NHTSA Complaint #10552482 — 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK

THIS 2014 HD FLHTK HAD THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SERVICED IN OCTOBER 2013 UNDER THE MASSIVE HD CLUTCH RECALL PROGRAM. HOWEVER, I INSPECTED THE BIKE AND INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THE CLUTCH FLUID LOW. IT WAS BELOW THE SIGHT GLASS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER (ACUTELY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SIGHT GLASS). I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CYLINDER WAS FULL AND CANNOT BE FILLED TO THE SIGHTLINE BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2013 DRIVING 40 MILES FROM HOME AT 45 MPH WHEN I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STARTED TO DOWN SHIFT. SHIFTING BECAME HARDER AND HAD TROUBLE GETTING INTO LOWER GEARS. I TURNED AROUND AND HEADED FOR HOME CUTTING MY TRIP SHORT. WITHIN A FEW MORE MILES, I LOST ALL ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS AND ALMOST HIT THE BACK OF A TRUCK STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO AN ABANDONED PARKING LOT AND STALL THE ENGINE TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. A PHONE CALL TO THE DEALER WAS MADE BY CELL PHONE AND THEY COULD NOT GET OUT TO PICK UP THE BIKE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE AIR TEMPERATURE 41 DEGREES AND OUT IN THE OPEN. I TOOK A CHANCE AND KEPT PULLING/PUMPING THE CLUTCH HANDLE TO BUILD ENOUGH FLUID PRESSURE TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND DRIVE THE BIKE ALONG SIDE THE ROAD TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER/SERVICE STATED THEY RODE THE BIKE FIVE MILE AND HAD NO SHIFTING ISSUES. I EXPLAINED IF YOU PUMP THE LEVER YOU CAN FEEL THE PRESSURE BUILD AND THE CLUTCH WORKS. DEALER AGREED AS THEY PUMPED THE LEVER AND FELT THE SAME THING AND THAT WAS STRANGE. I REITERATED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE FLUID LEVEL. IF THE BIKE PARKED ON A SLOP AND ON IT'S JEFFY STAND, THE LOW FLUID LEVEL COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS AS THE CLUTCH WORE AND FLUID LEVEL DROPS. HD'S CLUTCH SERIOUS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR