Gotta love HD

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I had posted in another post about transmission oil migrating into the primary,so i just got back from the dealer after putting 800 miles on the bike after they topped off the trans and it was low about half way down from full.The service writer came out and got me after about an hour to allow the trans oil settle shaking his head.

His first words were you are not going to believe this,the tech called HD to report that my trans had some loss they told the tech to do a complete primary and trans fluid change on my dime then have me ride it 5000 miles checking the trans at 1000 miles intervals then bring it back drain the trans and primary again on my dime and measure the fluids.I asked him how much does it cost for a trans and primary change,he said about $ 175 i couldn't help but bust out laughing.

So i asked him let me get this right Harley wants me to pay out of my pocket to see if there is a problem,i already know exists and so does the dealer,he said the strange thing is that they have a 17 Street Glide that they think is doing the same thing so HD told them just 3 days ago to put dye in the trans oil and then monitor the level then look for dye in the primary.

On the plus side they said that since this issue has been written up before the warranty runs out Harley will have to fix it,we hope,so they put dye in the trans and topped it off and told me to keep and eye on the oil level. I never got angry or loud,and they did appreciate that said they would get it fixed.There are good and bad dealers out there but at this point i feel they are a good one

Like i told them they didn't build it unfortunately they have to fix it.Sounds like HD is stalling because they have no idea what is causing this issue,this dealer has only had my 17 and the 17 Street Glide with this issue making me think its an assembly issue. Who knows maybe they will get it figured out.I know Rhino got frustrated and got rid of his but i can't get another trike until next fall so until then i will try and be a burr under HD's saddle.

 

[Fearless]

I had posted in another post about transmission oil migrating into the primary,so i just got back from the dealer after putting 800 miles on the bike after they topped off the trans and it was low about half way down from full.The service writer came out and got me after about an hour to allow the trans oil settle shaking his head.

His first words were you are not going to believe this,the tech called HD to report that my trans had some loss they told the tech to do a complete primary and trans fluid change on my dime then have me ride it 5000 miles checking the trans at 1000 miles intervals then bring it back drain the trans and primary again on my dime and measure the fluids.I asked him how much does it cost for a trans and primary change,he said about $ 175 i couldn't help but bust out laughing.

So i asked him let me get this right Harley wants me to pay out of my pocket to see if there is a problem,i already know exists and so does the dealer,he said the strange thing is that they have a 17 Street Glide that they think is doing the same thing so HD told them just 3 days ago to put dye in the trans oil and then monitor the level then look for dye in the primary.

On the plus side they said that since this issue has been written up before the warranty runs out Harley will have to fix it,we hope,so they put dye in the trans and topped it off and told me to keep and eye on the oil level. I never got angry or loud,and they did appreciate that said they would get it fixed.There are good and bad dealers out there but at this point i feel they are a good one

Like i told them they didn't build it unfortunately they have to fix it.Sounds like HD is stalling because they have no idea what is causing this issue,this dealer has only had my 17 and the 17 Street Glide with this issue making me think its an assembly issue. Who knows maybe they will get it figured out.I know Rhino got frustrated and got rid of his but i can't get another trike until next fall so until then i will try and be a burr under HD's saddle.

Wow! I'm liking my old Twin Cam more and more it's a shame Harley can't figure it out.:Shrug: I feel your pain, good luck. :facepalm:ride safe Fred

 

[rhino 2]

I had posted in another post about transmission oil migrating into the primary,so i just got back from the dealer after putting 800 miles on the bike after they topped off the trans and it was low about half way down from full.The service writer came out and got me after about an hour to allow the trans oil settle shaking his head.

His first words were you are not going to believe this,the tech called HD to report that my trans had some loss they told the tech to do a complete primary and trans fluid change on my dime then have me ride it 5000 miles checking the trans at 1000 miles intervals then bring it back drain the trans and primary again on my dime and measure the fluids.I asked him how much does it cost for a trans and primary change,he said about $ 175 i couldn't help but bust out laughing.

So i asked him let me get this right Harley wants me to pay out of my pocket to see if there is a problem,i already know exists and so does the dealer,he said the strange thing is that they have a 17 Street Glide that they think is doing the same thing so HD told them just 3 days ago to put dye in the trans oil and then monitor the level then look for dye in the primary.

