This Problem Across All Years
The guard/spring housing locater on the rotor behind the drive sprocket developed a fatigue crack, it propagated approximately half way around the circumference before separating and then being pulled thru between the drive chain and sprocket . this caused the drive train to seize up locking up the engine and rear wheel and damaging the engine. being a motorcycle this can lead to a serious injury or death crash. fortunately for me it let go at low speed.
The guard/spring housing locater on the rotor behind the drive sprocket developed a fatigue crack, it propagated approximately half way around the circumference before separating and then being pulled thru between the drive chain and sprocket . this caused the drive train to seize up locking up the engine and rear wheel and damaging the engine. being a motorcycle this can lead to a serious injury or death crash. fortunately for me it let go at low speed.
COMPENSATOR PRIMARY CHAIN FAILURE SHUTTER WHEN DRIVING HARD STARTING FAILURE TO STARTER MOTOR PART IS JUNK WILL CAUSE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING ENDING UP IN CRASH AND DEATH
COMPENSATOR PRIMARY CHAIN FAILURE SHUTTER WHEN DRIVING HARD STARTING FAILURE TO STARTER MOTOR PART IS JUNK WILL CAUSE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING ENDING UP IN CRASH AND DEATH
BEGAN TO HEAR A FAINT HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALONG WITH A NOTICEABLE "CLUNK" IN THE ENGINE AT STARTUP AND SHUTDOWN. ALSO NOTICED THE "CLUNK" WHEN SHIFTING THE LOWER GEARS AND THE BIKE WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO GET INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR THE 20,000 MILE SERVICE AND MECHANIC ADVISED HE HAD FOUND AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPENSATOR IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE A LOCK DOWN OF REAR WHEEL OR CAUSE THE BIKE TO LOSE DRIVE TRAIN FUNCTION, ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO OTHER INTERNAL COMPONENTS. COST OF REPAIR IS AROUND $900.00. WENT HOME AND RESEARCHED COMPENSATOR FAILURES ON 2009 H-D TOURING MODELS AND DISCOVERED PAGE AFTER PAGE OF OTHER RIDER EXPERIENCING COMPENSATOR FAILURES ON 08 AND LATER H-D TOUR MODELS DUE TO AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF OIL NOT REACHING THE COMPENSATORS AND THE RETAINING BOLT BACKING OFF. H-D APPARENTLY KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND BEGAN INSTALLING THEIR SCREAMING EAGLE (HIGHER QUALITY AND PRICE)COMPENSATORS IN THE LATER 2011 MODELS, WHICH INCLUDES AN OIL CATCH THAT DIRECTS OIL AT THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET. I BELIEVE THIS SHOWS A LACK OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR H-D RIDERS AND DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THIS ISSUE WARRANTS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF ALL 2008-2011 AND EARLIER BIG BORE TOURING MODELS WITH THE DEFECTIVE COMPENSATORS. *TR
BEGAN TO HEAR A FAINT HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALONG WITH A NOTICEABLE "CLUNK" IN THE ENGINE AT STARTUP AND SHUTDOWN. ALSO NOTICED THE "CLUNK" WHEN SHIFTING THE LOWER GEARS AND THE BIKE WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO GET INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR THE 20,000 MILE SERVICE AND MECHANIC ADVISED HE HAD FOUND AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPENSATOR IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE A LOCK DOWN OF REAR WHEEL OR CAUSE THE BIKE TO LOSE DRIVE TRAIN FUNCTION, ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO OTHER INTERNAL COMPONENTS. COST OF REPAIR IS AROUND $900.00. WENT HOME AND RESEARCHED COMPENSATOR FAILURES ON 2009 H-D TOURING MODELS AND DISCOVERED PAGE AFTER PAGE OF OTHER RIDER EXPERIENCING COMPENSATOR FAILURES ON 08 AND LATER H-D TOUR MODELS DUE TO AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF OIL NOT REACHING THE COMPENSATORS AND THE RETAINING BOLT BACKING OFF. H-D APPARENTLY KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND BEGAN INSTALLING THEIR SCREAMING EAGLE (HIGHER QUALITY AND PRICE)COMPENSATORS IN THE LATER 2011 MODELS, WHICH INCLUDES AN OIL CATCH THAT DIRECTS OIL AT THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET. I BELIEVE THIS SHOWS A LACK OF CARE AND CONCERN FOR H-D RIDERS AND DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THIS ISSUE WARRANTS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF ALL 2008-2011 AND EARLIER BIG BORE TOURING MODELS WITH THE DEFECTIVE COMPENSATORS. *TR
