Anyone sue Harley?

[Dynasty]

I am pretty pissed off. As I mentioned earlier, I stupidly followed the service manual and torqued it to 25-29 ft/lbs. Of course that stripped it and then I had to pay $200 in tools/timesert to try and fix it.

Last night I finally get the tools and managed to mess up the installation. Note to anyone doing this- don't try to do it with the bike on the stand, it is nearly impossible to get the bits straight.

So now I am left with a few options. Tap up to the next size, 9/16 or 5/8? Or go get a new swingarm.

Point is I am disappointed both in myself, but also in Harley/Buell. It is bull**** if you pardon my french that a man can follow the service manual and strip the living **** out of the drain plug. I feel as if they owe me a swingarm and installation.

Has anyone successfully sued them?

[thuren67]

I have no problem with mine[confused]

[Dynasty]

Make it even better, the local Harley quoted me $1800 for tow, swingarm and install....Hahaha

[burgurboy]

25 ft/lbs?

... or 25 in/lbs

there is a HUGE difference

off the top of my head, 25 ft/lbs seems like a lot...

[turboraven]

It may be more time consuming but less of a hassle to just buy a used swingarm. You can pick them up for ~$100 shipped all day online.

[wolfo68]

if you need a swing let me know

[Dynasty]

I would like to buy a new one on buellsterparts for $200. Honestly that isn't an issue. The problem is I have no stand, or real tools/knowledge to do it on the sidewalk of NYC.

[konarider94]

25 ft/lbs?

... or 25 in/lbs

there is a HUGE difference

off the top of my head, 25 ft/lbs seems like a lot...

in my manual it says 29-31 ft-lbs. thats the one thing i dont torque though. i just go by feel.

[Alfatango1]

That's got to be a typo, and a dangerous one at that. I would never torque my drain plug either. Just all the way down and a bit past, maybe 1/3 or 1/2 turn tops. then check for weeping.

[unionthug]

I feel your pain brother. But really? Putting a torque wrnch on a drain plug? Just tap it and consider it a lesson learned. What could you have possibly spent $200 to repair threads?

Next year it will be a funny story among your friends who read service manuals.[smirk]

[wolfo68]

have you talked to anyone local, I believe j_undisputed is around there. may be able to help

[Dynasty]

We are going to work something out. Going to try and tap up to either 9/16 or 5/8.If that doesn't work we are going to order a new swingarm and do some street swapping.

[thrstrmech]

***26-29 ft. lbs. Oil Drain Plug***

26 ft. lbs = 312 in. lbs.

29 ft. lbs. = 348 in. lbs.

***11-15 ft. lbs. Primary Drain Plug***

11 ft. lbs. = 132 in.lbs.

15 ft. lbs. = 180 in lbs.

set your torque wrenches to the minimum, make sure they are calibrated, if they have fallen at anytime the calibration may be off by a few, nice and easy working with the torque wrench, don't muscle it and go beyond the "click" no matter what the setting is set to

[loose1]

You could try going to pipe thread. 1/4 npt should be about the right size.

[bikepilot]

I'm pretty sure its a typo in the manual and that there's a TSB or something out to correct it. I'm sure I've seen the corrected figure posted here or on badweb. Don't go using the specs in the book.

I haven't sued HD/buell, though they deserve it after claiming no warranty on a cracked ECM ('09 XB) without explanation. I don't think your drain plug suit or my ecm problem would be difficult cases to win, but it'd still take lots of time, money and effort, way more than the cost of just eating the repair. HD knows this and takes full advantage I think.

[buellbradski]

Sounds to me like you should be kickin your own ass! If you want to have harley take the responsabilty take your bike there to be serviced. Not that i want to stand up for harley but ive ****ed a few things up and dont intend to blame it on a service manual.+ what bikepilot said it would cost more to sue than it would be worth $ better spent towards a new ducati street fighter or maybe ebr's new release! Anyway have fun swaping swing arms or tapping it out in the streets i cant imagine that headache.Good luck!

[anrkizm95]

its pretty well known that the torque spec in the manual is wrong.

[onelogue]

Sue Harley and let us know how it goes lol :D

[ATFIII]

its pretty well known that the torque spec in the manual is wrong.

Sue Harley and let us know how it goes lol

All right! Moral support!

[dave_xb12r]

its pretty well known that the torque spec in the manual is wrong.

This is true. BUT.... I've heard of dealerships handing people a new swing arm. Maybe call a Harley.

[anrkizm95]

I've heard of dealerships handing people a new swing arm. Maybe call a Harley.
yea same here and its worth a shot there seems to be 3 responses from hd new swingarm,they repair it and oh well sorry about your bad luck.

[anrkizm95]

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Ulysses-XB12x/Troubleshooting/stripped-drain-plug--bad-dealer-visit

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/305911.html

[BRatigan]

You can always get the next size up tap with proper size drill bit and fix it cheap and easy. Just drill out the hole as straight as you can, the tap will center itself and gently work the tap back and forth ubtil you feel the threads start. When the threads start, keep threading deeper until the tap feels free in the threads. When tapping use lubricant and rotate forward and back when cutting to clear shavings. If you don't, then the aluminum can gall and possible bind then strip. When done, flush the swingarm until unreasonable. Insert new larger drain plug with either teflon tape or an o ring and tighten snug plug a 1/4 to 1/2 turn. Fill with 2-1/2 quarts of oil and do the filter too. Warm bike up and ride till satisfied. That should just about do it.

BR

[McMurphy]

Yea thank god I had read about the torque specs issue before I did my oil change.

Don't remember off the top of my head, think I torqued mine to somewhere around 11 or 15 ft/lbs. Havn't had any issues.

[Dynasty]

I know I am not going to sue them. But it is bull**** they can print incorrect specs like that and get away with it. I guess I should not have trusted the manual and checked the internet first. My bad.

I am going to tap up to 5/8". I have a question for all the pros- can I do the drill and tapping by hand with a tap wrench? My drill has a 3/8" chuck and won't accept the bits. Or am I asking for trouble doing it by hand? Especially considering I am making a decent sized bigger hole.

Thanks

[firefighter1c57]

I drained the primary and the swing arm at the same time. Let them set for a while to drain. When I went to put the plugs back in I couldn't help but notice they where the same plug. When I looked in the manual I noticed the two different torques. I just went with the lower one. Torqued it in the middle of the range. I did 150see inlbs IIRC

[kelly]

you could get go get a cheapo rubber plug adn stick it in there....im just saying. 26 ft lbs heheheh really!...sorry that was uncalled for. oh and if you dont want your swingarm ill take it, i mean if its junk to you now maybe i can just pay shipping adn have a new swingarm for my collection aye.

[50W]

I read about this issue before I bought my bike, I torqued both plugs to 135 in-lb.

[okey]

Dynasty don't feel bad as i have suffered the same fate but my threads started to strip the moment i started to undo the plug and the only service before on 2 occasions was via Harley dealer. I didn't need the arguement so i researched and found a timesert kit was the way to go. I purchased a stand and did it on that so the bike was straight. I also have the factory manual and also in my handbook it states the incorrect torque. In all experiences i had found Harley stand by that torque setting and as far as my contacts said there was no TSB on torque setting. Most say nip it up by feel. Although i could not help mine as it was stripped before i will take the knowledge to never torque a drain/fill plug into alloy regardless of if i can mix paint while sitting at the lights.