On the plus side they said that since this issue has been written up before the warranty runs out Harley will have to fix it,we hope,so they put dye in the trans and topped it off and told me to keep and eye on the oil level. I never got angry or loud,and they did appreciate that said they would get it fixed.There are good and bad dealers out there but at this point i feel they are a good one

Like i told them they didn't build it unfortunately they have to fix it.Sounds like HD is stalling because they have no idea what is causing this issue,this dealer has only had my 17 and the 17 Street Glide with this issue making me think its an assembly issue. Who knows maybe they will get it figured out.I know Rhino got frustrated and got rid of his but i can't get another trike until next fall so until then i will try and be a burr under HD's saddle.

I did a no money out of my pocket trade for a new Slingshot...My dealer sells both....

They were not charging me for the draining and refilling...4 times...But the nonsense that Harley was telling me was the last straw.[Not the dealer but Harley direct]....Harley is dead to me....

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Wow! I'm liking my old Twin Cam more and more it's a shame Harley can't figure it out.:Shrug: I feel your pain, good luck. :facepalm:ride safe Fred

Wish i would have kept my 16 Tri Glide.

 

[rhino 2]

Wish i would have kept my 16 Tri Glide.

I felt the same about my 11Tri.......I wish i would have known that the M 8 Wasn't ready for prime time...:Shrug:.......

 

[Jack Klarich]

WOW is all I can say

If HD does have a fix they need to get it out there now

IMO sales are going to slide

Can you imagine how much it will cost to fix all the bikes that have this problem?

No way you should ever have to pay to have them service your trikes tranny fluid now that they have an open ticket on it

 

[MDO]

Harley knows about the problem & is trying to get away with what people will let them get away with.

It's simple, don't let them get away with it. Any decent dealer would service the tranny & primary, per the service bulletin & cover the cost, like their support to.

Also HD Formula + is $8.59 a quart & it takes 30 minutes to drain & refill them both & that's mainly due to the time to remove/install the primary cover, but it certainly isn't hard.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Harley knows about the problem & is trying to get away with what people will let them get away with.

It's simple, don't let them get away with it. Any decent dealer would service the tranny & primary, per the service bulletin & cover the cost, like their support to.

Exactly

I wonder how many owners have low miles and do not even know they may have a problem

 

[rhino 2]

Exactly

I wonder how many owners have low miles and do not even know they may have a problem

My guy has at least 3 other bikes trikes that are doing it....And he suspects there are many more out there..Many riders only put one or two thousand miles on their bikes a year and never check the Transmission level ....So the migrating isn't a problem to them.....And thats what Harley is counting on..

 

[Peter A.]

A 2019?

WOW is all I can say

If HD does have a fix they need to get it out there now

IMO sales are going to slide

Can you imagine how much it will cost to fix all the bikes that have this problem?

No way you should ever have to pay to have them service your trikes tranny fluid now that they have an open ticket on it

I have been considering buying a new HD trike (waiting for new model year) but

now thinking my 2010 is a definite KEEPER even at 99 thou. miles SHAME ON THE MOCO,

but than my 1988 Evo only has 275 thou.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

The rumor mill says that HD is developing new engine cases for the M8 so maybe there is some truth to the idea that the M8 produces to much crank case pressure,only time will tell.So in the mean time the buyer has to put up with the run around.

Talked with the wife today about this and think that if they cant or wont get it squared away will trade it in on a low mileage Road Glide 16 or older and do a Motor Trike conversion.

 

[Fearless]

I have been considering buying a new HD trike (waiting for new model year) but

now thinking my 2010 is a definite KEEPER even at 99 thou. miles SHAME ON THE MOCO,

but than my 1988 Evo only has 275 thou.

Do an overhaul on your ride for about the same money... my way of thinking why buy new. travel safe Fred

 

[MDO]

Exactly

I wonder how many owners have low miles and do not even know they may have a problem

Jack, if the problem is due to excessive crankcase pressure, maybe our 2017's both having external breather systems, have something to due with us not having the issue?

 

[Fredward]

I'm really glad to have a '15. I considered a new one when they came out, but was really just getting the 15 broke in. Glad I was cheap.

 

[rwhgme]

Keeping our 2010...spent too much making it "mine"...

 

[Jack Klarich]

Jack, if the problem is due to excessive crankcase pressure, maybe our 2017's both having external breather systems, have something to due with us not having the issue?

It does not hurt, tho there still may be a design flaw in the oil pumps

 

[MDO]

I'm really glad to have a '15. I considered a new one when they came out, but was really just getting the 15 broke in. Glad I was cheap.

