NHTSA Complaint #10086100 — 2002 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHPI

WHILE OPERATING MY MOTORCYCLE, THE ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING AND THE ODOR OF GASOINE FUMES BECAME OVERWHELMING. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE AIR INTAKE AND NOTICED GASOLINE SPRAYING ON THE ENGINE AND PAST THE AIR INTAKE. IT WAS QUITE FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A FIRE! THE FUEL LINE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL RAIL AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS SUPPLYING FUEL AT THE FULL DELIVERY RATE. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL LINE SHOWED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS A HARDENED PLASTIC LINE (COVERED BY A PLASTIC CORREGATED HEAT SHIELD) THAT WAS HELD IN PLACE BY FRICTION ONLY, THERE WERE NO CLAMPS USED. BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE WAS A HARDENED MATERIAL, WITHOUT ELASTICITY OR RETAINING HARDWARE, THE VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE (AND MOST LIKELY THE HEAT AS WELL) DETERIORATED THE ADHESION OF THE CONNECTION RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION. THIS WAS A USED MOTORCYCLE, BUT IT ONLY HAD 638 MILES AND NO EVIDENCE OR RECORD OF MAINTENANCE IN THIS AREA. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER USING HARLEY-DAVIDSON'S PART LIST WHICH INDICATED 1/4" RUBBER FUEL LINE PROTECTED BY A CORREGATED PLASTIC COVERING FOR HEAT ISOLATION, AND TWO CRIMPED HOSE CLAMPS FOR RETENTION, ONE ON EACH END. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL FUEL LINE FOR INSPECTION.*AK