Score One for the Harley Tribe

[James Burleigh]

Half-way through my ride down US 101 from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara to visit my son yesterday, the transmission blew up in my '05 with 90K miles. I was just able to pull off the freeway and limp across the overpass into Atascadero.

My heart warmed when I saw the big Bar and Shield logo of a Harley-Davidson dealer on the corner, because I knew they would be kind to me even if they couldn't fix anything for me (Harley sets the standard for customer service IMO). I rolled in and parked.

Later when the tow driver was hitching up my bike in the trailer he shook his head and said, "I don't see this too often."

"Oh yeah?" I said, "What's that?

"Hauling a Jap bike out of a Harley dealer. Usually I'm hauling Harleys into the dealership."

"Yep," I said. "Score one for the Harley tribe." (No, they didn't form a half circle around us and thrown taunts and pebbles at us.... And yes, the counter staff were very helpful as I wandered around in my Aerostitch amongst the braves and squaws in their black leather garb.)

(I'll talk about the ^%$#@ motorcycle later in the tech section. :angry: )

JB

 

[SkooterG]

WTF did you do to your poor FJR? How do you blow and FJR's transmission? Sure it wasn't the output shaft?

 

[SacramentoMike]

You're not doing much to help the Gen I-Gen II cause here, Burley. :glare:

 

[HIGHLANDER]

Half-way through my ride down US 101 from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara to visit my son yesterday, the transmission blew up in my '05 with 90K miles. I was just able to pull off the freeway and limp across the overpass into Atascadero.

My heart warmed when I saw the big Bar and Shield logo of a Harley-Davidson dealer on the corner, because I knew they would be kind to me even if they couldn't fix anything for me (Harley sets the standard for customer service IMO).

I rolled in and parked. Later when the tow driver was hitching up my bike in the trailer he shook his head and said, "I don't see this too often."

"Oh yeah?" I said, "What's that?

"Hauling a Jap bike out of a Harley dealer. Usually I'm hauling Harleys into the dealership."

"Yep," I said. "Score one for the Harley tribe." (No, they didn't form a half circle around us and thrown taunts and pebbles at us.... And yes, the counter staff were very helpful as I wandered around in my Aerostitch amongst the braves and squaws in their black leather garb.)

(I'll talk about the ^%$#@ motorcycle later in the tech section. :angry: )

JB

Big Bummer JB !! Did you try putting some Plavix in the tranny ?

 

[James Burleigh]

WTF did you do to your poor FJR? How do you blow and FJR's transmission? Sure it wasn't the output shaft?

I got a call later in the day from the Yamaha dealer where I took it in San Luis Obispo, who said a quick inspection revealed they needed to pull the engine to get to the tranny to diagnose it. I'm f**ked. What is an '05 with 90K worth anyway?

 

[ionbeam]

I believe that ol' Jimmy forgot to preface his post with "Once upon a time..." It is early in the day for booze so it must be raining. He has also been known to be clever, articulate and able to wrangle parables, metaphors and allegories.

Else, damn James/Hans, really sorry to hear about this unusual failure. Information, we need information.

Edit: Once again the slow typing ionbeam is behind in the flow of discussion. If the problem is indeed the transmission the engine has to come out and major disassemble needs to take place. I'm thinking a good used engine...

 

[SkooterG]

WTF did you do to your poor FJR? How do you blow and FJR's transmission? Sure it wasn't the output shaft?

I got a call later in the day from the Yamaha dealer where I took it in San Luis Obispo, who said a quick inspection revealed they needed to pull the engine to get to the tranny to diagnose it. I'm f**ked. What is an '05 with 90K worth anyway?

Prolly not worth the cost of having to pay a dealer to do that job. I am guessing that repair will be $2,000-$4,000 at a stealership. But that's just a guess. You need to contact Wendy on the forum and see what she thinks.

Bummer man.

 

[Tree Doc]

WTF did you do to your poor FJR? How do you blow and FJR's transmission? Sure it wasn't the output shaft?

I got a call later in the day from the Yamaha dealer where I took it in San Luis Obispo, who said a quick inspection revealed they needed to pull the engine to get to the tranny to diagnose it. I'm f**ked. What is an '05 with 90K worth anyway?

