Learning the Hard Way!!!

[onaprwl]

So I just road my bike about two weeks ago, started just fine, road great, then two weeks of blistering cold. It stays in a insulated garage on the battery tender. So Friday, the first day in a while that the temperature was OK to ride and I was off, I go to start the bike. It spun over just fine but no ignition. Tried holding the choke just a little longer, twisting the throttle two more times, and still nothing. After four attempts, still spinning over just fine, no drag at all, I press the start one more time......... now the damn horn beeps, four way lights start flashing and the head light goes on and off. WTF!!!! So.... I wait a moment after turning the ignition off and try again. SAME DAMN THING! So now I'm really pissed. Not bad enough it is a beautiful day, I'm finally off, and now this. If it wouldn't have been for the flashing and shit, I would have started testing different things, but I assumed this had to be something like a module problem or something, so I call the local Harley shop. First, the bike is in warranty and Harley is all we have. The Big Dog here closed up and Harley does the warranty work. OK, the service manager tells me that they have had numerous Big Dogs do this and it is always the (I forget what he called it, EMS or something) box. So... I load up the bike in the trailer and bring it to the Harley shop, 85 miles away! After arriving and unloading the bike, exactly one hour later I am presented with a bill for $206.73. So I ask what was the problem and why do I have a bill if the bike is under warranty???? His reply.....You had a bad battery. $99.95 for the battery and $85.00 shop labor plus taxes. :angry: So you mean to tell me I just travelled 85 miles and paid $206.73 for a fucking battery!!!!! He replies...NO, you traveled for the service and knowledge. I'm sure if you knew it was the battery you would have changed it your self!:bang::bang::bang: So I tucked my sorry tail under my little ass and traveled 85 miles back home where it was now raining and couldn't even unload the bike to put it back into the damn garage!

 

[Coolbreezin]

Hey brother. Im sorry to hear of your plight and frustration. I havent had that scenario happen to me, but Ive had my bouts with the fine quality bikes that Big Dog has been supplying us. When my battery took a dump, I would just get a clicking sound like a car battery, so I knew what the deal was. Check this and other sites to see if there is an issue with your year/model or maybe a recall.
Ride safe. Maybe see you at Bikeweek.

Coolbreezin :flag:
Member of The Patriot Guard Riders.
Member of ABATE Duval (Florida).
Associated with The POW/MIA Foundation of Jacksonville.
Volunteer at City Mission Center – Jacksonville, FL

 

[onaprwl]

Thanks Cool, look forward to meeting you at Bike Week.

 

[jerr-06k9]

My did the same thing about a year ago. I asked for help here and
was told it was my battery. Saved my alot of time and money
Best place to ask for help by far!!!

 

[BBChopper]

That sucks man!!!!

 

[2004BC]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk about you paying $200 to the HD Dealership BUT:

1 - They did figure out the problem and you are riding.
2 - They didn't "scam" you and change the EHC or other electronics and make up some bogus not covered by a warranty $1,000 bill.
3 - They charged you standard shop rates for labor.
4 - They are a business and as such have to make a profit in order to stay in business. If not they would go out of business like your local BD dealer has then you would have a harder time getting service and help.
5 - Now you'll probably utilize this site more for searching out tech advise and confidently troubleshoot and work on your bike yourself more and more.

So, for about $200 your back on the road and gained a bunch of experience, good and bad. I'd say in the bigger picture of things it was money well spent. Best of luck and use this site and the members for anything concerning your BD. It's both free and priceless!!!

 

[Stinky7-11]

2005BC
Very well put and this forum should be your first stop!

 

[LDO]

You also learned a valuable lesson, after 4 or 5 start attempts, throw the bike back on the tender to ensure you have a full charge before start attempts.

Glad to hear you're back on the road and nothing got fried.:2thumbs:

Also, thanks for posting so that new (and maybe old) members can learn from your experience!:flag:

 

[onaprwl]

2004BC, Guess you miss understood my post. I was not knocking the dealership by anymeans. I own my own business and basically say the same thing to customers alot of times when asked, why so much when it only took you such a short amount of time. I was knocking my stupidy with all the hot rods, race boats and other vehicles I have worked on or built in the past to miss something as easy as this. Guess like Stinky7-11 said, This forum should have been my first stop! Stupid Me!

 

[shovelcowboy]

We all live and learn. Glad you are back on the road, and glad the dealership didn't gouge you (we need to keep the good ones in business) and glad you (and the rest of us learned something).

Diagnosis of a problem can be difficult (Remember Raywood's "MOTOR" rattle!! --- which turned out to be a broken tank vent tube)?:bang: And being a vet, I know about difficult diagnoses (patients just can't tell you what's wrong)!

