Does this happen with non harley manufacturers

[MicroMetal]

I have a harley sportster with a bad low fuel sensor. The dealer ordered the part and said it should take a week or two. After a week they said Harley backordered the part for another 2 weeks.

I just called to see if the part came in and Harley backordered the part until the day after my warranty expires... hmmm Actually the dealer said not to worry about the warranty expiration for this issue.

Do the other manufacturers like Honda, Suzuki, etc pull this garbage alot?

I know when I had my fuel pump replaced it took harley over 2 weeks to get the part to the dealer. Not sure if the warehouse is in Milwaukee or not, but if I can get a shipment from California in 3 days using free shipping and live in NY, Harley should at least be able to get the part to me in a week.

[ECAVE]

When I order a part from Kawasaki, it is 7 - 10 business days before I receive the part.

[Rykstr]

Nope!
When I bought a Hardley a few years back, It broke on the test ride. Two weeks later, I went down to pick it up, and it wasnt done (as Promised). One month later, after alot of heated phone conversations, I took it home. Within one month, the mirror fell off, and the spokes were loose causing the bike to slam left and right at 40 mph and above.
Took it back again, and they said they needed to put a Mag wheel on, or else it will keep happining, at my cost mind you. One or two weeks later, the wire harness melted down and the bike died!
Flatbed it back to them and 3 months later, after alot of heated phone calls, its not done yet.
Got a lawyer, got my money back, bought a Honda. Never a problem again.

[KMWilliams]

I'm betting it's THAT dealership. What they tell you and what is reality might be two different things.

I know from working with other business, the first thing to go south is credit with vendors when a business is struggling.

Or HD's parts distribution chain is FUBAR, but I doubt it.

Edit
This was in response to the OP, not the post above.

[Eye_m_no_angel]

It all depends on whether the supplier has enough of the part needed or not. Generaly, and for all brands of vehicle, suppliers manufacture parts based on anticipated demand, both for production and for post production support. For the most part they do a very good job of making enough parts without making too many (thus having wasted stock, $$$, sitting around,) but every so often they get caught short. Usualy what happens is the demand is greater then anticipated, but the needed parts are already being manufactured or being shipped on a regular cyclic schedule, so there's a fairly short lead time. It's a pretty complicated operation, and when you consider the millions and millions of parts that are made, ordered, and tracked, it works very well, but sometimes, to use an industry technical term, "$hit happens."

You reported your problem within the warranty period so there's no worries about it not being covered. This also should be true of any other manufacurer.

[Rykstr]

I do alot of various Bike repairs. All of our parts come to the Stealerships from Georgia. A week at most here in South Florida. If its a recall part, then I could see it back ordered, cuzz the whole Country needs it at the same time. If it were me, I would get on the computer and find the part for them and make um feel like crap. Call some other parts counters and ask what the time is for getting that same part.

[Mikedero]

Never had a issue getting parts for my HD. In fact knock on wood all the parts I bought were up grades and no real repairs needed other then oil changes and tune ups. Brakes and tires will be needed soon but I am thinking that can wait until the spring

[OTD]

Originally Posted by Rykstr

Nope!
When I bought a Hardley a few years back, It broke on the test ride.

Oh no!!!!!





I hope you don't blow the needle off of it.

[JasonSK]

Originally Posted by OTD

Oh no!!!!!





I hope you don't blow the needle off of it.

ROFL!

I agree though, if it broke on a test ride why the hell would you buy it?

[OTD]

Originally Posted by MicroMetal

I have a harley sportster with a bad low fuel sensor. The dealer ordered the part and said it should take a week or two. After a week they said Harley backordered the part for another 2 weeks.

I just called to see if the part came in and Harley backordered the part until the day after my warranty expires... hmmm Actually the dealer said not to worry about the warranty expiration for this issue.

Do the other manufacturers like Honda, Suzuki, etc pull this garbage alot?

I know when I had my fuel pump replaced it took harley over 2 weeks to get the part to the dealer. Not sure if the warehouse is in Milwaukee or not, but if I can get a shipment from California in 3 days using free shipping and live in NY, Harley should at least be able to get the part to me in a week.

Backorders happen especially if they have a problem part. One of our Kawi racebikes broke a radiator shroud in it's first race a few years back. Well since Kawi had tried to shave weight by lightening the plastic there was a rush on them. A couple of months later we finally got our new shrouds which broke in the next Moto. Fortunately Acerbis started making them just after that.

[OTD]

Originally Posted by JasonSK

ROFL!

