Checking things on bike before a ride!

[RKC03]

Have a female friend from Michigan go on a long ride (still on it) she travelled I44 thru OK, went thru Amarillo, Albuquerque to get to the Grand Canyon. A day after arriving she was cleaning her bike when she noticed one of the bolts in the clamp securing the axle of the front forks was missing! The bad thing was she just had new tires and a fluid change done before leaving Michigan. While getting things straightened out at Grand Canyon HD, they found that the drive belt was too loose and it had been filled with too much engine oil! I haven't gotten to talk to her lately (will see her in Sturgis) so I don't know if that is the full extent of things found wrong. My point to all this if that I guess you still have to inspect your bike well even after it has been to the dealer.....or to some dealers/shops at least. I am so thankful my friend was not hurt by the front wheel coming off, and hopefully the engine has not been hurt by the engine oil overfill.     RKC03

[a_disalvo]

A few years ago I had a DOT mandatory 1 year inspection done on my 2005 Classic Springer before I made a trip from Pa. to Sturgis. About 1/2 way there, the bike developed a wobble. The spokes on the rear wheel were loose. I vowed to do my own inspections after that. Frank

[RKC03]

any harm gonna become of riding 1500-2000 miles with a overfilled oil tank on a softail deluxe? Seals and such.   RKC03

[Breeze]

After service inspection is a great idea.  A problem is many of the people that have their bikes serviced by others do so because they either don't have the mechanical ability or interest to do it themselves.  They are not likely to spot or recognize the problem.
If you are fortunate to have a good & trusted mechanic, let him know how much you appreciate and rely on him.

[slypig]

Feeling Lucky??   Always recheck any work.  Even your own.

Sly

[Hossamania]

That's one reason I don't like working on bikes when others are around. I get distracted and forget something, or worse, they want to help. I try not to let them, but if it is their bike I let them do something simple, then recheck them. But I always get nervous, even with simple stuff, all I need is a stripped drain plug and the day is not going to to finish well.
I should mention these are friends, not customers, it's just my hobby.
I have often just stopped working on it if there are too many distractions.
After a job, I sit down, look at the bike and go over everything in my head, getting up with often to double check.
And I never let them put my tools away, lost too many in the box in the wrong spot. Putting them away also helps me go over everything that was done.

[Panzer]

An over filled engine will either puke it out or blow a few seals/gaskets.
After that Length of ride that she did and didn't see any weeping oil, dripping, or smell burning oil, I'd say she's lucky.
I'm sure the other servicing dealer would have spotted oil leakage.
I wonder what the chain case is like?

Talk about guardian angels. 

BTW, I think the 10W oil saved her skin.
If it was a thicker oil, like 30w or higher, I believe she would have really blown seals.
It must have been a shade tree machanic who worked on the bikes oil fill as to the price of oil.
An oil change is a set price at dealers and to over fill they would loose $$.
Just my .02

[Super Dave]

I work on my own bikes if at all possible because of the reasons listed here, and more. No one will take better care of your bike and safety than you.
I got the recall on the ABS brake lines. I was going on a ride down the freeway for a few hours then over the hills on a known dangerous road so instead of waiting for my appointment, I took off the tank and zip tied the lines myself. If the front wheel  locked up after I knew there was a problem, I'd have a hard time living with that. Wife usually on the back also.
I just don't trust the work ethic of many people these days.

[Mailman]

any harm gonna become of riding 1500-2000 miles with a overfilled oil tank on a softail deluxe? Seals and such.   RKC03

  Take thirty seconds to drain a little out.

[Hossamania]

Classic move last night. I mentioned above I don't like people helping me work on a bike.
Changing handlebars on a friends bike. He really wanted to help. I had him drain the tranny fluid.
He lost the drain plug! That's a new one on me. He's picking one up today.
I don't think he'll want to help as much.

[Deye76]

Not everyone can work on their own bike. Glad she's OK. There's an indy in St.Clair Shores, Mi. (JerryB) works on one bike at a time, uses a checklist to make sure he doesn't miss anything, very thorough. If she's an eastsider be a good shop for her. Best Regards.

[Beave]

Not everyone should work on their own bike, but things like oil level and belt tension are things the rider should be able to check themselves.  She did spot the axle cap bolts missing.  Inspecting the motorcycle for loose and missing hardware, checking oil levels and belts tension, inspecting tires, wheels and lights, these are all things for which the rider should be responsible.   It's called TCLOCKS in training class and (almost) anyone can do it.  I have met people stranded on the road for the dumbest stuff, usually because they know absolutely nothing about their bike and rely purely on the dealer network to come to their rescue often when the slightest problem occurs.

[truck]

I've heard of those bolts falling out while riding, probably due to not being tightened properly. Someone on here heard something hit the bike and when he looked around found the bolt missing.

[apes]

Just like when flying, at every gas stop I do a walk around ( preflight) and touch bolts and screws to insure that nothing has come loose.

[bigfoot5x]

I have friends that all use the same very popular independent shop. Maybe he was good when it was just him in the shop but they have problems now. A couple of them have had misadjusted clutches. One had an oil change done that didn't get completely refilled with oil. Biggest problem now is taking way to long to get work done. I'm glad I enjoy doing my own work and am reasonably capable.

[who?me?]

My rear, my bike, my responsibility. Like it that way myself.

[kik]

Last time I let a shop work on my bike and didn't double check the work before leaving their parking lot, almost caused me to wipe out. I had a new cam cover installed, new bushings, ect. I pulled out of the lot and I almost spun around, I didn't think much of it...loose gravel, but when I got o the stop light and the bike wouldn't stop and the rear came around on me, I realized I was leaking oil. Yeah the didn't put the oil plug back in tight and it was pissing oil out. In 1 block I lost 2 quarts. The owner fired the Tech right on the spot. I didn't want that to happen, but I guess it wasn't his 1st screw up either.

[texaskatfish]

Kik it sounds like you're very fortunate not to have wrecked OR roached the engine!

I'm blessed with an extremely thorough indy wrench - either Dan or his "first mate" do all the test rides and his printed check list that is done item for item for EVERY bike that gets serviced is very extensive - Dan knows it aint just the rider's ass but HIS too every time a bike goes out the door