I just stopped by the mechanic who worked on my 1999 Magna. (Others had turned me away due to its age) well- he did not want to work on something that old and didn’t know of anyone who would.
Then stopped at another shop and the same story.
i feel your pain.
i have a 1997 buell that needed some advice, and the local harley place told me that :
a) they wont work on buells
b) they wont work on anything over 20 years old anyway.
apparently my problem is minor, and well within my abilities to fix, but what you describe is a common problem these days.
i ride various older british motorcycles, fifty to sixty years old, and am quite comfortable taking them down to the bare crankshafts, but the harley was something i was unfamiliar with. but now i m unavoidably researching yet another motor to be able to deal with its specific foibles.
this idea that a machine becomes an orphan after 20 years is not a practice i want to encourage, but since thats all i ride i have no voice in the matter.
please continue to keep us informed of your journey.
There's aways two sides. For the customer it's this or that simple. For the shop it's all about finding the parts you need and the time it takes to do the repair. Today time is not cheap and adds up fast then the customer gets a shocker, and it goes back and forth. Back to the shop it's not worth the aggravation.
Hmm my modern machine is a 2016 Moto Guzzi.
But then there's a 30yr old Honda scooter that I appreciate more each time I ride it.
A 60 yr old Dodge and a 100yr old Fiat.
Old stuff has a fixability that new stuff lacks.
Still needs fixing though.
The 3 engines in the basement belonging to Dennis are another level of simple.
Average ages is 120yrs so bit of a different challenge.
For the old engines you can likely fabricate anything that they would need for parts. Not so much for the Guzzi.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Yup. I have my own little museum in my garage. Nothing running anymore
KZ440,500,1000, Bultaco Matrala,
and a 1976 Triumph TR6.
and now the Goldwing rig. I feel like moving out of the house and leaving all that stuff behind!
harley shop revisited:
a mechanic at the trucking company i work with had a similar issue with the same harley shop. about a year ago he went in and they had a 2006 sportster for sale-- a trade in. he bought it for US$6000, liked it pretty well.
then he broke the brake lever somehow. went to the harley shop to get one.
we cant help you.
what do you mean? i just want to order a new brake lever.
its 20 years old. we dont do that.
you sold the bike to me 6 months ago and you wont order me a brake lever?
no.
well since im here, id like to buy a tire and get it mounted.
we wont do it. its over twenty years old.
its a tire, and you sold me the bike 6 months ago!
sorry.
now, perhaps this shop is swamped for business, and cant help him get a new brake lever. i can understand that. but to refuse to sell him a tire and to mount it?on a bike he bought from them?
this is why my mechanic will never buy another harley.
thank you for listening.
Sad story about a company that trades on heritage.
Taking money for a bike they won't service?
I know it requires a broader knowledge base, but U tube alone should cover that.
Is it the sue em risk?
Or just lazy greed?
Kathleen, You might look at goldwingsdoc.com as they talk about all years of goldwings and what ever problem you have someone has had the same problem and it will be addressed by many. It 's a great forum.
Don Mitchell Bellville TX
Thank you for that advice! I’ll do that. I took a short break from worrying about my rig. I’ve have grown a bit disheartened.
when I bought it, and the tilt trailer to take it home, the previous owner forgot to give me the paperwork for the trailer. I was so excited about the rig, that I didn’t think of it.
I am having a heck of a time getting the paperwork from him. In Pennsylvania, I can’t use the trailer without registering it.
looks like I bought myself an $800 lawn ornament. 😒
@kfedor not all trailers have a title. Some only need a bill of sale. Depends on the size of the trailer in many cases.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Kathleen, Don't get disheartened Sidecars are a great ride. I'm sorry you are having trouble with the seller about the trailer. but try to get the bike sorted out and make the trailer problem a back burner till the bike is going. That will give you a great deal of satisfaction riding it. The trailer issue can then be addressed with out the bike issues on top of that. I pray the guy will end up doing the right thing.
Take care and don't let anything or anybody (that guy) steal your joy!!!!
Don Mitchell
Bellville TX
PS If you do get on the web site I mentioned you might get a response from someone near you.
Thank you Don,
I have just sent out yet another text to the seller, but no response in two days. I have been steered in the direction of a mechanic who I have been told would be willing to work on my Goldwing. Called a Goldwing guru. He is in Gettysburg PA , His name is Richard Hobbs
I have not called yet because I am waiting to find out if I can register my trailer in order to get the bike there. Of course I could rent a trailer and it would cost me a few hundred Bucks for the day already and trying to keep cost down. I’m not working now, I’m taking care of the sick Mother-in-law 24 seven so I have to save money where I can. I don’t know if this man -the seller, is still in the hospital or just ignoring my text. Either way someday I hope to get on the road but it’s not looking good for this season.
Don-also I haven’t checked out that site that you sent me, thank you for sending that! As a matter fact, I will check it out now