I agree though, if it broke on a test ride why the hell would you buy it?

Yep.

[ReconLdr]

Originally Posted by KMWilliams

I'm betting it's THAT dealership. What they tell you and what is reality might be two different things.

I know from working with other business, the first thing to go south is credit with vendors when a business is struggling.

Or HD's parts distribution chain is FUBAR, but I doubt it.

Edit
This was in response to the OP, not the post above.

Quoted for truth^^^^.

I worked for in car dealerships for the better part of 12 years. One in particular was a Buick/Pontiac/Jeep/Eagle dealer. We sold very, very few new GM vehicles so the main money maker was the Chrysler products in Sales, Service and Parts. The owners of said dealer were old and decided to sell off the business. A very small Chevy only dealership bought us out for a ****-ton of money. The first thing the new owners did was sell off the Chrysler franchise to someone else. Within 6 months they were having revenue problems and had to essentially pay CASH for every part that was delivered. This caused a much longer dwell time for customer vehicles. Which created pissed off customers, who eventually stopped coming to us for service/repair. Which only compounded the revenue issue. Finally, we showed up to work one Monday morning and there were pad locks on the doors... We had to contact the Sheriff to come down to let us in to get our personal belongings (tools).

Still for the life of me can't figure out why the new dealer would get rid of the Jeep/Eagle franchises when they were the largest source of $$$. When I questioned the new owner after the announcement he told me "My family has been selling Chevy's since 1932, we know what we are doing."

[Rykstr]

Originally Posted by JasonSK

ROFL!

I agree though, if it broke on a test ride why the hell would you buy it?

I was Dumb! of course! New to anything new! Lawyer said the same thing. It was a Lemon, so was the Stealership, wich went out of buisness shortly there after.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by MicroMetal

I have a harley sportster with a bad low fuel sensor. The dealer ordered the part and said it should take a week or two. After a week they said Harley backordered the part for another 2 weeks.

I just called to see if the part came in and Harley backordered the part until the day after my warranty expires... hmmm Actually the dealer said not to worry about the warranty expiration for this issue.

Do the other manufacturers like Honda, Suzuki, etc pull this garbage alot?

I know when I had my fuel pump replaced it took harley over 2 weeks to get the part to the dealer. Not sure if the warehouse is in Milwaukee or not, but if I can get a shipment from California in 3 days using free shipping and live in NY, Harley should at least be able to get the part to me in a week.

It didn't happen a lot, but on some new part it can happen. The other thing is if the part is either very high demand or very low demand it may not be a general off the shelf item when still in use on the line. I guarantee the line gets the parts first. We had an ignition pick up (buried in the head, engine out) go bad on one of the first Honda 87 Shadow 1100s go bad. Only bike using the part, took I think nearly a month to get the guy back on the road. I can't remember, but I think we may have given him a demo to ride if he wanted it. I think he turned it down. He was genuinely nice about it all as were we. The instant the part hit his bike was back on the lift.

As for warranty, it applies to any problem that is encountered during the covered period, whether it's been apart or not. Fact is sometimes warranty applies after, but is usually listed as a good will warranty. I remember a rider in one forum got a carb replaced by Suzuki, even though it was two years old (1 year warranty) and he was the third owner. The fact was a good Suzuki dealer went to bat for the fact that the carb was defective. A jet holder hole was too big allowing the part to move, screwing up carburetion. Another dealer wouldn't do the job, due to warranty time and all. I told him to see another dealer since it was clearly defective and not related to the time issue. I also told him to be a nice guy about it, more gets done when you're pleasant - even if you are upset.

[cthall8143]

I don't have a Harley, but my neighbor does. We ride together quite a bit. This happens to him all the time. It doesn't seem to bother him too much. He has two motorcycles. Last summer he waited over a month to have his fork seals replaced. That one did get under his skin. When I brought him up to the dealership to pick it up I could tell by the way he was talking to the service guy he was upset. Seems to happen more than it should.

[gammaqueen]

Good luck, they've been replacing mine since 2007 and it still comes on intermittently.

[MicroMetal]

Originally Posted by gammaqueen

Good luck, they've been replacing mine since 2007 and it still comes on intermittently.

noooo... lol It actually wasn't even occuring until they replaced my fuel pump because it was making odd noises. Right after installing that fuel pump it started occuring.

[aaronrkelly]

So far Ive had great luck with getting Victory parts from the "factory".

I recently wadded my bike up in a neat little pile, doing roughly $6K worth of damage.

