NHTSA Complaint #10275789 — 2000 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUI

ALTERNATOR ON 2000 MODEL HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES WERE KNOWINGLY INSTALLED (SEE HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE BULLETIN M-1111 DATED FBE.16,2001)ON THIS YEAR MOTORCYCLE WITH A MISMATCHED STATOR/ROTOR COMBINATION. IN DOING SO THE STATOR BEING UNDERSIZED FAILS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. MINE FAILED ON ME. I , SINCE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY DID NOT PERFORM A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALL PERSONS OWNING THIS YEAR MOTORCYCLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE STATORS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. A VERY EXPENSIVE LABOR EXPENSE FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES. TO MAKE THE SITUATION EVEN MORE DANGEROUS TO OPERATORS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES HARLEY DAVIDSON DID ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 40AMP MAIN BREAKER TO BE REPLACE WITH A 50AMP MAIN BREAKER. THIS ONLY INSURED THAT THE 38 AMP STATOR WOULD FAIL. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP I USE THAT MY MOTORCYCLE HAD THE 40 AMP BREAKER REPLACE WITH THE 50AMP BREAKER DUE TO THIS RECALL BUT THAT MY MOTORCYCLE STILL HAD THE "38AMP STATOR AND THE 45AMP ROTOR". A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. LET ME EXPLAIN THE DANGER. WHEN YOUR STATOR FAILS A VERY SMALL RED LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO WARN THE OPERATOR OF A PROBLEM. YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM AND THE MOTORCYCLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE OFF THE BATTERY. YOU PROBABLY,IN DAYLIGHT HOURS WILL NEVER EVEN NOTICE THIS WARNING LIGHT ANYWAY. (AS I DID NOT). THE MOTORCYCLE WILL OPERATE NORMALLY AS THE BATTERY CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER. WHEN THE BATTERY FINALLY FALLS BELOW THE THRESHOLD OPERATING VOLTAGE OF THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE MOTORCYCLE THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO BACKFIRE AND THE OPERATOR WILL ,OUT OF INSTINCT, PULL THE CLUTCH IN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE WILL DIE IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAN BE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. (ALMOST FOR ME). THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PERSONS THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED AND NOBODY EVEN REALIZED THIS WAS THE CAUSE. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED. *TR