2000 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUI — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BIKE STARTED WOBBLING AND SHAKING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER THINKING THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE, BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DAMAGES. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, THE BIKE BELT DRIVE WAS DAMAGED AND THE SWING ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

UNEXPECTED COMPLETE SHUT-DOWN OF ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. USUALLY HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS, IN FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD GEAR. HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. ONCE A MONTH THEN ONCE A WEEK, NOW ALMOST EVERY DAY. HAVE REPLACED FORK KEYED LOCK ELECTRICAL SWITCH ONCE IN PAST YEAR. HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY ENGINE HESITATIONS AS IF IGNITION WERE INTERRUPTED FOR A MOMENT. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME BUT NOT AT ANY REGULAR INTERVALS. *TR

ALTERNATOR ON 2000 MODEL HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES WERE KNOWINGLY INSTALLED (SEE HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE BULLETIN M-1111 DATED FBE.16,2001)ON THIS YEAR MOTORCYCLE WITH A MISMATCHED STATOR/ROTOR COMBINATION. IN DOING SO THE STATOR BEING UNDERSIZED FAILS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. MINE FAILED ON ME. I , SINCE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY DID NOT PERFORM A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALL PERSONS OWNING THIS YEAR MOTORCYCLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE STATORS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. A VERY EXPENSIVE LABOR EXPENSE FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES. TO MAKE THE SITUATION EVEN MORE DANGEROUS TO OPERATORS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES HARLEY DAVIDSON DID ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 40AMP MAIN BREAKER TO BE REPLACE WITH A 50AMP MAIN BREAKER. THIS ONLY INSURED THAT THE 38 AMP STATOR WOULD FAIL. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP I USE THAT MY MOTORCYCLE HAD THE 40 AMP BREAKER REPLACE WITH THE 50AMP BREAKER DUE TO THIS RECALL BUT THAT MY MOTORCYCLE STILL HAD THE "38AMP STATOR AND THE 45AMP ROTOR". A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. LET ME EXPLAIN THE DANGER. WHEN YOUR STATOR FAILS A VERY SMALL RED LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO WARN THE OPERATOR OF A PROBLEM. YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM AND THE MOTORCYCLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE OFF THE BATTERY. YOU PROBABLY,IN DAYLIGHT HOURS WILL NEVER EVEN NOTICE THIS WARNING LIGHT ANYWAY. (AS I DID NOT). THE MOTORCYCLE WILL OPERATE NORMALLY AS THE BATTERY CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER. WHEN THE BATTERY FINALLY FALLS BELOW THE THRESHOLD OPERATING VOLTAGE OF THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE MOTORCYCLE THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO BACKFIRE AND THE OPERATOR WILL ,OUT OF INSTINCT, PULL THE CLUTCH IN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE WILL DIE IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAN BE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. (ALMOST FOR ME). THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PERSONS THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED AND NOBODY EVEN REALIZED THIS WAS THE CAUSE. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED. *TR

2000 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUI (ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC) CAM CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AT 37,400 MILES. LARGE CHUNK OF MATERIAL BLOCKED OIL FLOW. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 65 M.P.H. ON HIGHWAY WITH PASSENGER, EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS EMERGENCY STOP IN RURAL AREA. REPAIRING DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE STATOR HAD BURNED UP, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW HEAVY-DUTY DESIGN. AN H-D SERVICE BULLETIN STIPULATED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT ONLY IF STATOR FAILED WITHIN FIRST 12,000 MILES, EVEN THOUGH STATOR FAILURE IS KNOWN TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. MY MOTORCYCLE HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. THESE FAULTY STATORS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN A FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED. *NM