1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

NAME: GERARD BU 973 802 2644 HD REFERENCE # 880109 I HAVE A HD ROAD KING 1999. IT WAS A KNOW DEFECT ON THE CAM BEARINGS OF THIS YEAR AND THERE WAS EVEN A RECALL BUT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION BY MAIL OR ANYTHING. AFTER 6K MILES THE CAM BROKE WHICH COULD LEAD TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND EXPENSES. HD SAID THAT THEY (JOHN AT HD MILWAUKEE) HAD A GRACE PERIOD OF ONLY 5 YEARS SO IT IS TOO LATE. AND THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING FOR IT. IT SEEMS NOT BE VERY HONEST THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR IT SINCE THEY NEW THERE WAS A DEFECT REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUE SINCE IT WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW. *TR

CAM BEARINGS FAILED IN A 1999 ROADKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 5YR/50,000MILES BUT ONLY IF THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. I HAVE 27,000 MILES CURRENTLY WITH A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM IS A MILEAGE OCCURRENCE NOT A TIME FACTOR SITUATION. THE MOTOR COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT STATING IT WAS PAST THE YEARS OF SERVICE. HOW MANY ENGINES HAVE TO FAIL OR WRECKS HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE THERE IS A TOTAL RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE COMPANY IS TREATING IT SOLELY ON A MONEY FACTOR. *NM

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE CAUSES AUTOMATIC TURN SIGNALS NOT TO DISENGAGE AFTER TURNS HAVE BEEN MADE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A GOODWILL REPLACEMENT AT A REDUCED PRICE. *AK *TT

THE REAR CAM BEARING IS A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN DEFECT WHICH HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS AWARE. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR JUST THE CAM BEARING TO 50,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY THEY WON'T REPAIR IT UNTIL IT FAILS, AND THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE BEARING UNDER WARRANTY. THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE SINCE THE WHEN THE BEARING FAILS METAL MAY GET INTO THE CRANKCASE AND CAUSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS TO OTHER COMPONENTS DOWN THE ROAD. ADDITIONALLY IT TOOK 3.5 HOURS TO GET A TRUCK TO TAKE THE BIKE TO THE CLOSEST HARLEY DEALERSHIP (15 MILES), MITCHELLS H-D, MODESTO, CA, (209)522-1061. ALSO WE HAD TO FIND A RIDE HOME (45 MILES) AND I'LL NEED A RIDE (55 MILES) BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK IT UP. I TOOK THE BIKE IN TO THE LOCAL H-D DEALERSHIP SEVERAL 2 MONTHS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TILL IT WENT BAD. I'VE READ OF INSTANCES IN MAJOR MOTORCYCLE PUBLICATIONS OF MOTOR FEEZE-UP, TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE, AND LOCKED REAR TIRES WHEN THE CAM BEARING FAILS. HARLEY-DAVIDSON SHOULD REPLACE CAM BEARING PRIOR TO FAILURE ON THOSE SPECIFIC ENGINES THAT WERE BUILT WITH A BALL BEARING RATHER THAN THE REPLACEMENT ROLLER BEARING.