Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[SE66]

OK, I know most of you have modified your bikes to the extent that warranty does not apply.  But my question is this !  I have a 2009 SEUC.  Would like to start doing my own service every 5000 miles, instead of letting HD do it and charge me an arm and a leg.  Have done this faithfully with my 06 FLHSTCI every 5000 miles, but now I am considering doing my own oil changes,  but HD service tell me that if they do not do the service that my warranty goes out the window.  I have purchased the extended warranty and sure don't want to mess anything up.  At this point I have only swapped out the mufflers to BUB 7's and pretty much sastisfied with what I have.  Just want to change my on oil and keep the cost down.  Mechanically inclined so I don't have a problem performing this task,  changing tires, etc.  Not going to get into any serious mechanical stuff,  will let HD and warranty take care of anything like that,  but need to understand what my options are on the service every 5000 miles.  Can you perform the oil change and document it with receipts of oil and filter and dates of purchase without messing up your warranty ?

[Twolanerider]

OK, I know most of you have modified your bikes to the extent that warranty does not apply.  But my question is this !  I have a 2009 SEUC.  Would like to start doing my own service every 5000 miles, instead of letting HD do it and charge me an arm and a leg.  Have done this faithfully with my 06 FLHSTCI every 5000 miles, but now I am considering doing my own oil changes,  but HD service tell me that if they do not do the service that my warranty goes out the window.  I have purchased the extended warranty and sure don't want to mess anything up.  At this point I have only swapped out the mufflers to BUB 7's and pretty much sastisfied with what I have.  Just want to change my on oil and keep the cost down.  Mechanically inclined so I don't have a problem performing this task,  changing tires, etc.  Not going to get into any serious mechanical stuff,  will let HD and warranty take care of anything like that,  but need to understand what my options are on the service every 5000 miles.  Can you perform the oil change and document it with receipts of oil and filter and dates of purchase without messing up your warranty ?

You are being lied to.  Worst you'll need to do is document you bought the fluids and other products to do the services yourself.  They can not force you to bring it to them for this work.

[Talon]

Doing your own maintenance shouldn't void your warranty unless something you do causes a malfunction of your bike. Just use proper grades of fluids and keep receipts to prove work was done. Doesn't hurt to keep a log, of required checks, like belt, prymary chain, all the thing shown in the manual maintenance schedule.

Craig

[dlaws01]

SE66,  It is perfectly alright to perform your own routine maintenance such as oil & filter changes without compromising your factory or extended warranty.  Don't let the dealer tell you anything different.  Yes, you should document your maintenance and perform it in accordance with the appropriate service manual.  

[bribe36]

I just bought the ESP for my 09 SERG. I don't have the paperwork in front of me but I'm pretty sure there is something about "keeping reciepts for oil, filter, etc" if you do that work yourself. Shouldn't be a problem servicing the bike and keeping the warranty valid.

[ultrafxr]

Have done my own maintenance for years on 3 different Harley and have had extensive warranty work done on each of them.  No one ever asked but I prepare an Excel worksheet detailing each maintenance item as required and use it as a checklist.  Each time I perform a service I check off each item performed, record the mileage and date it and keep all receipts for oil, filter, etc., and file all this in my maintenance folder just in case I ever need it.

[TN]

keep a log of service done in the owners manual. i learned this the hard way.

receipts will help but my filing system sux.



hope this helps


TN


 edit: a running log with entries is a legal document in this matter.

[RedDevil]

They can't mandate that you have to bring your bike in for service anymore than they can tell you that you have to use HD motor oil in the bike.  As long as your maintenance cannot be proven to be the cause of the failure, they cannot refuse to do warranty work based on that.

   

[SE66]

Helmets Off to you Guys,  Going forward I am going to perform my own service and document everything very carefully.  Thanks again for all the input.  This is really a Cool Site.  Always feels like talking with people I have know for a long time,  just Guys down the road.  Really appreciate the feedback.

Jimmy

[Twolanerider]

Helmets Off to you Guys,  Going forward I am going to perform my own service and document everything very carefully.  Thanks again for all the input.  This is really a Cool Site.  Always feels like talking with people I have know for a long time,  just Guys down the road.  Really appreciate the feedback.

Jimmy

Glad it seemed helpful Jimmy.  That kind of crap coming from a service writer or service manager is always both stupid and annoying.  If it's from staff rather than management you know it's something they've been told to instruct customers too.  It's as if they think they're dealing with children rather than grown men and women and can simply get away with telling them anything just because they're "the dealer."

