First Service after Break In

Hi Guys,

Nice new site. I moved back into the area but purchased my Harley from another dealer before I moved back. Will Latus honor warranty work on bikes sold from another dealer that have had dealer installed Screaming Eagle Air Cleaner Kits and Pipes on a 2005 SuperGlide Custom? Also, does the first service have an option to go synthetic oil or does Harley reccomend that, Thanks.

[Mike]

Thank you, we are still getting used to it's size! The entire H-D dealer network will honor warranty's regardless of where the bike was purchased. One of the benefits of owning an H-D is having that network available to you. You mention the SE air cleaner and Exhaust. The Screaming Eagle Pro-Racing catalog indicates installing any part with the "crossed flag" icon "MAY void your warranty", to date warranty's have not been an issue with bikes so equiped.
Harley officially says Syn 3 can be used at anytime and we recommend it's use and uses it in the CVO SE bikes. We may recommend non-syn oils on new motor builds because we also recomend 2-3 oil changes at fairly short milage intervals. With that, we might as well use the less expensive oils and then change to syn oils on the last change of this cycle, so its just a cost thing. :)

Thanks Mike, I will call when I hit 1000 miles to schedule the first service. What is lead time during busy season?

[Mike]

We try to keep our schedule to less than two weeks and hopefully more like one. My personal schedule can run as mush as two months (racing and all) but we have 10+ techs available.

Question,

I am a gear head and am capable of doing the first service so I have no down time on the bike. Is my warranty trashed if I do this myself? I am talking the 1000 mile service on a Superglide Custom. Thanks.

Tom

[Mike]

Yes, you can do your own service. I used to do them on my own bikes. You will need to keep (and possibly produce, if asked) reciepts showing that genuine H-D oil, filter and parts were used for that service.
There are some hazards, however. Since we (and therefore H-D) cannot confirm that all maintanence procedure requirements are satisfied, any possible warranty claims that are a function of that maintanence may be impacted. An example would be a handling problem that is found to be improperly adjusted steering head bearings. You would be required to pay for the I&R and repair (adjustment). If an H-D dealership had done the service, you would be fully covered.
Mike

Thanks Mike,

I was at Latus today getting the fluids, oil filter and o rings from Sean . Thanks for the advice.

[Mike]

Mike :) :) :) :)

Update to all who read this:

I got my service manual from Latus and went to do my first service on the FXDCI. THe manual is EXCELLENT! I did each procedure to spec, torqued to spec and viola, the bike is running pristine as always. THanks Mike for your help. I do have one question. My clutch seems grabbier since the service, its nice, is the fluid I bought from Latus different than the one put into the tranny at the factoy, it just seems better. Also the manual reccomends a failt wide torque range on the fasteners, why is that? Reccomendation to all, get the oil filter removal tool and have a good torque wrench and torx sockets. Thanks to Latus for supporting a gearhead.

[Mike]

Thank you for the kind words! :) Except for the CVO bikes, the fluid purchased over the counter should be the same as used at the factory. The CVO's have SYN 3 in them, from the factory. The torque range is for the minimum to keep the fastener tight and the parts/gaskets to seal properly and the maximum to prevent fastener/thread failure or parts damaged due to warpage or distortion from overtightening. The grabby cluthc I cannot explain other than possibly lubing the cable or the cable adjust may have changed the way the clutch comes in.
Regards, Mike

You mention that officially, H-D says SYN3 can be used in all three places. They also have a new Formula+ for the primary and transmission. Now my question: which non H-D oils would you consider (not recommend mind you) for the engine, primary, and transmission? Further, which non H-D filter would you conisder?

To date, my dealer has done some of the more involved maintenance work on my Softail Standard while I do the oils, adjustments, and more routine work. The labels on the oils and filters are not imformative, so it is impossible to judge what the oil or filter is. Hence, my questions.

Thanks.

[Mike]

We still use Syn 3 in all three for pre 07 CVO bikes and formula + in all others. Other very good (unofficial) brands are Mobil One, Redline, Royal Purple and others. Bottom line is, when using other brands just make sure you are using one specifically formulated for "American V-Twins", most brands have such products.
Mike