NHTSA Complaint #10585538 — 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK

WHILE RIDING MY 2013 HARLEY ULTRA CLASSIC I NOTICED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT 7-9-2013 IT WAS MAKING A NOISE IN THE CHAIN CASE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE PRIMARY CHAIN IS LOOSE AND MAKING A SLAPPING SOUND. I TOOK THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL THEY ALL DO IT. THE NOISE GOT A LITTLE LOUDER OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS SO I TOOK THE BIKE BACK ON 10-29-2013 AND A SERVICE TECH TOOK THE BIKE OUT AND SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CHAIN TENSIONER IS NOT WORKING. HE REMOVED THE INSPECTION COVER AND SAID IT LOOKED OK. HE SAID HE THINKS THE COMPENSATOR HAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN IT. I TOLD HIM I WANTED A FACTORY REP. TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE MY 2009 STREET GLIDE HAD THE COMPENSATOR REPAIRED AND REPLACED THREE TIMES. BECAUSE OF WINTER THE REP. WASN'T ABLE TO RIDE IT UNTIL 4-24-2014 THE REP. SAID THE NOISE IS TRANSMISSION PLAY AND ITS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THAT. AFTER HEARING OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME NOISES, COMPENSATOR BOLTS LOOSENING AND FALLING OUT, I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE THE BOLT OR CHAIN TO LOCK UP YOUR REAR WHEEL CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHECK INTO THIS MATTER TO ENSURE THE HARLEY MOTORCYCLES ARE SAFE TO RIDE. THANK YOU. *TR UPDATED 10/24/2014 *JS