About a month ago my brother got it stuck in his head that he wanted a bike, a dealer here in town still had a 2009 Pitbull that had never been ridden (I won't say new cause it was built 4 years ago). To make a long story short he bought the bike against my advice, yesterday morning we serviced it for the first 500 miles. To our surprise it had a full gallon of oil that we drained out and it looked like really thick coffee. My guess is the pricks at the dealer were trying to save a penny and overfilled it with used oil. After the oil change we went for a ride and 20 minutes into our ride it seems the engine has given out. He said as we were riding he began to hear a clanking sound and the check engine light turned on. Not even half a minute later while he was trying to move over out of traffic he heard a loud bang and the bike shut off. The bike has power but the engine does not turn over. Im guessing the engine ceased up. Obviously the bike does not have a warranty but I wanted to pick your alls brains as to some of the steps he can take to get this taken care of. I read here a while back that S&S was still honoring the warranty on their engines. Or maybe if you guys think there is something he can do to get the dealer to take care of it for him. Any advice and info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!!!!!:bang:
Advice Needed, Please!!!!!
- Thread starter DizzyD
- Start date
bigdogtech01
Well-Known Member
If that much oil came out, I would think it would have been blowing out the breather. Also, if that much came out, it's possible it had fuel in it...did it smell like fuel? If the bike sat that long with the fuel petcock on, it could have possibly drained passed the float needle and into the cylinders.
The bike did not come with a warranty? I would not spend $20+k on a vehicle and not have any warranty with it. There are lemon laws as well. If you can't get it resolved, you might want to look into this. And I wouldn't blame S&S just yet. Who knows what that dealer did to the bike in that 4 yrs. I have seen first hand how some them sales guys are and they have no problem beating the piss out of a new bike.
I would take the spark plugs out, put the transmission in 6th gear, and either push the bike, or lift rear wheel off ground so you can turn the motor over by hand. If you can't turn it over like this, then there is clearly something wrong.
Did the dealer put a new battery in for you? If it will not start, it's possible the battery is just too low. Or, the noise you heard was a loose front primary chain sprocket. If it is loose and has been loose, the charging rotor may have failed and it's no longer charging.
Sorry for the long response. Let us know what you find...and by the way, what state do you live in?
The bike did not come with a warranty? I would not spend $20+k on a vehicle and not have any warranty with it. There are lemon laws as well. If you can't get it resolved, you might want to look into this. And I wouldn't blame S&S just yet. Who knows what that dealer did to the bike in that 4 yrs. I have seen first hand how some them sales guys are and they have no problem beating the piss out of a new bike.
I would take the spark plugs out, put the transmission in 6th gear, and either push the bike, or lift rear wheel off ground so you can turn the motor over by hand. If you can't turn it over like this, then there is clearly something wrong.
Did the dealer put a new battery in for you? If it will not start, it's possible the battery is just too low. Or, the noise you heard was a loose front primary chain sprocket. If it is loose and has been loose, the charging rotor may have failed and it's no longer charging.
Sorry for the long response. Let us know what you find...and by the way, what state do you live in?
KaptinAmerika
Guru
Did he test ride the bike before buying it?
Did he not check the oil in the tank for cleanliness. If it was brand new and never ridden that oil would be clean.
The way I test ride a future purchase if it was going to fail it would likely fail during the test ride especially if it was in that kind of condition.
I would have had that thing towed immediately back to the dealer I bought it from and they would definitely be getting on it.
Did he not check the oil in the tank for cleanliness. If it was brand new and never ridden that oil would be clean.
The way I test ride a future purchase if it was going to fail it would likely fail during the test ride especially if it was in that kind of condition.
I would have had that thing towed immediately back to the dealer I bought it from and they would definitely be getting on it.
C00lHandLuke
Active Member
When you say "dealer" what do you mean?
bigdogtech01, not really blaming S&S. The oil did not smell funny but we were outside and it was breezy so it could be that I just didn't pick up on it. The bike sat on the dealers showroom floor for 4 years and only had 7 miles upon purchase but who's to say those were'nt a brutal 7 miles. I will take a look at those possible problems you pointed out. Thank You.
