problems problems problems....

[NOLA_BigDog]

Starter went out on my dog yesterday... Brought bike to local Harley store. The guy behind service counter began to tell me how I bought the wrong bike for m first bike and I am going to have constant problems and it's a money pit. 1k to replace a starter!? WTF! At one point I even think he was trying to stear me towards trading my bike for a Harley.... He mentioned rewiring my whole bike to Harley standards. The starter smoked a little bit when it didn't turn the bike over. He said not to start the bike again cause it might catch the bike on fire or melt the harness. I lef tthe bike there and need to call him and let him k ow what to do today. I mentioned buying a starter online he said I'm gonna get fcuked... Is it safe to start bike and bring it somwhere else??? I k kw how car service departments work and I don't trust those guys for some reason. I just wish I knew somewhere I could bring my bike where there not trying to knock my head off. ..... This sucks bike week starts Wednesday

 

[shovelcowboy]

I feel for ya, Man! My advise would be to take a trailer down there, roll the bike in and take it to a BDM dealer (if you can find one) or a local bike shop. If you have any wrenching skills, just take it home and fix it yourself. If it is just the starter, you can get one on ebay (maybe shovelheadkicker) for a couple hundred bucks and I bet this forum would help you fix it.

Harley will 'top dollar' you EVERYTIME. And especially if you are asking them to fix a non-harley.

I once felt I was getting ripped off on a top end motor job on my shovelhead. It was all apart in this shop. Price was just going up and up, even tho we had agreed on a price for the work. So, it wasn't easy but I went down there, loaded the bike and all the parts up, paid them minimal for what little they had done (just torn it down), brought it home, had a local machine shop do the heads and match the new pistons, rings to the jugs, and put it together myself.

Not easy to go pick up a bike sometimes but definitely not right to be price gouged when you are a vulnerable easy target.

Best of luck getting up and running,
Shovelcowboy

 

[erldawg]

Sorry to hear about your troubles....I would have to agree with shovel...

You may consider picking up a owners manual and learning to fix it yourself. Or take it to another shop. This may or may not help ..Put n your zip code to search for dealers or repair centers. I did a quick search in the New Orleans area and it came up with Hammond HD is that where you took it?
Big Dog Motorcycles - Dealers & Service Centers

 

[TheDeadOne]

Sounds very unprofessional!

I'd get my bike outta there! I'm sorry, but that's my opinion!

dead

 

[CurtK]

I agree with all the responses. Get a trailer and get your dog from them ASAP. If you choose not to wrench yourself there is a BigDog dealer in Baton Rouge. They are an HD dealer on Seigen Lane and Airline Hwy that is also a BD dealer.

Curt

 

[KaptinAmerika]

I agree with all the responses. Get a trailer and get your dog from them ASAP. If you choose not to wrench yourself there is a BigDog dealer in Baton Rouge. They are an HD dealer on Seigen Lane and Airline Hwy that is also a BD dealer.

Curt

These guys are all correct.
If their already talkin that kind of trash to you about your ride then how do you think their going to treat it if you make the mistake of letting them work on it.
Get a trailer and get it out of there.
While I have to admit that our rides don't have quite the R&D that Harleys have and they can be tempramental at times there still way hotter lookin and way cooler lookin than anything else at the price. I've had my issues with both my Dogs but I take pride in the fact that I have resolved , upgraded, and snuffed them out so that my ride is virtually trouble free despite what people say about them.

 

[PZNIVYCHOPPER]

Get your bike out of there.!!!!!

 

[ChopperJeff]

I went through a couple of starters on my '05 Chopper until Big Dog finally came up with one that had the "fix", as the previous ones had a bad seal that would allow oil to get into the thing. The last time it went bad was when returning from a long trip, and there was a puff of smoke from it, but then the bike started. Stopped later at a gas station, went to start it, and there was a lot bigger puff of smoke, then nothing. Push started it, and just never turned it off until I got home.

Fortunately for me, Big Dog covered it under warranty, and it's been fine since... several years later I might add.

I agree 100% with what others have said, which is "GET YOUR BIKE OUT OF THAT HD PLACE!!!"

Sounds to me that they are just trying to scare you into having them work on it. At this point, I wouldn't even call them first to inform them you're picking it up. Just show up with a trailer, or large pickup truck, and get your bike outta there!

 

[airbrush-ed]

Sounds like they were lookin for a good pay day at your exspense!

 

[O-man]

Trailer the bitch out of there. :angry::angry:

 

[stinger1]

I feel you must of told them about your 25ml and thats why they are trying to rob you. I suggest you keep quiet about your wealth and enjoy it with out any more problems.....just my 2 bucks worth!!!!!

 

[NOLA_BigDog]

stinger... huh?? i dont get it. Yah I gotta get my shit outa there asap! just got to figure out how im going to do it. **If i get the bike started one more time do you guys think itll mess somthing up? Push start maybe??**

 

[CurtK]

Hey Bryan, I think Stinger is referring to another thread here today. Can you borrow a trailer from someone or rent a u-haul for cheap. Would not chance starting until you get a better handle on the problem.

Curt

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Call a Bike towing service maybe? If you have no other choice but to push start it then I guess your stuck with push starting it. If its the starter that is smoking then its probably internal to the starter and will not affect the rest of the bike so riding it straight home, as long as straight home isn't a couple of hours, is probably okay. If you can get it push started then let it run for a few minutes and check your harness under the seat for excessive heat. Wait a few more minutes and check again. If there is no excessive heat and the starter isn't smoking while the bike is running then get on it and ride a few miles. Stop and check again. If everything is still okay then get your ass home but keep an eye on the starter and shit until you get there. Something bad happening to you just to save a few bucks on a tow though isn't worth it.
But don't take my word for it.

 

[Moespeeds]

Just push start it dude. Find a local mechanic workin out of his garage and bring it to him. Harley can definitely not work on your bike. I just did a starter for a guy for $200 and a bag of cheese steaks for me and my friends, and I got him a new Ultima 1.8 KW chrome starter for $170. Don't let Harley or Big Dog rip you for service.

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Just push start it dude. Find a local mechanic workin out of his garage and bring it to him. Harley can definitely not work on your bike. I just did a starter for a guy for $200 and a bag of cheese steaks for me and my friends, and I got him a new Ultima 1.8 KW chrome starter for $170. Don't let Harley or Big Dog rip you for service.

Excelent MoeSpeed :up:

 

[Stick]

Bryan...let me know when you get the part in...I'll help you swap it. Starters aren't a big deal to swap. I'm just 20 minutes away with traffic. You have any tools? :flag:

 

[KnotSo]

What did you decide to do?

 

[RRRUFF]

Get it out of there, 1k for a starter. You will have to have help to push start. I would borrow a trailer or rent one and take it home and fix it myself. I have an 05 chopper and the starters had a bad jack shaft seal that allowed primary oil to get into the starter mortor windings. Get you another starter from BD or eBay and do it yourself.

 

[distantThunder]

Yeah ... they're not giving you the straight scoop. The HD dealer is giving you a line of crap.

If you don't have a trailer, and you live in a major city, look up the bike towing services. There are companies with special trailers that they use to transport motorcycles. Those guys will be really nice to your BD. No scratches.

Look around for a 3'rd party mechanic or shop that will do the job for you. It shouldn't cost an arm and a leg.

dT