NHTSA Complaint #10193837 — 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXST SERIES

VIBRATION OVER TIME CAN CAUSE COMPENSATORY OR NUT TO BACK OFF, ALLOWING METAL PARTICLES TO MOVE FREELY AROUND INTERNAL MOVING PARTS. CONCERN IS MECHANICAL FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE ARE NO SCHEDULED CHECKS TO PREVENT THIS. OVER TIME CAM TENSION FAILS, CHECK OR REPLACEMENT IS AT 30-35000 MILES. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS HAPPENING SOONER. CONCERN WAS AGAIN FREE FLOWING METAL INSIDE THE WORKING INTERNAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NOT A SCHEDULED CHECK PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT MILEAGE TO PREVENT THIS. NOTE: THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT MADE BUT NO CHECK REQUIRING PULLING THE CAMS AND CHECKING THE TENSION. DANGER: BOTH OF THESE HAVE THE ABILITY OF ALLOWING METAL FRAGMENTS TO STOP THE NORMAL WORKINGS OF THE ENGINE. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE IN OPERATION IT COULD CAUSE A LOCK UP AND POSSIBLE CRASH, ESPECIALLY WITH A NEW RIDER. THERE IS A RANGE OF YEARS AND I KNOW OF THREE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST MONTH IN CALIFORNIA, RANGING FROM 2000-2004 SOFT TAILED WITH TC 88 ENGINES. THE INFORMATION I HAVE WAS THAT THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT REACHED THE PERCENT MARK NEEDED TO PUT OUT A RECALL. SOLUTION: SUGGESTED LOOKING INTO A DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE PLAN TO INCLUDE THESE ISSUES AND RECALL THOSE NEEDING CHECKS BASED ON NEW PLAN. *AK