Rear Tire (Spokes)
Harley Wheels & Harley Tire IssuesDiscuss Rear Tire (Spokes) in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; OK here is what I noticed and what I did. I have had my 06 RK Classic for about a year now. Its is great I love it. However after ...
OK here is what I noticed and what I did. I have had my 06 RK Classic for about a year now. Its is great I love it. However after my 500 Mile Service and then the 1000 Mile I thought I would like to tinker with my bike and do the GM stuff myself. So far so good. I bought the service manual and about the 5000 mark I noticed some squrming in the back end so I checked tire pressure it was a little low so I added air and noticed an imidiate change for the better. While cleaning the rear tire I noticed some spokes a little lose. So I asked some questions and did some reasearch. I spoke to the dealer The dealer warned me against doining anything except bringing it in for imidiate attention to the toon of about 350.00 to get the rear tire checked out. I thought wow thats alot. After thinking about it I thought I would just tighten the spokes to about where they would be snug again, being careful not to over tighten. I then took a ride again and thought the bike was running like I first got it tight and stright.
Any comments. . .Advice... Thanks!
Roadking1024
I've laced & trued a lot of wheels someone was asleep on this one. You might have got lucky with your tightning but I would get it retrued and the spokes have a torqe spec. I would think a 06 would be under warranty if not protected by safety laws. You were lucky not to have wheel collapse. Wheels properly trued should never loosen a spoke, 350.00 is out rageous I charge 150.00 and guarintee my work.
Thanks capt80 I have made an appointment with the local dealer (not the dealer I bought it from)to take a look and check out my rear wheel. I also explained that I wanted to do the oil changes and general maintainance on my own. I called the original dealer I bought it from and they insisted I let them do the 5000 mile service. I didn't want that. However I am affraid that if I don't take it to the original dealer I may void any warranty. Is the warranty good at any dealer or just the original dealer?
I second what capt80 says. You can get service done at any dealer, and your warranty will be fine. Also, any dealer must honor your warranty. They may fuss and whine, but that's OK. I think some of the dealers are in for a reality check, because some of the yuppies are moving on to other things. They might have to lower their prices a little.
I agree with Capt80 that the wheel should be under warranty.Take a good look at the hub where the spokes where loose. Often times the holes get elongated and won't stay true for long . Make them fix it right.
There seems to be something going on with the road kings! A friend of mine with an 05 road king had the same problem! He almost lost control of it once and when he brought it to the dealer they asked him if he checks his spokes as part of his pre-ride check{and they meant every time he went for a ride} and he said who do you think your talking to a f...in idot, i know damn well you don't have to check your spokes every time you go out! I've been riding to long to fall for that bulls..t! Anyway they adjusted his spokes and said he was all set. It happened again but this time he had them replace the wheel! Then it happened again, this time he told them to take the wheels and shove them up their a.ses! He said that he wanted them to re-place the spokes with mags and that he was only willing to pay the difference between the cost of the wire wheels and the mag wheels. Oh, we can't do that ,your wires are used wheels. Well if you knew my buddy you'd know that he doesn't back off for no body! He finally got what he wanted. Again it seems to be the road kings that are having problems. Go to July 25 in tech there's a thread onhigh speed wobbles on road kings maybe it will help.
Based on these warranty issues I did some research. First I called four dealers in my local area. The first 3 wanted $210 PLUS fluids and gaskets to do the 1000 mile service on my 07 street glide. They all mentioned adjusting the primary chain with this service. Then when asked about the self adjuster on the 07 they said "well we check it". And they all wanted to have the bike for a couple of days. They also told me that if I did not have an authorized harley stealer do the service my warranty would be no good. Then I called Carlton Harley in Mantua, Ohio. The told me $180 was the total, fluids and all, and I could make an appointment and they would do it while I waited. They also told me that the other three were lying about the warranty to scare me into buying service. I then called H-D corporate in Milwaukee and they agreed with Carlton and even referenced The Magnuson-Moss Warranty act of 1975 in saying that the only way they could require this service be done at a dealer is if they provide it at no cost. Point here, call around and find an honest dealer, or spend $58 on a service manual and DIY. The wheels though are a tricky deal so I would definitely have a pro look at that.
And now the ending. . .I just returned home from my local dealer This is the dealer that didn't mind me doing my own service and understanding that there are some things I can not do. Well I need to tell you shoping around for service is the way to go. From the minute I walked in to the shop this morning at 9:00am that they couldn't have treated me better. I spent about an hour there my bike was in for about 45min. 58 dollars later I walked out feeling better about the spoke issue, more confident about doing my own service and a spokewrench to keep an eye on things. I chatted with the machanic who was not affraid or threatend by answering my questions at all. Thanks to everyone who chimmed in on this issue I was a little unsure about tigghtening the spokes my self but listening to you fellas and doing it with a little sense of caution, taking mt time, and just making them snug and not over doing it is the best resault. I was not off by much. However having a pro look at it is for sure the best way! I made some new friends and found a honest dealer for life i think!
Rear Tire (Spokes) 
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