Glad your happy, but keep in mind the service bulletin stated they have seen the tranny to primary migration going back to 2014, which I believe was the start of the hydraulic clutches.

The 2 main dealers I visit both only have a handful (total) of M8's having the issue. I check my transmission lube every 1,000 miles now, and so far, no migration.

 

[Trampas]

Don't know about everybody here, some have the oil migration and some don't, got to tell you it is the rushmore models on up, not just the M8', my cousin's 2014 trike started doing that when on vacation out west, had to drain a quart out of the primary every morning and fill up his trannsmission, when he got back he traded it in on a 2017 and so far no problems, has over 5,000 miles on it and right now he is in Sturgis.

Like I said it is the rushmore models on up, 2 wheelers to boot, no wonder harley isn't selling with all the problems they are having, so if you have a 2013 and older might want to hang on to it for awhile until harley gets their shit together and know what is going on with the migration, like somebody said not every one is having this problem, so harley won't do a recall which I think they should. Look at Kevin at DK's, he has quite a few miles on his and I have never heard if he was having trouble and I'm sure if he was we would know about it.

All for now Trampas

 

[Jack Klarich]

Glad your happy, but keep in mind the service bulletin stated they have seen the tranny to primary migration going back to 2014, which I believe was the start of the hydraulic clutches.

The 2 main dealers I visit both only have a handful (total) of M8's having the issue. I check my transmission lube every 1,000 miles now, and so far, no migration.

Me too, I am confident I do not have this problem

I always measure what I drain out

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

As far as crankcase pressure it made me curious so i pulled one of the stock breath bolts from the air box and did some measuring.The bolt has a .150 diam. hole drilled from the threaded end almost all the way thru then it is reduced to .090 at the very end.So my thought is to machine a couple breather bolts up with a .187 hole thru ( the stock breathers will have to thin of a wall thickness at the end where the hose attaches) and then run two separate hoses to either a vented catch can or just put filters on them and see if this would help.

 

[Wmitz]

I just got my trike back from the dealer after waiting 2 1/2 weeks for sumping. Not a happy camper. Tore the whole motor down replaced the pump and gerotor set. Bike doesn’t run as good as it before the sumping. Definitely doesn’t pull like it did on the hyway. Don’t know whether to bring it back and get it checked for compression or leak down. Either will send up a red flag and lower trade in value.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I just got my trike back from the dealer after waiting 2 1/2 weeks for sumping. Not a happy camper. Tore the whole motor down replaced the pump and gerotor set. Bike doesn’t run as good as it before the sumping. Definitely doesn’t pull like it did on the hyway. Don’t know whether to bring it back and get it checked for compression or leak down. Either will send up a red flag and lower trade in value.

IMO I would take it back in

Your trike is already flagged in the system as a sumping problem, that said this will reinforce your case if there is a final fix or a buy back of your trike if they cannot totally resolve your issue JMO

If your trike was indeed sumping, and is not now it should run better now and have more power as there is not all that oil in the crank case robbing you of horse power

 

[rhino 2]

IMO I would take it back in

Your trike is already flagged in the system as a sumping problem, that said this will reinforce your case if there is a final fix or a buy back of your trike if they cannot totally resolve your issue JMO

If your trike was indeed sumping, and is not now it should run better now and have more power as there is not all that oil in the crank case robbing you of horse power

Jack ' When i talked to Harley.....One of the answers to me was....;

''If we do it for you , Then we will have to do it for every one...

 

[Jack Klarich]

Jack ' When i talked to Harley.....One of the answers to me was....;

''If we do it for you , Then we will have to do it for every one...

I dunno, some states require the lemon law be enforced, Harley cannot change this law yet; and they should do it for everyone IMO they have a serious design problem

 

[ISP-FL]

My dealer made me a tremendous deal on my 16 when I bought it. My buddy got his 16 the next day from the same dealer and his deal was slightly better than mine, $26,000 out the door. We just figured it was the end of the model year, didn't know the new M8's were coming out.

Fast forward.....my 16 is just coming up on 20,000 miles. No major issues and has been such as good bike I decided against any type of extended warranty. My buddy wanted the new M8 so he traded as soon as the 17's came out. He has about 20,000 on his 17 and it has had one oil pump failure and the oil light has come on again two times this summer. He loaded up with extended warranty and is hoping for the best.

I think many of the early M8's were defective but like someone else said most guys don't put that many miles on them to realize it yet.