After the insurance company did their part my dealer ordered ALOT of parts on Monday......they were all delivered Wed....and I had my bike back on Friday. This wasnt just a simple repair - this was 16 hours of labor and damn near rebuilding the entire front end of a complicated large touring bike.

.....I was impressed with both the lack of wait for parts....and the dealer getting my crap fixed quickly. I was not, however, impressed with my lack of riding skill that caused it in the first place....**** that was a bad month.

[Bonsai]

Originally Posted by MicroMetal

I have a harley sportster with a bad low fuel sensor. .

I'm assuming by bad you mean coming on way to early in a tank run?



I know this isn't much help but my wife's 09 Sportster had the same issue. It didn't start until after the first service. We called the dealership and apparently it is fairly common on XL's or at least in the 09's. He offered to order it and set up an appointment but he mentioned it was a 60/40 shot that the new one would work(and yes we trust him). Since my wife has owned bikes since the early 70's (with a few years off here and there) she wasn't in a hurry because she uses the trip meter out of habit. She told them she'd wait for the 5k service.

Low and behold 3000 miles later it "fixed" itself and appears to be fairly accurate still. She still doesn't pay any attention to it because again....she uses the trip meter and also she rarely lets the tank get to the point of the light coming on anyway.

[4Raven]

I worked on my own bike and it did take about a week to get the parts I needed and I have a Yamaha. It took me three hours to tear it down...two days to figure out that that stator and pickup coil were NOT coming out of the alternator cover easily, one week to have someone carve them out! and then put the parts back in, only to find out that the manufacturer overtorqued the neutral switcha and that was causing my oil leak too, another week to order that part and gasket....so even if you do your own work you still have to wait!

[Rykstr]

Originally Posted by OTD

Yep.

You sign all paperwork before leaving the Stealerships. You own it before they let you drive off with it. I have had 19 bikes, and have always did the paperwork before delivery. I dont know where you could go in this country, walk in and take any bike you want outside for a test drive. Most places dont have Demo bikes anymore.
Where do you live, where they let you drive there bikes around without buying them first?

[Eye_m_no_angel]

Just about every Harley dealership I've been in has "Demo Days." No, you can't just pick out your bike and take 'er for a spin, but you can almost always ride a bike like the one you've picked out.

So, was the bike you purchased a new one, or a used bike without any warranty? About what year was this?

[OTD]

Originally Posted by Rykstr

You sign all paperwork before leaving the Stealerships. You own it before they let you drive off with it. I have had 19 bikes, and have always did the paperwork before delivery. I dont know where you could go in this country, walk in and take any bike you want outside for a test drive. Most places dont have Demo bikes anymore.
Where do you live, where they let you drive there bikes around without buying them first?

Then it really wasn't a test ride, you owned it. True I bought my current bike w/o a test ride. I owned a sporty that had a ton of issues but, I surely wouldn't have bought it if it had broke down on the test ride (I bought it used). So reread that post as if you hadn't written it and see if your BS meter doesn't go off.

[Rykstr]

Good point. Should have said maiden trip to the house 72 miles away. right? Everyone goes through Finace office before you get keys, unless your buying from a freind. I used to race for Hardley. I still have a Crossbones that someone gave me. I dont ride it, but its a loaner for people who drop their bikes off. O ther than it has corrosion issues, its never been much of a problem. But back to the post topic.
Yep, had many problems on Stealerships failing to perform good customer service.

[RezZ]

Originally Posted by Rykstr

You sign all paperwork before leaving the Stealerships. You own it before they let you drive off with it. I have had 19 bikes, and have always did the paperwork before delivery. I dont know where you could go in this country, walk in and take any bike you want outside for a test drive. Most places dont have Demo bikes anymore.
Where do you live, where they let you drive there bikes around without buying them first?

Everywhere I live in Western PA you can call them and they will prep it, the next day go by and test ride the bike.

[gammaqueen]

It's just annoying. I know not to believe my fuel is actually low unless it comes on and stays on for a long period of time.

Originally Posted by Bonsai

I'm assuming by bad you mean coming on way to early in a tank run?



I know this isn't much help but my wife's 09 Sportster had the same issue. It didn't start until after the first service. We called the dealership and apparently it is fairly common on XL's or at least in the 09's. He offered to order it and set up an appointment but he mentioned it was a 60/40 shot that the new one would work(and yes we trust him). Since my wife has owned bikes since the early 70's (with a few years off here and there) she wasn't in a hurry because she uses the trip meter out of habit. She told them she'd wait for the 5k service.

