| Author | Message | ||
     Ulykan |
Recently I started a thread about front end chatter. My dealer/stealer refuses to try to find the cause, stating that they cannot ride the bike faster than the posted speed limit. Also they state that their tech didtest ride it above 70mph the first time he rode it in September. Their hunch is that it's a wheel balance issue but not covered by warranty. I filed a BBB complaint but they rebutted it and twisted my words around in the process. I'm furious and at a loss as to how to proceed. While it isn't a safety issue it is annoying and makes riding above 70mph uncomfortable and a little disconcerting. Does anyone have a suggestion on this? I could take it to another dealer but 200 miles is a long way to go for service when my local dealer should do it. I'm leaving in 3 weeks on a 2K mile ride and would really like to have it fixed prior. TIA Bob | ||
| Rwven |
Pull the wheels and check the balance. Or do what I do, go 80.....  | ||
| Ulykan |
Pull the wheels and check the balance. Or do what I do, go 80 Unfortunately I can't pull the wheel and that doesn't help with the dealer problem either. I'm told that wheel balance isn't a warranty issue and unless I guarantee payment they won't help. They were notified of the problem when the bike had less than 2K miles on it but they insist that is't owner maintenance even if it came that way from Buell. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
If it were me, I'd forget about the warranty BS, and have the wheels balanced and have the steering head, bearings, tubes, clamps, etc. ck'd and set to proper specs, ASAP. That way you've eliminated two possibilities right off the bat, or perhaps solved the problem altogether. John | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Is there another dealer? Usually there are three reasons for front end chatter (four if you are counting 2006 Uly's with D616 tires): Out of balance tire, hot spotted/"warped" rotor, loose head bearings. I wouldn't think that you'd have a warped rotor, but you might. You'd only really notice it when braking. You are left with either the tire balance problem or loose head bearings. I would suggest this, assuming that you can get no help from your dealer. Buy a manual. Buy a Sears Floor Jack Make a wooden cradle. Pull the wheel yourself and take it to a Cycle Gear and have them to check the balance. Check the head bearing tightness. It should have been done at the 1000 mile service, but the dealer may have missed it. If neither of these do the trick, call BCS. Have you spoken with the dealer owner? Are you speaking with the Service Manager? I find that many times the service writer speaks with authority not granted them. | ||
| Ulykan |
Have you spoken with the dealer owner? Are you speaking with the Service Manager? I dealt with 2 different service managers (they changed managers) and with the GM. All refused to honor or look at the problem because 2 techs rode the bike and couldn't reproduce the problem therefore it doesn't exist. Only if I guarantee payment for them to examine it again will they do anything. Since I don't have the tools, time, or $ right now to do all of the above suggested I will probably take it to the local Yamaha shop who has a HD certified tech and let them check it all out. Their shop charge is much less than my dealer and are better equipped to handle/diagnose the problem than I ever could. This has caused much consternation and really damaged my opinion of HD/Buell. Someone mentioned Buell having a separate dealer network and I couldn't agree more. HD dealers don't give a rat's a$$ about servicing Buells, only thing that matters to them is HD and HIGH DOLLAR income. | ||
| Ulykan |
Is there another dealer? 200 miles away. I had an appointment there last November but winter arrived and I had to cancel. So far this spring I haven't had the chance to contact them. Again, I shouldn't have to travel 200 miles for service when the dealer I bought the bike from is 15 miles away. | ||
| Tginnh |
I had a K100RS beemer that used to exhibit front-end chatter at certain speeds. It was always the steering head that needed tightening. The beemer shop I used to take it to always knew where to look for the problem. Never got the run around. Guess that comes from years of experience. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Again, I shouldn't have to travel 200 miles for service when the dealer I bought the bike from is 15 miles away. Agree completely! Long term, though, you will get more out of your bike doing the work yourself. | ||
| Ulykan |
Long term, though, you will get more out of your bike doing the work yourself. I couldn't agree more. But...there are some of us who shouldn't work on their own machines and there are others who have neither the skills or the facilities to do so. I fit into the latter even though I would love to do it. Some of us are better at some things than others. Mechanics are not my forte. I'm great with computers and photography and not a bad cook either but I'm not a mechanic and no matter how simple the task or how little time it might take one person, that same task would take me hours. I don't work on my bike. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
