2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRC Power Train Problems

2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROADKING CLASSIC WITH 23,748 MILES STARTED HAVING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND THE STARTER MADE A LOUD "BANG" DURING HOT STARTS...ALSO NOTICED A LOUD CLUNK SOUND FROM THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASE WHEN SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A WORN COMPENSATOR AND SPROCKET. APPARENTLY THESE COMPONENTS ARE HAVING A HIGH RATE OF PRE--MATURE FAILURE ON 2007 THRU 2010 HARLEY MOTORCYCLES. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE DEATH IF NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL BEING OFFERED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON FOR THIS COMPONENT. THEY DO HOWEVER OFFER AN UPGRADED VERSION SE COMPENSATOR AT A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE TO THE OWNER. I OPTED FOR THE UPGRADED SE COMPENSATOR REPLACEMENT AND NOW ALL PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS ARE GONE!

THE GEAR SHIFT AND HEAL-TOE SHIFT LEVERS FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 75 MPH, LEAVING NO MECHANISM FOR CHANGING GEARS. I HAVE RECEIVED ANECDOTAL INFORMATION FROM MANY OTHER RIDERS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES THAT THE LOSS OF THE HEAL-TOE SHIFT LEVERS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE, AND THEY ARE FORCED TO REPLACE THE SHIFT LEVERS WITH ACCESSORIES FROM INDEPENDENT PARTS MANUFACTURERS. I HAVE WITNESSED MANY SUCH AFTER-MARKET MODIFICATIONS DURING MY TRAVELS.