Low and behold 3000 miles later it "fixed" itself and appears to be fairly accurate still. She still doesn't pay any attention to it because again....she uses the trip meter and also she rarely lets the tank get to the point of the light coming on anyway.

[Bonsai]

Originally Posted by gammaqueen

It's just annoying. I know not to believe my fuel is actually low unless it comes on and stays on for a long period of time.

I didn't say it didn't annoy her...just that she ignored it.....

I guess in a round about way I was saying I don't trust or use the light and as far as I'm concerned it doesn't need to be there which in hindsight has nothing to do with the thread. LOL

Believe me she would have gotten it replaced if it had kept it up. But again neither of us regularly take a tank to the fuel light anyway. The gauge on my bike is dead on accurate but i still use the trip along with looking at the gauge and I know my MPG at all basic crusing speeds.

Old habits and past memories of pushing a bike to the gas station haven't faded.

So....on topic...maybe the backorder for the OP is because the Sportsters still have bad sensors and they can't keep them in stock?

[Eye_m_no_angel]

" I used to race for Hardley."

What'd you race?

[MicroMetal]

Originally Posted by Bonsai

I'm assuming by bad you mean coming on way to early in a tank run?

Yup. I would give it a full tank, and it would go either 20 or 40 miles before it came on. Weird thing was that it was almost gauranteed to come on around 20 or 40 miles. After you reset it, it would not come back on until it got to the level where it should go on.

Now it has switched to flickering on and off at random times.

Normally I wouldn't run it down to where the light would come on anyways, but when commuting I can only get about 80 miles before I burn up the first 2 gallons.

What was even more irritating was that after I picked the bike up to wait for the part, the battery died a week later and couldn't hold a charge. The dealership plopped a new one in without a problem, but there was a whole bunch of old men in the shop complaining that I shouldn't have a bad battery after 2 years. One guy said he still has the stock battery in his 2001 Harley. The dealer said that Harley only gaurantees them for 2 years.

I wonder if not using a tender during the summer combined with the security system in the bike always draining power is what smoked it early.

Nope!
When I bought a Hardley a few years back, It broke on the test ride. Two weeks later, I went down to pick it up, and it wasnt done (as Promised). One month later, after alot of heated phone conversations, I took it home. Within one month, the mirror fell off, and the spokes were loose causing the bike to slam left and right at 40 mph and above.
Took it back again, and they said they needed to put a Mag wheel on, or else it will keep happining, at my cost mind you. One or two weeks later, the wire harness melted down and the bike died!
Flatbed it back to them and 3 months later, after alot of heated phone calls, its not done yet.
Got a lawyer, got my money back, bought a Honda. Never a problem again.

I thought there were lemon laws that protected you if you get a car/bike like that? Or does that only count towards used vehicles?

[Eye_m_no_angel]

What you described, MicroMetal, sounds like an intermittant short, such as those caused by a bad contact within the fuel sending unit itself, or a slightly corroded connection within one of the connectors. (There's a connector right beneath the tank. That's where I'd look first.) There may have been a particular problem with XL fuel sending units for that year that I'm not aware of, but then again almost any such probem with an XL I wouldn't be aware of, as I was a TC tech.

"the battery died a week later and couldn't hold a charge. The dealership plopped a new one in without a problem, "

-Good service, so no worries!

"but there was a whole bunch of old men in the shop complaining that I shouldn't have a bad battery after 2 years. One guy said he still has the stock battery in his 2001 Harley."

If you don't keep the battery on a trickle charger, and you don't ride so very often, then two years is on the short side for a Harley battery. But that all depends on a very many different factors. For the "average" HD rider that leaves his bike garaged most of the time, and only rides to events on a few weekends out of the month, thats about right. Ride the pi$$ out of it and / or leave it on a charger? It can last a few years longer. As for the old guy that said he had the original battery in his 01? <cough> He could at that, but I doubt it.


The dealer said that Harley only gaurantees them for 2 years.

I wonder if not using a tender during the summer combined with the security system in the bike always draining power is what smoked it early.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by MicroMetal

I have a harley sportster with a bad low fuel sensor. The dealer ordered the part and said it should take a week or two. After a week they said Harley backordered the part for another 2 weeks.

I just called to see if the part came in and Harley backordered the part until the day after my warranty expires... hmmm Actually the dealer said not to worry about the warranty expiration for this issue.

Do the other manufacturers like Honda, Suzuki, etc pull this garbage alot?

