A Woman Asks, “Can I Really…Fix My Hog?”

Being the adventurous type. I thought, someday when I have spare time and a knowledgeable friend willing to educate me, I would like to learn how to fix my own bike, or at least do the basic service and maintenance. This is a big deal since, before 1998 I never even ridden a bike let alone know anything more than how to add oil to my car crankcase. But I learned to ride on the premise that I would just listen and learn, even if I was probably too uncoordinated to actually be able to ride on my own. (That was 60,000 miles ago!) So when Dennis Santopietro handed me a copy of “Fix My Hog” I thought, well, I will look at this and give myself a fair chance to ‘get it’, visualizing myself dropping nuts and washers down the frame and having no idea how to put them back together. I sat down to watch and learn, and report back to you; if I can do this, anyone can.

The first edition of Fix My Hog is for the Harley-Davidson Softail. (Other editions will be available near future for the other Harley-Davidson models and eventually other motorcycle brands.) How convenient that I ride a ’99 Softail Springer! I already feel like this might work! The program is on DVD although I was working with a VHS tape copy since at this point the DVD was not finished and shipped.

The program intro starts with a guy named Bob LaRosa at his shop LA ONE Motorsports in Waterbury, Connecticut, shop mechanic Mark DePietro, and the prerequisite shop pooch, rolling a 2002 Softail up onto a lift. Bob then shows us a table spread with every Tool, utensil, lubricant, cleaner and device that will be needed for the maintenance & service functions shown in the program. He also explained why each thing was necessary to have on hand, and also advised getting a lift, as well as a factory service manual and parts book for the model you are going to work on, as these will be referred to at various points.

The Chapter titles are:
1. Charging System Check
2. Drain Fluids
3. Clutch and Primary Adjustment
4. Fluid Replacement
5. Spark Plugs
6. Front Fork Fluids
7. Air Cleaner/Carburetor Cable
8. Rear Caliper & Brake Pads
9. Rear Axle & Belt Adjustment
10.Front Caliper & Brake pads
11. Safety Check
12. Evolution Differences

At various points in each chapter, Bob discusses things to watch out for and potential repair issues that could happen if a maintenance function is not performed exactly as shown. Now I like lots of “why” stuff; why you have to do this, because if you do this procedure this way that looks easier, you will render this expensive brake caliper useless and have to replace it. Or, steel to aluminum threads; you have to make sure to put anti-seize on them, or you will have a permanently stuck bolt. Or when something needs lube put on it, or when another part needs NO LUE EVER TO TOUCH IT) and why (listen up here). Stuff like that, kind of simple but, instead of just saying to do this Bob explains thoroughly yet concisely why it must be done this way.

Another thing I like along this line was, certain checks and safeguards, doing things in a certain order, like taking the dipstick out when draining the oil, and not putting it back till after refilling, to make absolutely sure you don’t forget the oil then oops! Kind of late to realize it after you went 10 miles and your engine turns into a solid chunk of smoking steel.

In Chapter 3, he took the primary apart and spread the parts out and showed how each thing related to the whole, how it all works. Now I know I can point to a part of my bike and tell someone what is in there! The clutch-the clutch basket, the engagement dogs on the steel drive plates, and the spring diaphragm plate—just to name a few parts I learned in this section.

Step by step, ABC, 123, Bob explains what to do and Mark does it, and walks us along in great detail, but it still moves along at a nice pace. No wasted words or “happy talk”, just the meat and potatoes here. You get a really good view of everything they are doing: the camera is right there, 2 inches from whatever is being unscrewed or adjusted, so you can see exactly what’s going on. And you can pause on a still, or go back and forth between different chapters at will, and find the precise part you want to take another look at.

My son Bob, 24, who watched it with me asked, “What about schematics?” So I asked Dennis. He said, “We can’t use copyrighted illustrations such as they appear in the manuals, so rather than re-illustrate everything, we simply refer you to the manual which you should have anyway.” Which makes sense, this DVD gives you what you need to know so that you can refer to the manual and understand what you are looking at – rather than duplicating the manual.

Now this DVD will not replace the training that Bob took at MMI that, along with 8 years working at a Harley dealer, and 8 years owning and operating his own shop, has accumulated into the expertise he has. This DVD will however let you learn a lot about your bike, get involved in doing your own maintenance, and know at point you need help beyond what you can do yourself.

Also, this DVD should be viewed as an enhancement to still having a good dependable mechanic for the times mentioned above when you get ‘beyond basic’. It will end up saving you money on maintenance, but you will spend some coin on some tools and a lift if you want to do it right. The idea is, the rewards of doing your maintenance will eventually translate into saving the money on having someone else do it.

Now for the last word. Ladies, you are all waiting and I won’t disappoint you. I think I can do this, it’s just following instructions, so you can too. It has the Randy-proof Stamp of Approval! Men, some of you are about to be replaced, but most likely only in the garage—if you really think fast and buy a copy of this DVD for your beloved as well as one for yourself, you may still have a chance. It could be a togetherness thing where you get to have the best of both worlds. And ladies, it’s another side to add to your multi-faceted talents and interests. The guys all stand around and talk wrenching, now you can too! Yes ladies, if your man won’t buy this for you, then definitely get it for yourself, start learning what, where, when and how. When your man asks what’s up say “Hey! I learned how to…FIX MY HOG!!”