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED DURING A MAINTENANCE REPAIR HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BALL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 32,000. RK UPDATED 04/17/14*LJ *TR
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED DURING A MAINTENANCE REPAIR HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BALL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 32,000. RK UPDATED 04/17/14*LJ *TR
MY BIKE IS A 2009 ULTRA CLASSIC. I SENT THIS TO ATT: HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE LEAD/MANAGER, AND REALLY GOT NOWHERE WITH THIS ISSUE. I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO CHECK ON WHY I HAVE BEEN SEEING GRINDINGS ON MY DRAIN PLUG FROM MY PRIMARY CHAIN CASE. HERE, I FOUND A PIECE OF METAL 7"X 1/2" WIDE STUCK BETWEEN MY PRIMARY CHAIN AND THE CLUTCH PACK GRINDING AWAY TO BREAK AND LODGE INTO THE GEARING WHICH COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE REAR TIRE. THE METAL IS OFF THE COMPENSATOR BELL HOUSING ( A VERY POOR DESIGN) FROM THE SPRING DISC FLOPPING INSIDE IT WEARING A GROOVE THE FRACTURING OFF OF IT AND SENDING IT INSIDE THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASING. THE COULD HAVE BEEN THE DEATH OF MY WIFE AND I OR MY DAUGHTER AND I. I AM TOTALLY SHOCKED AT THIS AND IT IS REALLY TROUBLING ON THE FINDINGS. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HARLEY DAVIDSON GOING TO DO WITH THIS INFO, AND WHAT WILL THEY DO FOR ME FOR THE DAMAGE, WEAR, AND CONTAMINATION, THIS HAS CAUSED THE INSIDE OF THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASING; AS IN CLUTCH PACK, BEARING AND SEALS, ETC. I WILL ALSO PUT THIS ON THE WEB/YOUTUBE, TO LET HARLEY OWNERS KNOW MY DISCOVERY WITH THE PICTURES, IF NOTHING BECOMES OF THIS. I HAVE NO PROBLEM MAKING POSTERS, SO THAT I CAN BRING THE BIKE TO RALLIES AND SHOWS TO SHOW THE QUALITY AND THE LACK OF MAKING A RECALL. A DEATH IS LESS ON THE EQUATION OF COST FOR WHAT I BELIEVE HAS HAPPENED HERE.
MY BIKE IS A 2009 ULTRA CLASSIC. I SENT THIS TO ATT: HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE LEAD/MANAGER, AND REALLY GOT NOWHERE WITH THIS ISSUE. I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO CHECK ON WHY I HAVE BEEN SEEING GRINDINGS ON MY DRAIN PLUG FROM MY PRIMARY CHAIN CASE. HERE, I FOUND A PIECE OF METAL 7"X 1/2" WIDE STUCK BETWEEN MY PRIMARY CHAIN AND THE CLUTCH PACK GRINDING AWAY TO BREAK AND LODGE INTO THE GEARING WHICH COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE REAR TIRE. THE METAL IS OFF THE COMPENSATOR BELL HOUSING ( A VERY POOR DESIGN) FROM THE SPRING DISC FLOPPING INSIDE IT WEARING A GROOVE THE FRACTURING OFF OF IT AND SENDING IT INSIDE THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASING. THE COULD HAVE BEEN THE DEATH OF MY WIFE AND I OR MY DAUGHTER AND I. I AM TOTALLY SHOCKED AT THIS AND IT IS REALLY TROUBLING ON THE FINDINGS. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HARLEY DAVIDSON GOING TO DO WITH THIS INFO, AND WHAT WILL THEY DO FOR ME FOR THE DAMAGE, WEAR, AND CONTAMINATION, THIS HAS CAUSED THE INSIDE OF THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASING; AS IN CLUTCH PACK, BEARING AND SEALS, ETC. I WILL ALSO PUT THIS ON THE WEB/YOUTUBE, TO LET HARLEY OWNERS KNOW MY DISCOVERY WITH THE PICTURES, IF NOTHING BECOMES OF THIS. I HAVE NO PROBLEM MAKING POSTERS, SO THAT I CAN BRING THE BIKE TO RALLIES AND SHOWS TO SHOW THE QUALITY AND THE LACK OF MAKING A RECALL. A DEATH IS LESS ON THE EQUATION OF COST FOR WHAT I BELIEVE HAS HAPPENED HERE.