing in the system.  I called HD Customer Service and they gave me a ticket number, said to give that to my dealer and they could order the gaskets.   Gave the ticket number to my dealership and they got to order the new gaskets.  They told me that they are expecting them by Tuesday, so maybe the MoCo is shipping them again.   

   

Oh no Charlie, say it ain't so!!!

All your good juju did you no good in the end. Even good people aren't safe from the Dreaded 110 Head Gasket Leak!!!

Hoist!

[RedDevil]

Oh no Charlie, say it ain't so!!!

All your good juju did you no good in the end. Even good people aren't safe from the Dreaded 110 Head Gasket Leak!!!

Hoist!

Yeah, Howie, I finally fell prey to the dreaded head gasket leak.     It looks, right now, that I'm going to be getting the new -7B gaskets.  I hope these are the fix.  I told them while they have the top off to look at the rocker boxes to make sure there's the proper clearance and to check for cylinder liner movement too.  He said they'll definitely do that.  They're saying the gaskets will be in by Tuesday and the bike should be done by the weekend.  Keeping my fingers crossed on this one.   I was hoping against hope that I was going to be a fortunate one and not get the problem....but I guess it wasn't in the cards.      When's your SERK going to be ready to run??

     

[Deacon]

I just leave my 2007 110 Super glide parked in all conspicuous Public places where bikers hang out with oil dripping down the motor. Then I proceed to tell them the sad story of the 110 Screaming eagle motor. A picture is worth a thousand words and Harley will feel the pain of folks bad mouthing their flagship engine. Only problem is that I hear they are going to disco the 110 motor. So that leaves us suckers holding the bag on the "Harley Edsel".

[Hoist!]

Yeah, Howie, I finally fell prey to the dreaded head gasket leak.     It looks, right now, that I'm going to be getting the new -7B gaskets.  I hope these are the fix.  I told them while they have the top off to look at the rocker boxes to make sure there's the proper clearance and to check for cylinder liner movement too.  He said they'll definitely do that.  They're saying the gaskets will be in by Tuesday and the bike should be done by the weekend.  Keeping my fingers crossed on this one.   I was hoping against hope that I was going to be a fortunate one and not get the problem....but I guess it wasn't in the cards.      When's your SERK going to be ready to run??

     

Glad to hear they're taking care of ya Charlie. I hope it's the only trip for ya!

I guess you FD guys don't get into the SERK Section much, huh? It's been on the road a few weeks now. The Cybil II Thread w/pics is in there. Running great!

Hoist!

[RedDevil]

Glad to hear they're taking care of ya Charlie. I hope it's the only trip for ya!

I guess you FD guys don't get into the SERK Section much, huh? It's been on the road a few weeks now. The Cybil II Thread w/pics is in there. Running great!

Hoist!

Aw man, I knew I should have been looking in the SERK section.   This gives me a reason to go there now...got to see what this rendition of Sybil looks like.   Of course with all of that disposable income that you have, I'm sure she won't stay in this current form very long.

     

[Hoist!]

Aw man, I knew I should have been looking in the SERK section.   This gives me a reason to go there now...got to see what this rendition of Sybil looks like.   Of course with all of that disposable income that you have, I'm sure she won't stay in this current form very long.

     

All I know Charlie, is that the only thing disposable will be me if I keep sinking this kinda $$$ into the bikes!

Hoist!

[RedDevil]

All I know Charlie, is that the only thing disposable will be me if I keep sinking this kinda $$$ into the bikes!

Hoist!

Just make sure you keep enough of that money to buy a cot for the garage, cuz that might be where Binx'll put ya soon.   

     

[dp]

Shop just installed the new gasket on both heads today. Hope it fixes the leak. Going on a little 1500 miles trip next week, so we'll see if this is truly the fix.

[Rockin Rider]

Great info. Learning a lot. Thanks to all. Was going to buy an 08 Fat Boy and have the 110 package put in, but will wait till July-August, to see what improvements the MoCo offers for 09. 

[dp]

Just got back from a 1500 mile trip to Big Bend National Park. The new 16801-07B head gaskets were installed on both cylinders before I left. The leak got worse, not better. Bike leaked about 1/2 a quart of oil over the trip. The MOCO's "new and improved gasket" didn't work for me. Bike has been to the shop 4 times and is going back again. I have a long extended warranty and don't mind using it. There must be some solution to this problem. I love the bike, it runs strong and I have no intention of getting rid of it.

[sadunbar]

Just got back from a 1500 mile trip to Big Bend National Park. The new 16801-07B head gaskets were installed on both cylinders before I left. The leak got worse, not better. Bike leaked about 1/2 a quart of oil over the trip. The MOCO's "new and improved gasket" didn't work for me. Bike has been to the shop 4 times and is going back again. I have a long extended warranty and don't mind using it. There must be some solution to this problem. I love the bike, it runs strong and I have no intention of getting rid of it.

I think this is the first report I have seen of the "latest, latest" head gaskets failing....   Makes me wonder if you have bad liners...