NHTSA Complaint #10362345 — 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL

HARLEY DAVIDSON 2009 FLHTCU (PLACED HERE AS VEHICLE SECTION ONLY LISTS 5 MODELS AND NOT THIS ONE) AUDIBLE LOUD KNOCK COMING FROM THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASE ON EACH ENGINE STARTUP. KNOCK APPEARS TO ORIGINATE FROM THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ASSEMBLY WHICH CUSHIONS THE DRIVE SIDE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET AND THE PRIMARY DRIVE ASSEMBLY WHEN STRIKING EACH OTHER AT ENGINE STARTUP. MANY COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN FAILURE MODE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST UNIT (FACTORY INSTALLED ON 2010 AND LATER MODELS) UNDER WARRANTY. FAILURE IN SERVICE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC AND OPERATOR INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF ISSUES BUT HAVE NOT RECALLED ANY UNITS FOR REFIT OF UPGRADED COMPONENT. *TR