If it is one thing this bike has taught me is to be self reliant and learn to do the work myself. This saves money, Lots of time as the closest dealer is 250 miles away. I am no mechanic, but with the manual, SOME mechanical skills and patience I get by. BadWeb and it's members have been a HUGE help. Good luck. There are some good dealers out there. Most of them have one thing in mind. Selling chrome and clothing. Sad, but money does talk. | ||
| Ulykan |
I can appreciate the self reliance and there is some work that I could do given the tools; I already have the manual. In this instance though if we're dealing with steering head bearings or determining if that is the problem then a shop with the proper tools should be doing the work. If push comes to shove and I can't get to my "other" dealer 200 mi. away soon then I'll have little choice but to visit my local Yamaha dealer and have their Harley tech see what he can do. This is a most unfortunate circumstance as I will have to spend $ which is set aside for my trip. Yes, chrome and clothing are high profit items which speaks volumes. Again, that is why Buell and HD combined dealerships are bad. | ||
| Tginnh |
Ulykan - your conclusions are correct. You shouldn't have to be mechanically inclined to ride, enjoy or maintain any motorcycle. If I were in your shoes and reached this point, I would compose and send a letter to Buell. Just my 2 cents. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Looks like a call to Court would be in order if you have been through the proper channels. | ||
| Ulykan |
Looks like a call to Court would be in order if you have been through the proper channels. Court is an excellent resource but I'm sure that he gets tired of hearing complaints from the peanut gallery. I did pm him last Friday but didn't get a response. He's probably busy solving other problems. I will send a letter to Buell and hope for a good outcome. Yes, one should be able to choose whether or not to wrench on their machines and if not then they should be able to depend on their dealer from whom they bought their bike for service with a smile. My particular dealer has alienated me permanently but I'm guessing that they will make more off of leather and chrome than they would from servicing my bike. Unless someone else has a better solution than writing to Buell then I'll send the letter and post back when I get a reply. Bob | ||
| Svh |
I would call Buell customer service first. See what they can do. They are your next step in the line of getting a resolution. They seem to step in when the HD dealer isn't properly addressing a Buell owners needs. If they offer no help, which I doubt, then I would take it to the Yamaha shop and have them do the checks. Good luck | ||
| Court |
>>>>but I'm sure that he gets tired of hearing complaints from the peanut gallery. I haven't tired of it in 22 years and my wife has ever resigned herself to the fact that I spend about 9 hours a week and my "hobby allowance" (I have never charged anybody for a part or shipping . . . it keeps things easy) helping Buell Customers. By the way . . . if you DO send me an e-mail . . . be certain to put something in the topic like NEED BUELL HELP - YOUR NAME. Fact is that between school (collaborative homework in the engineering school results in something like 50-75 e-mails on somedays), my "real" job, my consulting and Buell stuff that I end up with >250 e-mails a day many times. I try to have all the stuff with BUELL in the subject forward to my personal machine at home so at night, generally around 10:00PM, when I get home from school I can go through them. In addition . . . I make no secret that I have a •••••• memory and have, since about 1991, told folks. . . if you don't hear back from me . . BUG ME! . . . it's no insult at all, it's a huge help. Another "pointer" . . . . There are some e-mails I frankly, in the interest of time, simply have no choice to ignore. The one's like " I need some help". If I don't have complete contact information, VIN and so forth I simply haven't the time (it's not arrogant, it's the truth) to engage in those 12 e-mails . .. "Can I have your name". . .. "sure, you need me to e-mail it to you?" . . "yes, please do". . .. "okay, I'll do it when I get home?" . . "who is your dealer?" . . "you mean that I bought it from or who works on it?" . . . no kidding . .. I went for 9 days with one guy just trying to find out his name, how to contact him and what dealer he was working with. Not bitching . . . just saying . . . . I'm thinking I need to set up a dedicated "Buell Help" thread in the "Home Court" topic area. By the way . . . the advice that Svh gave is pretty spot on. The dealer, in the instant case, has some legit, although I am not sure they are not just using them as an excuse here, concerns about accepting a request to have his employee operate the bike at an illegal speed. Shame you are not closer to Topeka. If I needed a true expert opinion I'd have Bruce Zimmerman ride it. I may be in Kansas in a week or so . . . I may have to "test" it on my favorite "Wichita Loop". . . . (that happens to go through Goodland  ) | ||
| Mad_doctor |
I know it's not right, (that the local stealership will not try to fix the problem), at this stage of the game, it IS important the problem is fixed. None of us, ride the speed limit, (nature of the beast), but I would hate to think you could get into a high speed wobble, or loose control at some point, just because the local dealer would not look at it. Keep track of ALL finances involved, including time, and mileage, But the problem DOES have to be fixed. It really is too bad, the dealer doesn't remember future sales will be related to the service department. | ||