Kaptin Amerika, the bike was test ridden with no iassues after they sent it to there service center to put in all the lubricants. But to be completely honest I did not check the oil. I assumed since they had to add all the lubricants for the test ride that they would be new.
C00lHandLuke, I mean dealer as a Motorsports dealership.
liferider, live in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but had to leave the bike in El Paso, Texas. Its only about 60 miles away so any info on a reputable mechanic in either of the two would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks everybody for the info.
Kaptin Amerika, the bike was test ridden with no iassues after they sent it to there service center to put in all the lubricants. But to be completely honest I did not check the oil. I assumed since they had to add all the lubricants for the test ride that they would be new.
C00lHandLuke, I mean dealer as a Motorsports dealership.
liferider, live in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but had to leave the bike in El Paso, Texas. Its only about 60 miles away so any info on a reputable mechanic in either of the two would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks everybody for the info.
C00lHandLuke
Active Member
Thanks, I wasn't sure. I lived in both El Paso and Las Cruces back in the day, 1990 and 1991 to be exact and loved every minute of it. I wish I could help you out but that has been a long time ago. Good luck.
bigdogtech01
Well-Known Member
With only having 7 miles on it, makes me wonder if the speedo had been replaced. Most of them come with 30-40 miles on them from being test road at factory. That would explain why the oil was so dirty if it had a lot more miles than what they say it did. And why would they be putting the fluid in before riding it? 
The bikes come with all fluids in them from factory. Just need to turn key, fire it up and go...
The bikes come with all fluids in them from factory. Just need to turn key, fire it up and go...
welder198
Member
I would be questioning things along the lines of what bigdogtech01 has to say about speedo being changed out. My bike had 27 miles on it when I bought it from Big Dog in Tampa. Was told that Big Dog tested each bike for around 15 to 20 miles before shipment from factory then the dealer test rode it for a few miles before shipping it to me. So thinking it should have more than 7 miles on it.
bigdogtech01, the bike sat on there showroom floor for 4 years before it got sold. Im pretty sure they drained all the fluids to avoid them gunking up or maybe even leaking at some point all over there showroom floor. But thats a good question about the miles on it. I will go back and check the odometer reading from the contract so I can verify.
liferider, thanks for the info I might have to just take them the bike if things dont go well with the dealer. Either way I will take a look at some of the things you all pointed out to see if maybe its not as big of a deal as originally thought. Thank you all for your input and I will let you guys know how things turn out.
liferider, thanks for the info I might have to just take them the bike if things dont go well with the dealer. Either way I will take a look at some of the things you all pointed out to see if maybe its not as big of a deal as originally thought. Thank you all for your input and I will let you guys know how things turn out.
pknowles
RETIRED
"Most of them come with 30-40 miles on them from being test road at factory. That would explain why the oil was so dirty if it had a lot more miles than what they say it did. And why would they be putting the fluid in before riding it? The bikes come with all fluids in them from factory. Just need to turn key, fire it up and go..."
My Bulldog had just under 50 miles when purchased new and I'm with you on filling the reservoir. Wonder if it was ran without oil at some point??
My Bulldog had just under 50 miles when purchased new and I'm with you on filling the reservoir. Wonder if it was ran without oil at some point??
bigdogtech01
Well-Known Member
Yeah something doesn't sound right!! I have never heard or draining the oil out of a bike or any vehicle because it will be sitting. They had it priced that high and knew it would take 4 yrs to sell? I cold understand maybe draining the fuel tank, and definitely the carb float bowl, but not the oil.
Wish I was closer to lend a hand. But, I would pull the spark plugs like I said and check to see if motor turns over. Also check battery to make sure that's ok.
I cold understand maybe draining the fuel tank, and definitely the carb float bowl, but not the oil. Wish I was closer to lend a hand. But, I would pull the spark plugs like I said and check to see if motor turns over. Also check battery to make sure that's ok.