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[kens416a]

We rode from Tampa to Key West earlier this week.   2008, Coppertop with only a little over 2,000 miles on the clock. (It's been a busy year, just haven't taken the time to ride.)   The bike ran great until about 10 miles from Key West.  I noticed the engine seemed to be "ticking" when I stopped at a red light.  The "ticking" soon turned to "clicking" and by the time I could get pulled into the first gas station it was "clanking".

Long story short, we loaded it on a flatbed and hauled it to the closest Harley Shop in Miami.  $ 523 tow bill... sure is nice of HOG to pay the first $ 100 of it. <joke>   We had to rent a car for the return to Tampa.   The Service Manager from Peterson's Harley called... the bike has a broken rocker arm bolt bouncing around in the engine.

We're hoping the bike will be ready to pick up in a week or so.  Everyone at Peterson's Harley has been great so far. The Service Manager, Steve Otton has been in touch with me several times and arranged for a ride to pick up our rental car.

I'm not real happy right now... I ride to get away from the stress of everyday life..  maybe should have tried golf.

[ice6900]

sorry 2 hear of ur troubles, heads up!

[1abastarsmda]

We rode from Tampa to Key West earlier this week.   2008, Coppertop with only a little over 2,000 miles on the clock. (It's been a busy year, just haven't taken the time to ride.)   The bike ran great until about 10 miles from Key West.  I noticed the engine seemed to be "ticking" when I stopped at a red light.  The "ticking" soon turned to "clicking" and by the time I could get pulled into the first gas station it was "clanking".

Long story short, we loaded it on a flatbed and hauled it to the closest Harley Shop in Miami.  $ 523 tow bill... sure is nice of HOG to pay the first $ 100 of it. <joke>   We had to rent a car for the return to Tampa.   The Service Manager from Peterson's Harley called... the bike has a broken rocker arm bolt bouncing around in the engine.

We're hoping the bike will be ready to pick up in a week or so.  Everyone at Peterson's Harley has been great so far. The Service Manager, Steve Otton has been in touch with me several times and arranged for a ride to pick up our rental car.

I'm not real happy right now... I ride to get away from the stress of everyday life..  maybe should have tried golf.

That really bites.  But now you have me worried that I can't ride mine as hard as I have been.  Nah...I guess that one is completely out of my contol.  Hope you get your bike back soon.

[Gettinold]

Sorry for your troubles. If I can be of any help let me know.

                                         Dave

[slsecvorg110]

Seems like something good comes from everything that happens. Hard to see at first sometimes but keep an eye out.  Good luck !

[grc]

That's terrible!!!

With the money we pay for any new Harley you would think the MoCo would pay the entire cost of towing in the event of a breakdown. Virtually every new car sold in North America comes with free towing to the nearest dealership in the event of a breakdown. And the manufacturer will even pay for meals and accommodation if the breakdown happens when your away from home. So why can't the MoCo provide the same service?   

I believe Harley is responsible for the towing during the warranty period.  The HOG towing is a separate thing and isn't related to warranty repairs.  That one can be used for anything, even flat tires, but only covers the first $100. 

Jerry

[miker]

Sorry to hear of the pita!  I am down here in south Florida, let me know if I can help in any way...

[PR3VS56]

Bummer it happened, but I can think of much worse in the way of mechanicals.  1 bad rocker bolt - not bad.  Enjoy your scoot!!!!

[Sierramadre]

What a drag.  Almost inexcusable that Harley's top-of-the-line flagship bike should have a breakdown like that with so few miles.  Sounds like you're taking it better than I would which is probably good for your blood pressure.  I am getting more and more disillusioned with Harley.  Not so much for their product problems, which can happen to any company, but their customer service sucks big time.  Not at the dealership level assuming you have a good dealer, but at the corporate level.

[PR3VS56]

Almost inexcusable that Harley's top-of-the-line flagship bike should have a breakdown like that with so few miles.

What makes a failed bolt inexcusable?  And what does a failed bolt have to do with a CVO?  Harley doesn't machine the bolts.  It's a 1 in x-thousand bolt failure.  What's the big deal?

[grc]

What makes a failed bolt inexcusable?  And what does a failed bolt have to do with a CVO?  Harley doesn't machine the bolts.  It's a 1 in x-thousand bolt failure.  What's the big deal?

I deduce from this and another post you made a few weeks back that you think it's OK for Harley's to break and strand folks, and we should quit crying about Harley's lousy quality.  Just because that has been the history of the brand for over 100 years doesn't make it acceptable.  There are plenty of other brands of vehicles, 2 wheels and 4 wheels, that don't suffer anywhere near the failure rates racked up by the MoCo.  Many years ago, before I switched from Honda to Harley, I used to wonder about the groups of Harley's I would see heading out on a long trip with a chase truck following them.  Now that I've experienced Harley quality and reliablilty first hand, I pretty much have the chase truck thing figured out.

Jerry

[Sierramadre]

What makes a failed bolt inexcusable?  And what does a failed bolt have to do with a CVO?  Harley doesn't machine the bolts.  It's a 1 in x-thousand bolt failure.  What's the big deal?

I'll tell you what the big deal is.  You drop 35 large on a motorcycle, you expect it to work flawlessly- including the bolts that Harley doesn't machine.  And if there is a one-in-a-thousand failure, you expect the company to roll out the red carpet to keep one of their best customers satisfied.  If you purchase a high end BMW or Porsche and have a problem, those companies fall all over themselves trying to make it right. That's what Harley hasn't figured out and that's one of the main reasons they're heading into deep trouble.

[miker]

But they have been doin it that way for over a hundred years   

[SBB]

But they have been doin it that way for over a hundred years   

Good point Mike.

For some reason everyone forgets that when they go to get a new bike.

                        

[PR3VS56]

I guess it all comes down to expectation.  I don't expect my Harley to be trouble-free.  It is what it is. 

That said, you'll notice I don't say anything about the problems with the 110.  That's just poor engineering right from the start -- and I would expect more than that.