I know when I had my fuel pump replaced it took harley over 2 weeks to get the part to the dealer. Not sure if the warehouse is in Milwaukee or not, but if I can get a shipment from California in 3 days using free shipping and live in NY, Harley should at least be able to get the part to me in a week.

My buddy had a Dodge Challenger that needed some part for the front brakes. The dealer jerked him around so many months he finally contacted the Action Line at the local newspaper and they published the thing. The dealer finally got him the part and fixed his car. Incompetence and dishonesty are basic equipment at the dealers in this area.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by MicroMetal

What was even more irritating was that after I picked the bike up to wait for the part, the battery died a week later and couldn't hold a charge. The dealership plopped a new one in without a problem, but there was a whole bunch of old men in the shop complaining that I shouldn't have a bad battery after 2 years. One guy said he still has the stock battery in his 2001 Harley. The dealer said that Harley only gaurantees them for 2 years.

Grind that up and sprinkle it on the plants to make them grow. Bike batteries are notoriously undersized and 2 - 3 years life is typical, five to six years is outstanding. The battery in my new Kawi lasted 14 months (two months beyond warranty). The battery in my new Chevy died at six months (under warranty).

[Lurch77]

The battery in my '06 Harley is still original. Battery tender during storage is the only special treatment it gets. Been happy with it so far.

On another note, all this talk about fuel sensors on the Sporty's makes me happy I bought the last year carbureted model. I debated whether to wait for the '07 FI model.

[Dodsfall]

My OEM battery lasted just over 2 years. I ride nearly every day and use a tender during winter storage.

The fuel light switch works just fine, though.

[greyboyfan]

Originally Posted by bountyhunter

Bike batteries are notoriously undersized and 2 - 3 years life is typical, five to six years is outstanding.

The battery in my "04" VTX is OEM, 7 yrs and about 29 K miles on it, and I never put it on a battery tender. I ride it all winter, except for the annual 2 wk manditory ice storm that we get around here. Although, lately, I'll admit, it seems to be taking an extra bump on the starter button sometimes, but as yet, it still goes every time.
I'm no expert, but, I can't help but wonder if the "install" procedure may affect battery life. I learned to "Tighten the crap" out of the cable ends with a wrench! don't just use a screwdriver.

[Lurch77]

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

My OEM battery lasted just over 2 years. I ride nearly every day and use a tender during winter storage.

The fuel light switch works just fine, though.

I'm sure it has to do with the ride time. If memory serves me correctly, you have a ton of miles on your bike. I wish I could ride more often, but between family and work (which provides a vehicle to commute with) I don't ride as often as I wish. My Sporty has about 14,000 miles.

[Allison Wunderland]

Scheduled a 10K service for my Street Glide at Paradise Harely-Davidson in Tigard, OR. Scheduled the service 5 days in advance, on the cell-phone, on the road from Lovelock, Nevada.

Front brake was chattering down the road. Not a huge issue, it was stopping me just fine, and slowing me reliably.

Pulled into the dealer 3 hrs early. They were ready for me, had my service papers, warranty information on file, ready to go.

Replaced both rotors on the front brake, parts in stock, warranty coverage, no problem.

This dealer regularly checks my bike and answers questions I might have about maintenance. No charge.

Some dealers are better than others. Mine is an industry leader.

[Allison Wunderland]

Originally Posted by OTD

Yep.

What's that smell ??? You smell that ??? Let's not step it in!

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by greyboyfan

The battery in my "04" VTX is OEM, 7 yrs and about 29 K miles on it, and I never put it on a battery tender.

It depends on the design of the bike: the older bikes that have the headlights on while the engine cranks to start cut the battery life roughly in half compared to what it would do if the lights were off. The better designs with relays to cut off the electrics while the starter cranks have longer lasting batteries because they are stressed much less. Four years after I bought my bike new back in '79, I modified it to cut off all lights during start and the battery lifespans went from about 2 years to average of about 6 years. My new bike went through two new batteries in less than four years, so I knew I had to fix that problem.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Lurch77

I'm sure it has to do with the ride time. If memory serves me correctly, you have a ton of miles on your bike. I wish I could ride more often, but between family and work (which provides a vehicle to commute with) I don't ride as often as I wish. My Sporty has about 14,000 miles.

Actually, ride time has very little negative effect on the battery. It is the number of start cycles and DOD (depth of discharge) that kills lead acid batteries. They are essentially a constant energy device with a specific amount of energy to give in their life, so the more "up down" cycles, the faster they die. Heavier loading (ie, cranking the starter with the lights on) accelerates the end of life.