NHTSA Complaint #703039 — 1996 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHT

H-D REDESIGNED THE TAPPETS IN THE EVO BIG TWIN MOTOR. MY MOTOR HAD 3 OF THE NEW STYLE TAPPETS AND ONE OF THE OLD TAPPETS INSTALLED IN IT. THE ROLLERS IN THE OLD STYLE TAPPET DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS PUMPED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. A PIECE OF METAL GOT INTO THE OIL PUMP ,AND CAUSED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GET NOISY. IF A PIECE OF METAL MADE ITS WAY TO THE WRONG PLACE, THEN THE ENGINE FROZE UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED ON MY 1989 H-D, FLHTC. VIN # [XXX]. IT HAD 74,800 MILES ON IT WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE SAMETHING HAPPENED. A TAPPET ROLLER DISINTEGRATED. THE SHOP THAT DID THE ENGINE OVERHAUL HAS ALSO SEEN IT HAPPEN ON OTHER MOTORCYCLES. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR