Bought a Harley? Here is a recommendation...

[8-Ball]

Do yourself a big favor, while it is new, remove the rear wheel axle and rear swingarm axle and resinstall with appropriate grease and anti-sieze.

Also, go ahead and pack the neck tube with grease.

COUNT on the fukcing factory not to have done any of these things during assembly.

I've got a frozen swingarm axle at 25k and there is no sign of any grease or any anti-sieze used during assembly.

This has been a public service announcement.

[TalonChief]

Felt the same way when I had to drive the axle out of my 03 FXST with an air hammer in order to change the tire at 11K.

[harleyjsb]

Noted..............

[FireDawgStew]

I heard about the axle problem before I had the 5K service done on my Road King - I had them pull it, grease it and replace the seals. They had to drive it out - said it was very bad (in broken english of course). Didn't know about the swing arm...thanks :)

[GrayRider]

I'm thinkin' a class action.

[8-Ball]

I like the way you think... there is no excuse for this.

[FireDawgStew]

If it makes you feel better, the Japanese dealers say it's common on 2004 models.

[harleyjsb]

I'm thinkin' a class action.

But I didn't think we had any Class...............






just sayin'

[GrayRider]

But I didn't think we had any Class...............






just sayin'

That may present a problem.

[dwarthog]

Glad they have the problem located.

Not at all happy to hear that it wasn't part of the build process to properly lubricate the axle etc.

Gray has a good suggestion.

[tibs]

That is a serious freaking problem - A safety issue that should cause a recall.

[harleyjsb]

That may present a problem.

Noted...............

[Thorns]

I didn't have a frozen axle, but it was almost frozen, but I have an air compressor with a air hammer...nothing is stuck very long. Removed the swing-arm at second rear tire change. Very little grease on the swing-arm bearings or bushing, more like someone dabbed a little grease on the outside of the bearing and assembled it. When I repacked the neck bearings...same thing, very little grease on the neck bearings, you could say almost nothing. MoCo can't spare a little more grease at assembly? Bearings should be properly packed, axles should have some never-seize at assembly. Get the petition going....I'll sign it. I have almost 46K on my 05 Low Rider, and I expect it to go to 100K.

Thorns

[8-Ball]

Last I heard, my indy mechanic had tried the impact hammer... no joy.

[Jams]

But I didn't think we had any Class...............






just sayin'


I don't own a suit :blink:

[MegaGlide]

About the only time I wear my suit is with my fez.
Think that'll help?

[y2k king]

I don't own a suit :blink:


same here.:coffee:

[Rock]

Birthday suit?

[FXDRYDR]

Felt the same way when I had to drive the axle out of my 03 FXST with an air hammer in order to change the tire at 11K.


Exact same thing here at 10K when changing the OEM tire...

[duhast]

How the hell does stuff like this happen? Is there no QC? Is there no supervision? Is anyone ever held accountable for crap like this?

I'm gonna get flamed for this, but to me it is just one more example of why unions are shite. There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE...PERIOD...WHY SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD GET BY AN ASSEMBLY LINE. A monkey could be trained to do a better job, cheaper too.

Someone, somewhere is not doing their job...and it is probably several people, if not entire departments.

And I guaran-damn-tee that if someone were threatened with firing over something like this, the union would fight it tooth and nail.

I am not a union guy, never have been, never will be.

Absolute, 100% COW PIES.:BSflag: :badmood: :Poke: :bum:

[LittleBear]

Has nothing to do with unions. It has to do with the assembly process itself. Takes time to lube things. Hard to build 200,000 bikes a year if you do things right.
I never had any of these issues with my "93, well lack of steering head grease, but that has been since the dawn of time. The "99's axle was ok, but I guess I better check the swing arm axle and bushing on it.

Remember, it's all about the money.

[route66paul]

How the hell does stuff like this happen? Is there no QC? Is there no supervision? Is anyone ever held accountable for crap like this?

I'm gonna get flamed for this, but to me it is just one more example of why unions are shite. There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE...PERIOD...WHY SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD GET BY AN ASSEMBLY LINE. A monkey could be trained to do a better job, cheaper too.

Someone, somewhere is not doing their job...and it is probably several people, if not entire departments.

And I guaran-damn-tee that if someone were threatened with firing over something like this, the union would fight it tooth and nail.

I am not a union guy, never have been, never will be.

