I got my first Harley Davidson into the shop for a service. Just the basics- engine & trans fluid changed, and clean the K&N air filter. No problem. He requested synthetic fluid, and chrome oil filter (?) I had to remind myself this wasn't an ST...LOL. No problem. I fired it up and took it for a spin to warm up the fluids and quickly found there was a problem- a severe clunk from the front over every bump. I knew it right away...steering head bearings. Got back to the shop and drained the motor oil & trans fluid. While in the neighborhood I checked the primary fluid...BLACK. A quick search of the Interweb told me what was required, and I changed that as well. I pulled the air filter and found a mouse had hung out for a while, leaving behind his leftover lunch and bodily fluids. Easy enough to clean up.
I got everything back together and jacked up the bike, and sure enough the steering stem bearings were loose. A quick adjustment and they felt like new. The bike isn't old and doesn't have many miles, so replacement or regreasing shouldn't be needed yet (owner's manual verified it was early for steering bearing service). Another web search confirmed that this adjustment is needed frequently on those machines.
I added up the parts/fluids and my time and kind of felt bad for the size of the bill, for a fairly simple service. I grabbed my cell phone and called the nearest Harley dealer with a service dept and playing dumb asked how much a service would be for my '06 Heritage Softail. I about fell over when I was quoted $360 to replace those 3 fluids and clean a K&N! And that wasn't using synthetic fluids! I no longer felt bad charging him $199 for the whole job including the steering adjustment and new O-rings on the drain plugs (previous mechanic used thread sealer because the O-rings were in bad shape).
I learned two things- 1. I appreciate my ST more after test riding that bike; and 2. I'll never have work done at a Harley dealer unless I just won the lottery!
I got everything back together and jacked up the bike, and sure enough the steering stem bearings were loose. A quick adjustment and they felt like new. The bike isn't old and doesn't have many miles, so replacement or regreasing shouldn't be needed yet (owner's manual verified it was early for steering bearing service). Another web search confirmed that this adjustment is needed frequently on those machines.
I added up the parts/fluids and my time and kind of felt bad for the size of the bill, for a fairly simple service. I grabbed my cell phone and called the nearest Harley dealer with a service dept and playing dumb asked how much a service would be for my '06 Heritage Softail. I about fell over when I was quoted $360 to replace those 3 fluids and clean a K&N! And that wasn't using synthetic fluids! I no longer felt bad charging him $199 for the whole job including the steering adjustment and new O-rings on the drain plugs (previous mechanic used thread sealer because the O-rings were in bad shape).
I learned two things- 1. I appreciate my ST more after test riding that bike; and 2. I'll never have work done at a Harley dealer unless I just won the lottery!