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IK Miles Service Heads Up - Oil And Gasket!

2182 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  JJ_TKOB
For those of you who are approaching your 1K required service, I suggest you plan to advise your dealer with plenty of notice before you drop off your special electric ride. I was the first one to get the 1K miles service at my dealership, and the Livewire has some special needs. These guys are passionate about their work and Harleys, but their world is understandably surrounding the classic Harley service needs - the Livewire is unique, even to them and that's OK with me - trying to be a E-pioneer and all. Two things; advise them ahead of time to be sure they have the special oil required exclusively for the Livewire service in stock. Also, and importantly, the 1K service requires that you change the gasket, or the seal when the oil is changed. There was only one gasket (looks like a giant black rubber band) available in all of Southern California - and they are back ordered now for over a month. I was able to get that one gasket, so I am a happy rider, but put it in your plan that if your need that or any service, give the dealership a call and give them a heads up. Make sure they are actually ready to service your unique Harley ride. They proudly may think they are all set, and but mention these to items to be sure. Its the challenge of being one of the first to own one of these cool rides.
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For those of you who are approaching your 1K required service, I suggest you plan to advise your dealer with plenty of notice before you drop off your special electric ride. I was the first one to get the 1K miles service at my dealership, and the Livewire has some special needs. These guys are passionate about their work and Harleys, but their world is understandably surrounding the classic Harley service needs - the Livewire is unique, even to them and that's OK with me - trying to be a E-pioneer and all. Two things; advise them ahead of time to be sure they have the special oil required exclusively for the Livewire service in stock. Also, and importantly, the 1K service requires that you change the gasket, or the seal when the oil is changed. There was only one gasket (looks like a giant black rubber band) available in all of Southern California - and they are back ordered now for over a month. I was able to get that one gasket, so I am a happy rider, but put it in your plan that if your need that or any service, give the dealership a call and give them a heads up. Make sure they are actually ready to service your unique Harley ride. They proudly may think they are all set, and but mention these to items to be sure. Its the challenge of being one of the first to own one of these cool rides.
Good advice. Just had my 1K service a couple weeks ago. My dealer asked me to do the same thing and they were good to go by the time I hit that threshold. Thunder Mountain in CO BTW.
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For those of you who are approaching your 1K required service, I suggest you plan to advise your dealer with plenty of notice before you drop off your special electric ride. I was the first one to get the 1K miles service at my dealership, and the Livewire has some special needs. These guys are passionate about their work and Harleys, but their world is understandably surrounding the classic Harley service needs - the Livewire is unique, even to them and that's OK with me - trying to be a E-pioneer and all. Two things; advise them ahead of time to be sure they have the special oil required exclusively for the Livewire service in stock. Also, and importantly, the 1K service requires that you change the gasket, or the seal when the oil is changed. There was only one gasket (looks like a giant black rubber band) available in all of Southern California - and they are back ordered now for over a month. I was able to get that one gasket, so I am a happy rider, but put it in your plan that if your need that or any service, give the dealership a call and give them a heads up. Make sure they are actually ready to service your unique Harley ride. They proudly may think they are all set, and but mention these to items to be sure. Its the challenge of being one of the first to own one of these cool rides.
Your dealer dropped the ball on your bike. I've had my bike over a year and approaching 5k. The day I picked up my LW new with 4 miles on the odometer the service manager informed me he had everything needed for my 1k service. When I did go to get the 1k I was in and out in 2 hours. Every LW dealership sent a mechanic for training in Milwaukee before the LW was released so they should have had everything ordered before you even bought your bike.
Your dealer dropped the ball on your bike. I've had my bike over a year and approaching 5k. The day I picked up my LW new with 4 miles on the odometer the service manager informed me he had everything needed for my 1k service. When I did go to get the 1k I was in and out in 2 hours. Every LW dealership sent a mechanic for training in Milwaukee before the LW was released so they should have had everything ordered before you even bought your bike.
Generally, I completely agree with your comments as all dealers should be fully ready to support all their products. Harley Davidson corporate is the one that should implement requirements and guidance for dealers. As you stated, HD have a specific program in place that assures all dealers that sell these bikes have the correct training, but I now believe that planning does not extend to guidance on service gear, inventory of parts and such to be on hand at all times. As you indicated, my dealer has one specialist trained in Milwaukee for the Livewire as required by HD, but the the rest of the team all need to have an awareness which is not yet there. I don't own any Harley Stock - I don't work for the company and I was very upset when I found out they did not have the parts and my service was delayed for over a week. But I spoke with the owner, I worked with the people and I think that we can all be a little bit understanding and helpful these days. I sensed the personal side of these folks - especially right now where they are desperately trying to deal with the lingering challenges of Covid - with fewer sales, and fewer personnel working to make up for a back log of bikes that need service and other severe distractions from normal operations.

I also personally called multiple dealers to satisfy my curiosity, and found that one out of six Southern California Dealers had the part - and only one part available. That's the part I obtained and my dealer used. None that I spoke with had done the 1K service on a Livewire yet. I was the first at my dealership and it seems perhaps the first in this area to get this service. While my dealer had ordered the part right away, there was no clarity as to when it would be arrive since shipments of ordered parts, as in this case were back ordered (the gasket actually made in Italy!!).This all indicates it is a systemic problem at HD or that, as with other products we are not yet recovered from production and shipping delays triggered by the pandemic.

I believe the corporate challenge is to better guide the dealerships in this new space, get inventories in order and have better communications with owners. I wonder if they read this stuff - they should. The real people involved are genuinely good people trying to do the right thing but HD corporate needs to get this right. A heads up to other owners of this new bike was my way to help out - I love the bike and want it to survive in the HD family.
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The dealerships may have dropped the ball but so did HD. HD cannot supply the gaskets in a timely manner. My dealer says HD will take a month to deliver.

Also, the dealers definitely dropped the ball.

JJ
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