Idle - Day 12

Started the day and headed out when I noticed something strange. Though I had seen it before, it was still strange seeing it again so soon. The dreaded check engine light was on. So was a battery symbol. Could only mean one thing - trouble. So I headed off across town to the Harley Dealer. After some diagnosis, it was determined that the patient was ill. Bad Stator. So what's a stator you say?  Well, it's kind of like the alternator - or better yet more like a generator putting out 14+VDC used to keep the battery charged and run the electrical systems on the bike when the engine is running.

Well, to make matters worse, I'm told that the dealer doesn't have one in stock. Now I have 3 options. Wait until they get it overnighted from a dealer in Butte, ride 3 hours South to Butte, or go on to Calgary, Canada and get it replaced there. None of these are good options.

I called Calgary and they didn't have the part either. When I asked when they could get it, they said "if it's in Canada about 3 days or so, if not maybe 14 days. Down to 2 options.

Riding 3 hours out of our way with the possibility of the battery going dead wasn't too attractive either. Down to one option. Have them start the work here in Great Falls and wait it out. So that's what we did.

Six hours later I finally got a 2015 rental and we were once again mobile. I won't even go into the issued with the Extended Service Plan I purchased in March so that if there were any issues, they would be taken care of. Can you say underwriting issues? Time for lunch, so we stopped and grabbed a bite, went to see the Great Falls, and headed back to the hotel.

 

 

Will try to find something to do, but if the locals don't even have a clue, what does that tell you? What it says, if you have to break down, don't do it in Montana. 

So it goes. One more day, other stats stay the same.

Hoping for some good news tomorrow, but with the service shop down two techs today and two other travelling riders broken down and on the list ahead of me, I'm not as optimistic as I'd like to be. Time for a reality check.