1000 Mile Service First Thoughts

[Dolce]

Yesterday I had the 1000 mile service performed by dealer on my 16 TG. First thought was dang that's expensive but then I remembered how much my oil "service" was on my BMW M Coupe when I had it done by dealer. I do all my oil "services" myself on my autos so I'm curious is there any reason I can't do it myself on the TG so long as I document it in case of warranty question? I didn't do my two wheel bikes because I didn't want to buy a motorcycle jack but can it be done without a special jack for the TG? I suspect if I'd not be so lazy this is answered somewhere in the forum if simply search.

 

[MDF48]

Information.

Yesterday I had the 1000 mile service performed by dealer on my 16 TG. First thought was dang that's expensive but then I remembered how much my oil "service" was on my BMW M Coupe when I had it done by dealer. I do all my oil "services" myself on my autos so I'm curious is there any reason I can't do it myself on the TG so long as I document it in case of warranty question? I didn't do my two wheel bikes because I didn't want to buy a motorcycle jack but can it be done without a special jack for the TG? I suspect if I'd not be so lazy this is answered somewhere in the forum if simply search. ������������

I have always performed all of my maintenance, repairs, accessory installs, exhaust etc myself. However, on my new 2016 Tri-Glide, I decided to let a dealer do the 1,000 mile service. I did this just because it was the first service and I thought it might "look good" if something pops up down the road for awhile. I will continue to do my own work and save all receipts for oil, filters etc. The dealer charged me $229.00, but I provided my own oil, filter, primary and transmission fluids.

I had an appointment but I had to stay until the work was done.

I did not have a ride back home and didn't mind waiting. All the dealers will tell you it is a 3 hour job.

If you look in the manual at all the things that are "supposed&amp ;amp;amp ;amp;quo t; to be done, it would definitely be a 3 hour job. They came and told me they were finished after 2 hours.

The service guy said they knew I was waiting so they put 2 mechanics on it. Well, who knows if that was true or not, but I spent several hours going over it when I got it home.

I just finished installing Fuelmoto ceramic head-pipes, Fuelmoto Classic 3 1/2 inch Slip On, Arlen Ness stage 1 AF, DK tour pak relocater, cooling wing deflectors and my PV tuner after taking it off my Road Glide that I am selling.

Fuelmoto provided me a "canned tune" from their files for this exact setup which I downloaded to the ECM with the PV.

I am extremely pleased with this setup and the bike runs a lot cooler, especially on the right side.

Anyway, the local dealers wanted from $350.00 to $450.00 to take the old pipes and mufflers off and install the new stuff.

So, I saved $450 bucks and have the pleasure of knowing it was done correctly.

The way I do work on my Tri-Glide now is with a set of Rhino ramps, my floor jack and a 8X8X16 concrete block.

I drive the bike up on the ramps, set the brake, take my floor jack (with a board on top of it) then jack the front up enough to set the concrete block under the front tire.

I then let the floor jack down completely and remove it. I got these ideas from post on this and other forums. I am 68 and have a L4/L5 lower back disc compression, and to use an old saying, "once you have back trouble, you always have back trouble". However, the above method actually gave me room to work under the bike for the pipe and muffler install.

It was still a little hard to roll over completely to reach that wrench you just can't quite reach. HA HA. This method also works great for changing all 3 fluids and the bike is just about perfectly level.

Hope this helps you a little. I would love to have an air assist table jack for a trike, but don't have the room or the bucks at the present time.

 

[njtrike]

Doice I tend to agree with your assessment your on the lazy side. I change my own oil , adjust the clutch and parking brake , and clean the air intake filter. I do have the dealer look over the trike around every 7500 miles just to catch any issues I may have. So far so good.

 

[clint44]

Yesterday I had the 1000 mile service performed by dealer on my 16 TG. First thought was dang that's expensive but then I remembered how much my oil "service" was on my BMW M Coupe when I had it done by dealer. I do all my oil "services" myself on my autos so I'm curious is there any reason I can't do it myself on the TG so long as I document it in case of warranty question? I didn't do my two wheel bikes because I didn't want to buy a motorcycle jack but can it be done without a special jack for the TG? I suspect if I'd not be so lazy this is answered somewhere in the forum if simply search. ������������

You might look into relocating your oil filter for a much easier service.

http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/Harl...-Kits_c611.htm

 

[bronxbill]

Just make sure that you document everything you do. Can be done without a jack as long as you are willing to lay on the garage floor

 

[HDB0B]

I purchased the J&S trike jack and all the service manuals and trike parts manual. Best thing for me!

I ride 10K miles per year. I will have my Dealer service the 25K intervals (fork oil, brake flush, coolant flush, head bearings greased, etc.) and I do all the rest myself. I change oil and primary every 5K and tranny every 10K with my oil preferences.

Life is great!

Bob

It's more than just an oil change!

 

[rhino 2]

I would do all my service's myself... Only let the dealer do warranty work... Then when i bought my 11 Tri-Glide my dealer said he wouldn't charge for labor just for oil and filter' For the one and five thousand service.. So i said what the hey. I'll let them do it... Now every six thousand miles or so i make an appointment for oil changes, Drive the 80 miles one way, And in an hour or two i'm out and riding, Along The Tri state country side. NJ/PA/NY. ThumbUp
Don't get me wrong, I'll do most everything else myself, With a little/ A lot of help from my sons...
Its just that at 71 crawling under a Trike isn't as much fun as it used to be...:gah:
Maybe I'm lucky, Or its just my Dynamic Personally' But in the Rare times i needed Warranty work i haven't had any dealer give me problems about the warranty......:Shrug:

 

[Fredward]

I purchased the J&S trike jack and all the service manuals and trike parts manual. Best thing for me!

I ride 10K miles per year. I will have my Dealer service the 25K intervals (fork oil, brake flush, coolant flush, head bearings greased, etc.) and I do all the rest myself. I change oil and primary every 5K and tranny every 10K with my oil preferences.

Life is great!

Bob

It's more than just an oil change!

View attachment 37359

Where do I buy the service manuals? I may yet buy a jack, but it seems to me the manuals are essential.

 

[MB1953]

Where do I buy the service manuals? I may yet buy a jack, but it seems to me the manuals are essential.

Got them from the dealer... but the full set for the trike is not cheap; about $250. That gets you the touring model service manual, the electrical diagnostics manual, the trike supplement and the parts manual for your particular model year. The thick stack might seem excessive, but I have used all of them!

 

[Fredward]

Thanks. I can live with that cost, especially if it helps me learn about the bike. This isn't just a recreational tool, I also want to learn what I'm doing and why.