| Ulykan |
Shame you are not closer to Topeka. If I needed a true expert opinion I'd have Bruce Zimmerman ride it I did take it to Bruce and he agreed that something is wrong but didn't know what so he suggested that I go to Riverfront HD/Buell in Lawrence, even made an appointment for me. Winter arrived before I could go there so I canceled the appt. and haven't been there yet. Unfortunately time is short as I leave for the "dragon" in less than 3 weeks and may not have a chance to go to Lawrence. If you're going to be in Kansas before I leave, I'll pm you and give you my phone #. In the meantime I sent a letter to Erik detailing everything as I didn't know what else to do. The issue is too complex to describe via telephone. | ||
| Thunderbox |
I can understand the dealership not wanting to make their tecks ride above the speed limit. I work for the police and we don't like to do it either. I wish I could see a solution but if you deal with or through Court you will be treated fairly in the end. | ||
| Ulykan |
not wanting to make their tecks ride above the speed limit. I can't find fault with that but the least the dealer could/should do is to thoroughly research and do everything they could to find out if there is something mechanically wrong. Unfortunately they don't want to do that. | ||
| Ulykan |
Court, PM sent. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Didn't see your earlier thread, so just thinking here. You are absolutely certain that the suspension is adjusted correctly? Incorrect rebound and/or compression setting for the forks can cause chatter problems that come and go. Mark in Arizona | ||
| Etennuly |
I have a suggestion. If you take the bike to the Yamaha dealer for the balance job, help them help you. Write your name big and bold on your manual and earmark the pages for removing and installing the front and rear tire. That way the tech will have the proper techniques and torque settings for the parts involved, as well as the proper way to R&I the front caliper, which is different for a non Buell tech. I bought my last rear tire from a Suzuki dealer. I took the wheel in and made sure they knew it was powder coated aluminum before they did it. I had no problems from them, and the service guy put a note card on the wheel before he handed it to the tire guy. | ||
| Ulykan |
Hi Mark. Yes, I'm certain the suspension is adjusted right. When I went to Topeka HD we started at 0 and adjusted for my weight. Since then I've regained the weight I had lost previous to that and nothing has changed. NOTHING! Therefore I'm certain that the problem isn't suspension oriented. Thanks for the suggestion though. | ||
| Ulykan |
I have a suggestion. If you take the bike to the Yamaha dealer for the balance job, help them help you. I'm trying to hold out for a resolution from Buell after sending a letter to them on Tuesday. If I don't get something in the next week or so I'll have to pay to have the balance checked or run out of time before I leave on the 20th. Hopefully Buell will come through for me. | ||
| Ulykan |
A quick update: I called BCS today and while they listened I am under the impression that they really don't intend to do much. Among things I was told was that a wheel balance, if it's that, is not warranty. While I understand and partly agree, my problem began less than 2 months from the date of purchase. It may have been in existence from the factory but I have no way to prove it. BCS did ask for the name of the person I was dealing with at my dealer and I gave them the name. They were supposed to call this person and then call me back. I'm still waiting. I'll post back when I have something new to add. | ||
| Court |
>>>after sending a letter to them on Tuesday If you send a letter be SURE to address it to 3700 Juneau and not East Troy. Sometimes it adds a week sorting the Customer Service letters and getting them hauled to Juneau. | ||
| Xbimmer |
+1 on what Etennuly said, take your manual to the tech at the Yam dealer. Write BadWeB's web address on the cover and your name. Make friends with the guy. Never go back to your purchasing dealer again. I had similar problems with service dept incompetence and indifference at my purchasing dealer just 10 miles away from me. Your dealer doesn't need your $$ in these hard times I guess. Besides, do you really want them to work on your bike if BMC orders them to??? | ||
| Ulykan |
@Court - Unfortunately I used previous address info that you had posted on badweb: Erik Buell, Chairman Buell Motorcycle Company 2799 Buell Drive East Troy, WI 53120 It looks as though this wasn't the best addy to use. Oh well, in the meantime I called BCS and it's in their hands now. I'm hopeful but not optimistic. @Xbimmer - Besides, do you really want them to work on your bike if BMC orders them to??? No, not really, but I did ask BCS for help and if they direct the dealer to "fix" the problem I guess I'll give it a try. One thing is certain though, I'll never grace their establishment again unless I have not choice. Since the problem doesn't seem to be safety related and only occurs above 70mph, if I have to make my trip prior to having the problem diagnosed/repaired I can deal with it afterward. If I pay the Yamaha shop to balance the wheel then I don't buy the spare belt and bearings I want to have with me on my trip. I'm hoping that BCS will deliver. This dealer problem has really left a bad taste in my mouth. |