[grc]

OK, I know most of you have modified your bikes to the extent that warranty does not apply.  But my question is this !  I have a 2009 SEUC.  Would like to start doing my own service every 5000 miles, instead of letting HD do it and charge me an arm and a leg.  Have done this faithfully with my 06 FLHSTCI every 5000 miles, but now I am considering doing my own oil changes,  but HD service tell me that if they do not do the service that my warranty goes out the window.  I have purchased the extended warranty and sure don't want to mess anything up.  At this point I have only swapped out the mufflers to BUB 7's and pretty much sastisfied with what I have.  Just want to change my on oil and keep the cost down.  Mechanically inclined so I don't have a problem performing this task,  changing tires, etc.  Not going to get into any serious mechanical stuff,  will let HD and warranty take care of anything like that,  but need to understand what my options are on the service every 5000 miles.  Can you perform the oil change and document it with receipts of oil and filter and dates of purchase without messing up your warranty ?

Next time they try this BS on you, mention the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 and ask them to put their statements in writing for review by your attorney.  You will see a lot of stammering and backing off.  Anyone who tries that kind of crap with me never sees my ugly face in their facility again.  Perhaps if everyone did the same, we could finally get rid of all these lying bastards. 

BTW, not only can you do your own maintenance, you can use other brands of filters, oil, etc. as well. 

Jerry

[sadunbar]

Next time they try this BS on you, mention the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 and ask them to put their statements in writing for review by your attorney.  You will see a lot of stammering and backing off.  Anyone who tries that kind of crap with me never sees my ugly face in their facility again.  Perhaps if everyone did the same, we could finally get rid of all these lying bastards. 

BTW, not only can you do your own maintenance, you can use other brands of filters, oil, etc. as well. 

Jerry

Kind of gets the blood pressure peaking when these clowns try to intimidate folks with BS - trying to scare the uninformed into being customers.  They would be better served to just provide competent service at a competitive price... I feel sorry for those who don't know any better and give their money to these guys...

[JCZ]

This has been beat to death in several threads on this forum, two or three years ago but here it is one more time......

The warranty (or extended service agreement) is not void merely due to modifications.  In order to void the warranty, the failure has to be directly related to the modification.

Having said that, there are dealerships out there that will "tell you" that it's void due to one modification or another and it would then be up to you to fight that (or find another dealership).

In this case here, your factory warranty or your extended service agreement are not void if you do your own service and you should find another dealership for when you do need to take it in.

I have used the warranty and the extended service agreement on my last three bikes and the modifications have never came into question.  Mostly here in Sacramento, but once in Idaho and once in Missouri.......they've just never mentioned the mods.  I pay my $50 deductable and be on my way.

Others here from your area might like to know which dealership that is that's lieing to you?

[1abastarsmda]

Just set up a page like this example I found and keep your receipts with it in a folder.  http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pq94CZbuhM6t8MpOyzPSPOA  I just keep mine on the computer and occasionally update it before I stick the receipts in the folder in my file cabinet.  As long as you hold on to your receipts, they are dated and you can update whenever you get to it.

I actually take it a bit too far and keep track on the computer of each part, with part number and price, and for anything I didn't do myself, I have a separate section for labor.  Mine starts with what was paid for the bike and then with the different things added, I always have a running total of what I have into my bike with parts and with parts and labor.  Yeah, I know, it's overkill.

[REGGAB]

Just set up a page like this example I found and keep your receipts with it in a folder.  http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pq94CZbuhM6t8MpOyzPSPOA  I just keep mine on the computer and occasionally update it before I stick the receipts in the folder in my file cabinet.  As long as you hold on to your receipts, they are dated and you can update whenever you get to it.

I actually take it a bit too far and keep track on the computer of each part, with part number and price, and for anything I didn't do myself, I have a separate section for labor.  Mine starts with what was paid for the bike and then with the different things added, I always have a running total of what I have into my bike with parts and with parts and labor.  Yeah, I know, it's overkill.

Double edged saber this method is.  On one side, you have the perfect weapon against the nimrod chithouse lawyer service writer at the stealership, yet on the other you have the perfect recipe, should your spouse ever find it, to get your face smacked when she reads the bottom line on how much you've spent on your machine.  I think...........if I did it this way..........I'd hide the "Total" cell and lock the file.