I see Harley's at it again (Syn3) - Harley Forum

Majicbringer · #1 08-21-2007, 04:03 PM

Was reading a recent issue of "Enthusiast" and they were stating that the only synthetic that didn't impact their warranty was Syn 3. Looks like free oil changes if that's the company line.

stretch · #2 08-21-2007, 05:01 PM

Gadzooks Sh!t, they'll be givin us 3 year warranty next in order to Rob us proper.

In my neck of the woods. (UK)
At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!

Best regards Stretch

#3 08-22-2007, 07:52 AM

I also noticed that when I read The Enthusiast last evening. How does HD get away with that? I thought as long as the factory parameters were folowed the warranty was in force? Can they specify the type of oil used?

Rick

94flhtcu · #4 08-22-2007, 08:49 AM

Unreal, isn't it? HD makes their warranty sound so good. When it comes time to honor it, well, that's a different story. The dealer finds some crap reason to deny the claim, and when ya contact HD they say they do not control how dealers enforce or deny the claims. I think I'd feel guilty. I know I would. The ironic thing is, it's our very own fault. We are the ones who have catapulted HD to an undeserved level by continuing to buy 50 dollar tshirts with crooked insignias. And PAYING for WARRANTY work.

Honestly, I'm very cautious about what's in that can. If they're gonna charge for warranty work, what incentive do they have to make a good motorcycle OR oil? I learned my lesson years ago.. I don't use engine oil that the manufacturer won't put an API doughnut on. Maybe they do now, but not a few years ago.

One thing I can take comfort in- I do all my own work, and it gets done right the first time. No more multiple trips to the dealer. In fact, I have less reason to go there as time passes. They've almost dropped all us evo owners. And some of us waited a year for our bike to come in. That's how yer gonna interest me in a new bike? Hmmm...

BluesFan · #5 08-22-2007, 10:55 AM

Magnuson-Moss anyone?

94flhtcu · #6 08-22-2007, 01:15 PM

HD has continually pressed the consumer on this one. I addressed this with my dealer in '94, and was told "any oil other than Harley-Davidson will void your warranty. If you don't believe that, call HD and ask them" Actual quote from my sales person. I made 5 attempts to call the service line he had given me; 4 times, I got no answer at all: on the 5th time, the number had been disconnected with no further info. That was all I needed. I didn't follow it any further. I knew I was wasting my time. Especially since they wouldn't fix my ignition switch that had left me on the side of the road. They wanted me to PAY them to do it. This was well within the first year. I fixed it myself. And I continue to do so. Not too long after this, I got the recall from HD on the switch. I have not had it done, since we can't work out anything to credit me for the switch I had to purchase and the time it took to repair myself. They're have been no further incidents from the switch.

I'm sure HD has figured a way around Morrison Moss by now. Out of 4 warranty actions I could have had done, over 13 years and 2 motorcycles, (still have both) they've fixed 2. 1 on the ultra, and 1 on the heritage. They denied cam chain tensioners on the heritage! At 17000 miles! And this was an EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PAID FOR! As if it was my fault. That's okay, it's gear driven now. Keep yer chains and yer tensioners. And yer warranty work. And yer new bikes.

stretch · #7 08-22-2007, 05:24 PM

Yes 94flhtcu, but out of all the bikes sold there is only an odd one etc, etc,
that's normal for this model Sir. Ha! wot a load of gonads.

They have been twisting me since 1983 they still owe me £40 GBP from 1983
never mind all the development work I've done for them since.

Out of all the Bike/Car manufacturers warrantys I've had all my life nothing comes close to H-D

You may come back to me and say its my fault, keep buying them.
You bet it is.

Heard the one about, if a dog p!sses on yer left leg, you're not gonna let it p!ss on you're right leg?. Well my jeans are p!ssed wet through with em.

Yeah I'm a dik.

Good Shout 94flhtcu
Best regards Stretch
PS 5 down none to go!

Majicbringer · #8 08-23-2007, 12:23 AM

There's a federal law that says, in effect, that if a company specifies a specific brand (not weight or type (soil or syn)) of oil then that company has to provide that oil free of charge. They count on the ignorance people have about that law and the trust they [mis]place in the dealer to rack up continued sales and service. It stinks as much as the stuff they sell under the HD name that voids your warranty if it gets put on, namely exhaust items.

HD's been pressing that Syn3 crap for years and it's junk. I stopped counting how many people I have heard that complained about the noises that came from their rides with that stuf fin it; and how miraculously the noises went away when they switched to something else. One of my best friends had put it in his VROD during some regular maintanance at the dealer and was told how anything else voided the warranty (he didn't know the law). The bike had something else in it when he bought it, used, from another dealer. The bike seized up on him. HD tried to weasel out of it, but I told him about the law and it was passed onto his lawyer... They fixed it, he put Amsoil in it and no more noise, more power, and he drives a few miles further to a better dealer.

BluesFan · #9 08-23-2007, 11:58 AM

I saw that letter and answer. It is ambiguous at best.

Deceiving at worst.

So, who wants to piss off a dealer by going n and asking what oils will not void the warranty? And if they say HD only, ask for it for free?

94flhtcu · #10 08-23-2007, 12:07 PM

That's what I did in '95... that's when the dealer told me to call the customer service number. I was told that's who I was calling. Who knows- could have been a phone in their basement.