Thanks for your post onaprwl.
Shovelcowboy

 

[hollywoodjohnny]

So I just road my bike about two weeks ago, started just fine, road great, then two weeks of blistering cold. It stays in a insulated garage on the battery tender. So Friday, the first day in a while that the temperature was OK to ride and I was off, I go to start the bike. It spun over just fine but no ignition. Tried holding the choke just a little longer, twisting the throttle two more times, and still nothing. After four attempts, still spinning over just fine, no drag at all, I press the start one more time......... now the damn horn beeps, four way lights start flashing and the head light goes on and off. WTF!!!! So.... I wait a moment after turning the ignition off and try again. SAME DAMN THING! So now I'm really pissed. Not bad enough it is a beautiful day, I'm finally off, and now this. If it wouldn't have been for the flashing and shit, I would have started testing different things, but I assumed this had to be something like a module problem or something, so I call the local Harley shop. First, the bike is in warranty and Harley is all we have. The Big Dog here closed up and Harley does the warranty work. OK, the service manager tells me that they have had numerous Big Dogs do this and it is always the (I forget what he called it, EMS or something) box. So... I load up the bike in the trailer and bring it to the Harley shop, 85 miles away! After arriving and unloading the bike, exactly one hour later I am presented with a bill for $206.73. So I ask what was the problem and why do I have a bill if the bike is under warranty???? His reply.....You had a bad battery. $99.95 for the battery and $85.00 shop labor plus taxes. :angry: So you mean to tell me I just travelled 85 miles and paid $206.73 for a fucking battery!!!!! He replies...NO, you traveled for the service and knowledge. I'm sure if you knew it was the battery you would have changed it your self!:bang::bang::bang: So I tucked my sorry tail under my little ass and traveled 85 miles back home where it was now raining and couldn't even unload the bike to put it back into the damn garage!

My K-9 did the same thing bout 1 1/2 yrs ago, The battery was the orig. one, so went right out a bought new one, Figured 2 1/2 yrs time for new one. Sorry you had to learn such an expensive lesson.

 

[woodbutcher]

We all live and learn. Glad you are back on the road, and glad the dealership didn't gouge you (we need to keep the good ones in business) and glad you (and the rest of us learned something).

Diagnosis of a problem can be difficult (Remember Raywood's "MOTOR" rattle!! --- which turned out to be a broken tank vent tube)?:bang: And being a vet, I know about difficult diagnoses (patients just can't tell you what's wrong)!

Thanks for your post onaprwl.
Shovelcowboy

:roll::roll: you're just not gonna let live that one down, are you, Ken??????:roll::roll:

 

[pauldeepsea]

Here is something I have learned. There are so many people on this site willing to help that is is going to have to be something serious for me ever to have to pay someone else to fuck my bike up other than me and believe me I have had my share of mess ups. But next time your bike goes down give these members time to help you solve your problems believe me they are here to help. I have learned so much from guys like Eric, Gas, and Mobsta and all the pound!!! sorry if I left out all those others who helped when needed !!!

 

[clevelandx]

I feel your pain brother! I had a mysterious problem 2 weeks ago that turned out to be the battery. Our dogs don't like bad batteries. Horn chirp and 4 way hazards are a low voltage (bad battery) indicator. I agree with these guys, THIS SITE ROCKS!... even if the censorship is a little tight... still rocks. Put out a post and we will help the best we can.

 

[mcgroom]

The next nice day that you are off you will probably forget all about having had to go through all that. You might even appreciate that day just a little bit more.

Good to hear your shop got you in and out so quick.

 

[onaprwl]

Guess I was to quick to run the bike to the dealer knowing it was in waranty!:bang: Only problem is, the problem wasn't covered!:bang::bang: Learning the hard way! Next time, waranty or not, if I'm not sure, I'll damn sure check here first!!!!:2thumbs:

 

[Tim]

Mine did almost the same thing the other day. Met some of my neighbors and got to talking about the bike. Went to start it for them and flashing lights. I just put it on the tender because I had the same issue a few months ago when I had to put it in storage. It sucks to think it maybe something more then a simple fix.

I actually had a similar problem with a Mustang GT I owned years ago. The car was under warranty and I went back home to Chicago in the dead of winter due to a family problem. I tried starting my car in the hospital parking lot and the solenoid stuck. I had the keys in my hand, hood open, watching the motor turn over until the battery died. The dealership charged me for a new battery and replaced the solenoid under warranty. Even though their faulty part caused the battery to drain down I had to pay for the new battery. I hate dealerships!!!

 

[onaprwl]

What really threw me was, it spun over just fine, no drag, but didn't catch. Normaly if a battery is bad it will spin slow. I was told it had enough juice to spin the motor and that was taking all the juice, so none left to ignite the spark,(makes sence). Live and learn.

 

[2004BC]

2004BC, Guess you miss understood my post. I was not knocking the dealership by anymeans. I own my own business and basically say the same thing to customers alot of times when asked, why so much when it only took you such a short amount of time. I was knocking my stupidy with all the hot rods, race boats and other vehicles I have worked on or built in the past to miss something as easy as this. Guess like Stinky7-11 said, This forum should have been my first stop! Stupid Me!

Ha ha ha! No problem! Been there done that! I don't want to think of all the times I've paid other people to "fix" something then later realize it was a piece of cake! Live and learn! Ride safe!

 

[mike394]

Man my Battery is orignal. 4 years and going strong. Keep thinking she will die anytime. Will watch for this.