San Luis Motorsports? :dribble: Get it out of there. I wouldn't let those guys work on my lawnmower. I'm driving up to Livermore on Friday for a wedding rehearsal, I'll tow it up for you if you like. Take it to Roseville.

-or-

Send me the pink slip!

 

[SacramentoMike]

What is an '05 with 90K worth anyway?

With transmission? Or without?

At least if you part it out, the plastic's ok.

 

[Niehart]

Suckage, Hans, just plain suckage.... :angry2:

 

[madmike2]

If they haven't yet diagnosed the problem, how do you know the transmission "blew up"? :dntknw:

Er....uhm....a broken keeper? Bent shift fork? Problems caused by the clutch you had replaced last Fall?

 

[Old Michael]

Half-way through my ride down US 101 from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara to visit my son yesterday, the transmission blew up in my '05 with 90K miles. ...

Sorry to hear it, Hans.

So, it is the transmission and not the clutch?

 

[James Burleigh]

I'm driving up to Livermore on Friday for a wedding rehearsal, I'll tow it up for you if you like. Take it to Roseville.

Thank you for this kind offer. PM sent!

(P.S. Here's a shout-out thanks to dCarver for making a similar generous offer when we spoke yesterday, once he comes off his night shifts. :clapping: )

 

[James Burleigh]

Half-way through my ride down US 101 from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara to visit my son yesterday, the transmission blew up in my '05 with 90K miles. ...

Sorry to hear it, Hans.

So, it is the transmission and not the clutch?

OM and MM, they said they needed to pull the engine after an "initial" inspection. But I have never been happy with the clutch job I got a year ago at Berkeley Yamaha--or rather, had always been suspicious because it never seemed to have its mojo back after getting the new clutch: acceleration was always mediocre and I had to stop racing Porsches on the freeway and stuff (kidding, Mr. Legal Discovery!).

My intuition is the clutch, but my mechanical intuition ain't worth anything.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Hans - Sorry to hear of this. At least you were able to pull over safely without issue. Keep us posted.

 

[James Burleigh]

I'm driving up to Livermore on Friday for a wedding rehearsal, I'll tow it up for you if you like. Take it to Roseville.

Thank you for this kind offer. PM sent!

(P.S. Here's a shout-out thanks to dCarver for making a similar generous offer when we spoke yesterday, once he comes off his night shifts. :clapping: )

It's all arranged: Tree Doc will pick up my bike in SLO and deliver it up here in the Bay Area. Wow! The FJR Forum takes care of its own, and I am humbled and thankful for such generosity and to be part of this community. Thanks, TD (and you too, Don)!

 

[escapefjrtist]

Damn the luck JB! Hope it's nothing too serious once the diagnosis is completed.

The FJR Forum takes care of its own, and I am humbled and thankful for such generosity and to be part of this community.

Couldn't agree with you more!

--G

 

[TomInPA]

Hans, sorry to hear about the tranny problems. We all know that it has lived a gentle life without being pressed into hard service until well rested. Terrible timing and we will miss you on the Wheaton tours unless you have the brilliant innovation to host a BBQ in Santa Clara in a few days. :clapping:

I'm sure you will be on the road soon. It's great how other forum members stepped up to get your FJR to qualified intensive care. I hope it is minor, but my greater fear is that next time I see you it will be astride a Gen II..

 

[Silver Penguin]

My heart warmed when I saw the big Bar and Shield logo of a Harley-Davidson dealer on the corner, because I knew they would be kind to me even if they couldn't fix anything for me (Harley sets the standard for customer service IMO). I rolled in and parked.

Agreed. I had a long, and sad phone call to the BMW emergency line, where the operator couldn't understand the difference between a jack and a centerstand (I had a flat,on a tubed tire). They offered a tow to a BMW dealership in either Phoenix or Tucson - when the dealerships opened the next day. I was close to Flagstaff. Andy took the wheel to a HD dealer. They were willing and able to fit the spare tube that we were carrying, in a matter of minutes.

Hope you're able to get fixed up with the repairs you need. Looks as though you came to the rights places for help.