NHTSA Complaint #10392310 — 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHT

MY 2009 HARLEY FLHT WAS MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AT START-UP. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OWNERS HAVING A COMPENSATOR BOLT LOOSE FROM FACTORY. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO BRUCHMHLBACH HARLEY DAVIDSON IN BRUCHMHLBACH GERMANY AND WHEN THEY TOOK THE PRIMARY COVER OFF THEY FOUND THE BOLT TO BE LOOSE FROM THE FACTORY. HAD THE BOLT FALLEN OUT IT WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN MOTION IT WOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO THE SPINNING CHAIN BELOW AND LOCKED UP THE BACK WHEEL. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS SINCE FIXED THIS PROBLEM ON THE 2011 MODELS BY INSTALLING THE SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR ON ALL NEW MODELS BUT THE 2009 IS LEFT UNCHANGED. *TR