Absolute, 100% COW PIES.:BSflag: :badmood: :Poke: :bum:

Quaility control is a supervisory position and is typically a non-union position. Most union workers DO care about what they do. The assembley jobs are governed by rules that the moco sets down. If, for some reason, no one was given that job, it should be caught by QC. The sad fact is that assembly workers do only what they are told to do, they are not to do someone else's job, this disrupts the line.

I wonder how much of this is the dealer's responsability. Here we have a situation with lowly paid workers putting together bikes as fast as possable. I don't think that the wheels are on the bike. There is NO air in the tires, there is no oil in the crankcase, transmission, or primary. do the bikes come with forks mounted? How about the swingarm? How many times have we read about guys coming back with the oil light on, unballanced tires, a trans that was grinding? I would think that it is up to the dealer to grease the proper points. How many of you have zirc fittings instead of plugs?

Does anyone have procedure instructions from the factory to the dealership? I would really like to peruse them, so that I can check my bike. Many have found that there was never any grease in the neck, some of these bikes have gone 30k with the assembly lube in which the bearings were packed.

I would really like to have a copy of the assembly instructions that the dealerships get from the moco. If someone has them, I would like to check the dealer's work.

You are right about the union fighting for someone's job. Quality Control and Safety are supervisory positions, but the union will fight for these guys also.

[Xkvator]

I don't want this to turn into a for/against unions thread...everyones entitled to their own opinion...and to voice it, if they can back it up with facts.

Paul is right...management makes the final decision...but without actually seeing what the procedure is...i don't think anyone can say who's to blame.

might be the one person on the line not doing their job properly...

i've seen the line run...plenty of time to grease an axle, IMO

i would call customer service...to get it on record...

they might pass it off on the dealer...

they will probably ask you if the dealer did all the services...

you'll probably be the one at fault...

[TalonChief]

I have a copy of the 05 setup manual and the only assy that does not come installed is the handlebars.

All these dry swingarm and axle issues are factory features.

[bobsled77]

back brakes, frozen swing arm= Lemon???????

[8-Ball]

back brakes, frozen swing arm= Lemon???????

absolutely... done too much aftermarket work to claim it at this point.

[475wildey]

Do yourself a big favor, while it is new, remove the rear wheel axle and rear swingarm axle and resinstall with appropriate grease and anti-sieze.

Also, go ahead and pack the neck tube with grease.

COUNT on the fukcing factory not to have done any of these things during assembly.

I've got a frozen swingarm axle at 25k and there is no sign of any grease or any anti-sieze used during assembly.

This has been a public service announcement.

sorry to change the subject but sharks scare me and quite frankly are offensive :Scared:

[bobsled77]

sorry to change the subject but sharks scare me and quite frankly are offensive :Scared:

Why is that ? Are you a lawyer?:whistling:

[Jams]

sorry to change the subject but sharks scare me and quite frankly are offensive :Scared:

you don't say

http://www.merci-facteur.com/voeux/104-Cool%20man_maxi.gif

[TalonChief]

you don't say

http://www.merci-facteur.com/voeux/104-Cool%20man_maxi.gif

Jams, what were ya' doin' at 4:20 this afternoon?

[route66paul]

does the dealer put in fluids and air? Do the dealers have a checklist to follow? If someone isn't using grease on the line, how come so many get through without grease? isn't there an inspection process?

[Jams]

Jams, what were ya' doin' at 4:20 this afternoon?

:blink: 4:20 your afternoon or 4:20 my afternoon? :huh:

What ever it was --- "I didn't do it" :s_e_grin:

[Biker Bry]

Why is that ? Are you a lawyer?:whistling:


Lawyers don't fear Sharks, Professional courtesy and all...

[TalonChief]

:blink: 4:20 your afternoon or 4:20 my afternoon? :huh:

What ever it was --- "I didn't do it" :s_e_grin:

Based on the rastaman you posted, it occurred to me that yesterday was apparently National Pot Day. According to the radio guy, all the stoners in FWB were supposed to all honk their horns at 4:20 (420 supposedly being police code for drug bust). I was riding home at the time and did not hear anything.

[Jams]

Based on the rastaman you posted, it occurred to me that yesterday was apparently National Pot Day. According to the radio guy, all the stoners in FWB were supposed to all honk their horns at 4:20 (420 supposedly being police code for drug bust). I was riding home at the time and did not hear anything.


No kidding -:blink: - "National Pot Day" and I missed it...... :Scabbydoo2: :ScaBogart: :Scabbydoo: :Scabbydoo2: wonder where Scabbydoo was? :huh: