1st Time BD Bike Owner question
- Thread starter Mashdagas
- Start date
Mr. Wright
Knows some things
My opinion and that of others, is if you're going to own a big dog you need to learn to work on it yourself. The staff you have on this form can walk you through just about anything you need to do to that bike. Even if you don't own a screwdriver. Will tell you to borrow one from your neighbors and then tell you how to use it.
Mikeinjersey
Well-Known Member
Welcome Mash from NJ,
The more mechanical/electrical skills you have the better. No question you are better off doing your own work with the help of the people and resources on this site. If you have Zero skills try to find a mechanic who is at least familiar with Big Dog Bikes. I'm pretty sure a Harley Dealer won't even work on an 04 Harley let alone a BD. Learning and working on your bike is half the fun of owning it.
Advice to avoid unnecessary headaches: If you don't know how old the Battery is buy a new one. You will learn in the future why I have made that recommendation
The more mechanical/electrical skills you have the better. No question you are better off doing your own work with the help of the people and resources on this site. If you have Zero skills try to find a mechanic who is at least familiar with Big Dog Bikes. I'm pretty sure a Harley Dealer won't even work on an 04 Harley let alone a BD. Learning and working on your bike is half the fun of owning it.
Advice to avoid unnecessary headaches: If you don't know how old the Battery is buy a new one. You will learn in the future why I have made that recommendation
Mike makes mention of the dealers using a year as a cutoff. Why? Most parts are becoming obsolete, ie, no longer orderable and/or available, and no dealer principal is about to use aftermarket parts and back them up under warranty. You buy an OEM part over the counter, I believe it has a 60-90 day warranty.
However, you could take detailed photos on the phone and go around hd dealers and see if any mechanic would do side jobs. Someone looking at the bike would more take it on than showing a neglected bike that needs more work than what was suggested to do in the first place.
Another alternative is find a non-running lawnmower, begin to build a toolbox and see if you can take it apart and put it back together again. The point is not to get it running, the point is to learn bolt and nut tightening. You strip the mower out and learn how tight is tight on any nut/screw/bolt... then you can walk up to your bike and make the attempt.
So to begin the journey, buy what is needed on the BD tool wise, and begin to check/tighten every bolt/nut/screw you can find on the bike and make sure they feel tight. That's starting at the front axle and work your way up to the bars and begin from the neck, look down, what hardware do you see? Travel back until you are at the rear axle and belt adjust nuts... random attach is where did you leave off and at what direction? This way you have a routing from front to rear.
However, you could take detailed photos on the phone and go around hd dealers and see if any mechanic would do side jobs. Someone looking at the bike would more take it on than showing a neglected bike that needs more work than what was suggested to do in the first place.
Another alternative is find a non-running lawnmower, begin to build a toolbox and see if you can take it apart and put it back together again. The point is not to get it running, the point is to learn bolt and nut tightening. You strip the mower out and learn how tight is tight on any nut/screw/bolt... then you can walk up to your bike and make the attempt.
So to begin the journey, buy what is needed on the BD tool wise, and begin to check/tighten every bolt/nut/screw you can find on the bike and make sure they feel tight. That's starting at the front axle and work your way up to the bars and begin from the neck, look down, what hardware do you see? Travel back until you are at the rear axle and belt adjust nuts... random attach is where did you leave off and at what direction? This way you have a routing from front to rear.
Jersey James
Jersey James
Plus after you make your own repair, comes the great satisfaction of knowing you did yourself...
DynoDave
Guru
Conventional wisdom on this site is, "Why let someone else screw up your bike when you can do it yourself?"
And no, most Harley dealers won't touch your bike, and you don't want them to, as mentioned earlier.
There is a great deal of experience and knowledge with members here who will gladly help you.
Welcome to the exciting world of Big Dog Motorcycles!
And no, most Harley dealers won't touch your bike, and you don't want them to, as mentioned earlier.
There is a great deal of experience and knowledge with members here who will gladly help you.
Welcome to the exciting world of Big Dog Motorcycles!
awg
Guru
Now that's funny!
PAUL NOBBS
Member
yep - download the correct manual and do it yourself - i am no mechanic but if you have space it is all easy to do with average intelligence. Youtube vids can also assist. The money you will give a dodgy dealer mechanic you can buy all the tools you need.
You will find great satisfaction in working out any problems on your BigDog by doing the work yourself. I wouldn’t take my bike to a Harley-Davidson dealership if it was the last damn bike shop in town. And the local shop I did take it to proved it’s better to work on it myself and f*#k it up than let them do it. Bunch of f*#king boneheads trying to work on bikes they got no business touching. Just my opinion. Hope it helps. Welcome from Florida btw! And Cheers to your new ride!
Welcome Mash from North Central Mass.
As most of the guys on here have mentioned working on your bike is better, I must agree. Although I have a 1-man shop in our area that does work on older Harleys and is good at it as he has worked on my Harleys from time to time. It is good to have one like this if possible. He has not worked on my Big Dogs, although I do take over my rims to have the tires changed along with the wheel bearings which I supply and he does this for me. He is reasonable and fair and does it rather quickly for me, 1-2 days. I do tip him a little and but some basic items from him as well and this keeps our relation in good standing. Just my 2 cents worth.
As most of the guys on here have mentioned working on your bike is better, I must agree. Although I have a 1-man shop in our area that does work on older Harleys and is good at it as he has worked on my Harleys from time to time. It is good to have one like this if possible. He has not worked on my Big Dogs, although I do take over my rims to have the tires changed along with the wheel bearings which I supply and he does this for me. He is reasonable and fair and does it rather quickly for me, 1-2 days. I do tip him a little and but some basic items from him as well and this keeps our relation in good standing. Just my 2 cents worth.
PAUL NOBBS
Member
Oh .... and I would add that sometimes the most difficult bit in DIY is getting an effing nut to undo. Always use the correct fitting six point hex wrench to make sure you don't round off the corners, Watch vidoes on best ways to get a stubborn nut to undo. That is often half the battle won!!!
DynoDave
Guru
Home made penetrating oil is a big help;
Easy to apply with squeeze bottle from Amazon;
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Gottaflirt
Leaving it all behind
I thought I would have the Harley shop look at an engine problem and even though it's an S&S engine they wouldn't even discuss it claiming liability issues. Bull shit! They are just passed you bought a better bike than their Harley. I fixed it my self.
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