Long term problem finally solved (I hope)

[Hammitt]

I'll try to keep this post short.
Got the bike back in June. 04 Chopper. RT frame.
Belt squeaking. Took it to dealer. They tightened it up.
Belt started slipping. Took it to a different dealer.
Said my pully and belt worn out. Replaced it with a new set up. No squeaks.... belt slipping.
Went to the third dealer in a different state.
Said he didn't know but would investigate. Problem was the previous owner missed the recall on this frame. No bushings in the swingarm, therefore impossible to align the rear wheel.
Sent the swingarm back to Big Dog. The installed bushings at no cost. During that time, I had another pully put on the wheel to match it. (dealer #2 put a solid pully on the wheel)
Picked up the bike and test rode it. Slipped the belt again!
This time it was only one tooth. Dealer adjusted the belt with my big butt sitting on the bike. Also he was concerned that the axle was bottoming out at the point of tightness. He added a shim to each side. Adjusted the belt.
Took it out and hammered it... no slippage!!! No squeaks.
It cost me a ton, but finally they got me where I need to be.
The dealer that fixed it was Extreme Cycles in Simpsonville SC. They took the time to fix my bike, not just take my money.
Hope this helps...

 

[V]

Sorry to hear about your trobles but glad ya got it worked out :2thumbs:

 

[Dakotabos]

What "Recall" was it? Didnt know we had a recall on anything besides Kickstand

 

[Hammitt]

The dealer showed me the recall sheet.
It had to do only with the 2004 RT swingarm bushings.
Without them, your swingarm moves side to side making it impossible to get a good alignment.

 

[nobozos]

I am having what sounds like the same problem with mine and have contacted and talked to Bob lockwood the reginal manager and he swears ther was not a recall but i have also seen the paper work a copy from Hacienda harley in phx az, I lost the paperwork harley cant find it and big dog said it never existed. I would sure like to get my hands on it if for nothing else to satisfy my own mind. I am the second owner and the way I understand it I would not be covered anyway

 

[nobozos]

I just posted the response from rt frames [rolling thunder] 04 big dog chopper.
I dont know how to tell you to get there but I do know now that big knows they had a problem and kept it as quit as they could to a point of denying that any sercice bulliton ever existed. I to have seen theese papers. sounds familliar TOYOTA HMMMM

 

[Chopperman]

I had the same issue. It was adjusted so many times, it never got better...
So, I had my pulley sent in, they grind the teeth down, and then they mold some teflon/kevlar teeth in. I can't remember the name of the company who does it off hand, but they are listed in the easyrider magazine. The local dog dealer took care of it for me. I had it done last winter, and haven't heard a squeek. It cost a few bucks, but money well spent, and it's good quality stuff...

 

[Raywood]

I had the same issue. It was adjusted so many times, it never got better...
So, I had my pulley sent in, they grind the teeth down, and then they mold some teflon/kevlar teeth in. I can't remember the name of the company who does it off hand, but they are listed in the easyrider magazine. The local dog dealer took care of it for me. I had it done last winter, and haven't heard a squeek. It cost a few bucks, but money well spent, and it's good quality stuff...

That's Phil at SuperMax. He passed away a few months back and it was posted here. His brother is trying to reserect the company but not sure they are able to start back up yet.

 

[T.Byrd]

You have to be the original owner on recall.

 

[Hammitt]

Although I was not the orig. owner, Big Dog put the bushings in my swingarm at no cost, but I did pay for shipping both ways.
I just hope that this fixes my problem.
The weather has been so bad, I have not had hardly any time that I could ride it. Need to go several miles before I convince myself that it is fixed.
It has really been frustrating.

 

[HotRod]

Hope its a fix for ya.:2thumbs:

 

[waykool]

You have to be the original owner on recall.

T.Byrd:
No you do not have to be the original owner for a recall to be performed.

Hammitt:
Glad every thing worked out for you.

 

[Hammitt]

Just rode it about 200 miles today and hammered it a few times.
No slippage, no belt squeak.
Lets hope it stays that way.
Thanks for all the support, I know being new here that I have probably asked some stupid stuff, but this site has really helped me a lot.

 

[HotRod]

:2thumbs::2thumbs: