2007 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRI GLIDE FLTR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVE BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME MISALIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE BEARINGS THAT HELD THE PIVOT SHAFT TOGETHER EXHIBITED PREMATURE EXCESSIVE WEAR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FAULTY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BEARINGS CONTAINED FRAGMENTS OF RUBBER AND METAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.

NHTSA ID

11000009

Incident

Apr 24, 2017

Mileage

9,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SHIFTING FLY WHEEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SHIFTING FLY WHEEL ALSO CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO BECOME FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO APPROVED FACTORY REMEDIES THAT WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SO THAT THE ENGINE COULD BE DISASSEMBLED, WELDED AND TRUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR THE REPAIR IF THE REMEDY WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,868.

NHTSA ID

10485130

Incident

Sep 16, 2012

Mileage

10,868 mi

ENGINE KNOCKS AND KICKS BACKS, ON STARTING AND WHEN ACCELERATING,HAS BEEN WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES, BY HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER. THE PROBLEM I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET AND ASSEMBLY . THROUGH MANY FORUMS AND TALKS WITH OTHER HARLEY RIDERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, THE FIX TO THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESEARCHED THE COMPENSATOR IS FOR IT TO BE REPLACED WITH THE SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR PART #40274-08.IF THIS IS NOT RECALLED OR REPAIRED BY HARLEY IT CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THE OWNER TO REPAIR APPROX. 600.00 DOLLARS BUT MORE IMPORTANT THE COMPENSATOR CAN COME APART POSSIBLY BUSTING THE PRIMARY CASE LETTING OIL TO SPILL ON TO ROAD AND TIRES WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY HURTING SOMEONE OR WORSE KILLING SOMEONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440004

Incident

Feb 13, 2008

Mileage

12,500 mi

AS I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 50 MPH IN 5TH GEAR I NOTICED A DROP IN OIL PRESSURE AND A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED THE BIKE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT IT DOWN. I WAITED FOR A WHILE AND RESTARTED IT. THE OIL PRESSURE SEEMED OK AND THE ENGINE WAS QUIET. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE I GOT HOME. I CALLED MY LOCAL HARLEY DEALER AND THEY PICKED MY BIKE UP AND TOOK IT TO THEIR SHOP. AFTER THEY STRIPPED THE ENGINE DOWN AND CHECKED IT OUT THEY TOLD ME THE CRANKSHAFT RUNOUT WAS WAY BEYOND SPEC AND WAS STARTING TO WIPE OUT THE OIL PUMP. THE BIKE HAD 5,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON DECIDED TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE ENGINE. I'VE HEARD THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW 96 CUBIC INCH ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250125

Incident

Nov 15, 2008

Mileage

5,000 mi

HEAT FROM THE REAR EXHAUST IS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSED BURNS TO MY WIFE WITH HER FEET ON THE PASSENGER FOOTBOARDS AS DESIGNED. CAUSED BURNS TO THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT THIGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242155

Incident

Sep 10, 2008

Mileage

14,000 mi

2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TWIN CAM ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE HEAT. WHENEVER AIR TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 95 THE AIR COOLED ENGINE DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY. DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE, THE BACK OF MY LEGS ARE GETTING EXTREMELY HOT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236886

Incident

Aug 2, 2008

Mileage

14,205 mi

2007 FLHTCU HARLEY DAVIDSON RUNS SO HOT IT COOKS YOUR LEGS. DEALER SAYS THIS IS DUE TO FED EMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223580

Incident

Dec 6, 2006

Mileage

1 mi

ENGINE RUNS EXCESSIVELY HOT ON THE REAR CYLINDER. TEMP. DIFFERENCE OF 100 DEGREES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10209777

Incident

Mar 7, 2007

HAD THIS '07 FLHTCU SINCE 04/07. THE HEAT COMING OFF THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY UNBEARABLE ABOVE 85 F. THE WIFE HAS HAD FIRST DEGREE BURNS TWICE NOW AS THE SUMMER HAS WORN ON. I'VE DONE ALL THE HD RECOMMENDATIONS, KEEPING WITHIN THE SUM TOTAL OF THE PARTS THAT CAME WITH THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE. I WILL NOT SPEND MORE MONEY WITH HD TO CORRECT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. FROM ALL THE READING ON THE SUBJECT THAT HD HAS FORCED ME TO PURSUE ... IT CAN BE CORRECTED. I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE ALL MY CALLS TO HD AND THE CONTACTS WITH HD DEALERS HAVE JUST BEEN BLOWING ME OFF. MOST RECENTLY I WAS DOING 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE IN 85 F TEMP. AND THE ENGINE JUST TURNS OFF, VERY BAD ... I MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD BETWEEN A COUPLE OF 18 WHEELERS, PRETTY DANGEROUS. AFTER 30 MIN. OF CHECKING EVERY THING I COULD, IT JUST STARTED. IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING HOT, EVEN AT THAT SPEED; BACK TO A DEALER NEXT AND PROBABLY THE USUAL ... CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. SEEMS TO ME HD HAS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY HERE, VERY SAD THAT THEY WON'T SUPPORT THEIR CUSTOMER. AND, WHERE'S THE GOV'T.PEOPLE ?? *TR THE SYSTEM RELAY SWITCH FAILED WHICH WAS HEAT RELATED. THE DEALER SPECULATED THE LEFT SIDE MUFFLER CLAMP WAS LEAKING WHICH WAS BLOWING HOT EXHAUST NEAR THE FUSE BLOCK. UPDATED09/27/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10202455

Incident

Sep 3, 2007

Mileage

1,250 mi

THERE IS EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH BURNS ON THE INNER THIGH JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE SEAT. I PURCHASED THE BIKE YESTERDAY AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT AFTER 1000 MILES I NEED TO CHANGE THE OIL WITH SYNTHETIC OIL. I WAS ALSO TOLD I MUST PURCHASE LEXAN ENGINE GUARDS. I BURNED MY INNER THIGH YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I WAS WEARING THICK JEANS AS WELL. IT GOT SO HOT I ALMOST DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN RIDING IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC THE PROBLEM BECOMES EVEN WORSE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE TO BOTH OPERATOR AND THOSE TRAVELING AROUND THE MOTORCYCLE. IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS TOO HOT TO HANDLE THE OPERATOR BECOMES FOCUSED ON NOT GETTING BURNED RATHER THAN THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IS RAISED SIGNIFICANTLY. SECONDARY, TO BURN POTENTIAL IS THE POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE PIPES THROUGH BLUING AND EXCESSIVE HEAT. A CONSUMER PAYS A PREMIUM PRICE FOR A HD PRODUCT AND WOULD EXPECT THAT THESE SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE ISSUES WOULD BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER INSTEAD OF MAKING THE CUSTOMER PAY FOR THE FIX OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10200914

Incident

Aug 26, 2007

Mileage

67 mi

2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC (FLHTCU) WITH 96" ENGINE RUNS EXCEEDLING/DANGEROUSLY HOT TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE BURNS INFLECTED ON INNER THIGH AREA OF LEGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200530

Incident

Aug 22, 2007

Mileage

1 mi

HARLEY EXHAUST TEMP. IS HOT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199716

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

8 mi

THERE IS EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BLUING OF THE EXHAUST PIPES, AND AN EXTREME BURN DANGER TO THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER. SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THE BIKE I HAVE INSTALLED THE RECOMMENDED HD LEXAN HEAT GUARDS. THESE ITEMS SIMPLY DO NOT WORK AS THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST IS SO INTENSE THAT I HAVE BURNED MYSELF ON THE INSIDE OF THE THIGH SEVERAL TIMES (THROUGH A THICK PAIR OF BLUE JEANS). WITH THE NATURAL REACTION TO PULL AWAY WHEN BURNED I HAVE ALMOST DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN RIDING IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC THE PROBLEM BECOMES EVEN WORSE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE TO BOTH OPERATOR AND THOSE TRAVELING AROUND THE MOTORCYCLE. IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS TOO HOT TO HANDLE THE OPERATOR BECOMES FOCUSED ON NOT GETTING BURNED RATHER THAN THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IS RAISED SIGNIFICANTLY. SECONDARY, TO BURN POTENTIAL IS THE POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE PIPES THROUGH BLUING AND EXCESSIVE HEAT. A CONSUMER PAYS A PREMIUM PRICE FOR A HD PRODUCT AND WOULD EXPECT THAT THESE SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE ISSUES WOULD BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199327

Incident

Aug 11, 2007

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE, EXHAUST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198684

Incident

Jul 27, 2007

Mileage

12 mi

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE AND EXHAUST MAKES RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE UNSAFE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND COULD LEAD TO INJURY FROM BURNS OR A LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198530

Incident

Aug 3, 2007

Mileage

822 mi

EXTREME HEAT FROM EXHAUST AND ENGINE BURNS RIDERS THIGHS AND PASSENGERS FEET AND LOWER LEG. THIS CAUSES A COMFORT ISSUE WHICH THEN BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO SHIFT YOUR POSITION SO YOU WILL NOT BURN YOURSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198007

Incident

Jul 23, 2007

Mileage

10 mi

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE , EXHAUST SYSTEM TURNING BLUE, I HAVE BURNT MY LEG ON THE EXHAUST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197770

Incident

Jul 25, 2007

THE SITUATION: ON A MOTORCYCLE, DRIVETRAIN FAILURE AT TYPICAL OPERATING SPEEDS COULD VERY WELL MEAN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH OF THE RIDER. ABNORMAL HEAT OR NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE'S DRIVETRAIN ARE NOT ISSUES TO BE IGNORED BY A PRUDENT RIDER OR BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOTORCYCLE. FOR EXAMPLE THE DRIVETRAIN ON MY 2007 FLHTCU IS EXCESSIVELY NOISY WHEN OPERATED IN GEAR. THIS IMPLIES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND/OR ABNORMAL WEAR OCCURRING SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE EXHAUST RUNS SO HOT AS TO PRESENT A BURN HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER EVEN WHEN PROPERLY CLOTHED. WHILE RIDING EVEN IN WINTER TEMPERATURES I SUSTAINED A SEVERE BURN TO MY LEFT LEG, LEAVING A PERMENAT 4" SCAR. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT EXCESSIVE HEAT WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO LONGTERM PROBLEMS WITH ANY DRIVETRAIN, INCREASING THE LIKELYHOOD OF FAILURE. WHAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS DONE: TO DATE, THE ONLY HALF-HEARTED SOLUTION TO THESE MALADIES OFFERED BY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN THE "TORQUE SMOOTHING DOWNLOAD" WHICH ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING WHEN INSTALLED ON MY BIKE. HD HAS ASSERTED THAT THE NOISE AND HEAT ARE NORMAL. ON THE CONTRARY, MANY 2007 HD UNITS DO NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES, THUS THEY ARE CLEARLY NOT NORMAL. MANY OWNERS HAVE RESORTED TO COSTLY AFTERMARKET SOLUTIONS SUCH AS REPLACEMENT GEARSETS AND FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ALL INSTALLED A THEIR OWN EXPENSE. I ESSENCE, HD HAS OFFLOADED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ONTO THEIR CUSTOMERS. WHAT HD SHOULD DO: HD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. HD SHOULD RETROFIT ALL AFFECTED 2007 MODELS WITH THE IDS RUBBERMOUNT REAR SPROCKET (NOW STANDARD ON THE 2008 TOURING MODELS) TO REDUCE DRIVETRAIN VIBRATION AND WEAR. THEY SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE ADJUSTMENTS AND/OR MODIFICATIONS AS NEEDED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM TO REDUCE DRIVETRAIN HEAT. THEY SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF ALL AFFECTED 2007 MOTORCYCLES APPROPRIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197592

Incident

Sep 15, 2006

Mileage

10 mi

THE SITUATION:ON A MOTORCYCLE, DRIVETRAIN FAILURE AT TYPICAL OPERATING SPEEDS COULD VERY WELL MEAN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH OF THE RIDER. ABNORMAL HEAT OR NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE'S DRIVETRAIN ARE NOT ISSUES TO BE IGNORED BY A PRUDENT RIDER OR BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOTORCYCLE. FOR EXAMPLE THE DRIVETRAIN ON MY 2007 FLHTCU IS EXCESSIVELY NOISY WHEN OPERATED IN 5TH GEAR AT NORMAL RPMS. THIS IMPLIES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND/OR ABNORMAL WEAR OCCURRING SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVETRAIN RUNS SO HOT AS TO PRESENT A BURN HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER EVEN WHEN PROPERLY CLOTHED. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT EXCESSIVE HEAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO LONGTERM PROBLEMS WITH ANY DRIVETRAIN, INCREASING THE LIKELYHOOD OF FAILURE. WHAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS DONE: TO DATE, THE ONLY HALF-HEARTED SOLUTION TO THESE MALADIES OFFERED BY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN THE "TORQUE SMOOTHING DOWNLOAD" WHICH ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING WHEN INSTALLED ON MY BIKE. HD HAS ASSERTED THAT THE NOISE AND HEAT ARE NORMAL. ON THE CONTRARY, MANY 2007 HD UNITS DO NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES, THUS THEY ARE CLEARLY NOT NORMAL. THEY ARE CERTAINLY COMMON PROBLEMS, HOWEVER. MANY OWNERS HAVE RESORTED TO COSTLY AFTERMARKET SOLUTIONS SUCH AS REPLACEMENT GEARSETS AND FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ALL INSTALLED A THEIR OWN EXPENSE. I ESSENCE, HD HAS OFFLOADED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ONTO THEIR CUSTOMERS. WHAT HD SHOULD DO: HD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. HD SHOULD RETROFIT ALL AFFECTED 2007 MODELS WITH THE IDS RUBBERMOUNT REAR SPROCKET (NOW STANDARD ON THE 2008 TOURING MODELS) TO REDUCE DRIVETRAIN VIBRATION AND WEAR. THEY SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE ADJUSTMENTS AND/OR MODIFICATIONS AS NEEDED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM TO REDUCE DRIVETRAIN HEAT. THEY SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF ALL AFFECTED 2007 MOTORCYCLES APPROPRIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197584

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

THE HEAT GENERATING FROM THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST ON TO THE RIDER'S LEGS AND SEAT AND ALSO TO THE PASSENGER'S LEGS IS EXTREMELY HIGH. I HAVE ON REPEATED TIMES, LEFT BURNED JEANS ON THE LEFT REAR EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES I ADDED AN ADDITIONAL AFTERMARKET HEAT SHIELD, WHICH HAS HELPS SOME, BUT NOW THIS HEAT SHIELD ON THE LEFT SIDE IS MELTING AND BUBBLING. I ALSO CAN NOT SIT ON THE SEAT WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, I HAVE TO STANDUP. THE HEAT TRANSFERRING UP THROUGH THE BIKE'S SEAT IS SO INTENSE I AM SURE THAT I WILL END UP WITH BURNS ON MY BOTTOM FORWARD AREA IF I REMAIN SEATED. THIS SAME HEAT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE PASSENGERS FEET AND LEGS, MORE SO WHEN RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. I FEEL AS IF HARLEY DAVIDSON, IN THEIR QUEST TO MEET EPA GUIDELINES HAVE LEANED OUT THE ENGINES, WHICH GENERATES INTENSE HEAT, AND HAVE DISREGARDED THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN WHICH THE RIDER AND PASSENGER ARE EITHER GOING TO GET BURNED BY THE EXHAUST AND/OR ENGINE HEAT, OR BE INJURED BY BEING DISTRACTED WITH CONSENTLY ADJUSTING THEMSELVES WHILE RIDING THE BIKE. I HAVE TAKEN THE BIKE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON A COUPLE TIMES TO CHECK ON THE HEAT PROBLEM. THEY DID ADD A HEAT MANAGEMENT UPGRADE PROGRAM, AND THEY ALSO TELL ME THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IS IN THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPECS. THIS MAY BE TRUE, HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE AMOUT OF HEAT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197031

Incident

May 28, 2007

Mileage

600 mi

BURNING OF PANTS BY AN OPEN EXHAUST PIPE ON A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE UNDER THE RIDERS LEFT LEG GOT SO HOT THAT IT COULD ACTUALLY CATCH A RIDER'S PANTS ON FIRE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MY PANTS HAD HOLES BURNED IN THEM BUT HAD NOT ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE PIPE WAS TESTED TO BE 180 DEGREES BY THE HD DEALER. HARLEY DAVIDSON, AS I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER, HAD NO SOLUTION FOR THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION COULD BE VERY SIMPLE BUT APPARENTLY HARLEY DIDN'T CARE. I WAS TOLD THAT YOU COULD NOT WEAR DRESS PANTS AND RIDE A HARLEY. HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PUT SUCH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE MARKET TO SELL TO UNSUSPECTING BUYERS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10194888

Incident

Jun 27, 2007

Mileage

144 mi

I PURCHASED A 2007 FLHTCU IN MARCH 2007. SINCE THE WEATHER HAS WARMED, UP I HAVE HAD HEAT PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. WHEN RIDING ON DAYS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS 80 DEGREES OR ABOVE, IN SLOW TRAFFIC (0-10 MPH), THE ENGINE PUTS OUT A LARGE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT CAUSES THE BACKS OF MY LEGS TO GET VERY HOT. IF I AM RIDING IN TRAFFIC, IN THESE CONDITIONS, FOR MORE THAT 10-15 MINUTES, I HAVE TO GET OFF OF THE BIKE TO PREVENT BEING BURNED. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH SEVERAL DEALERS AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL. (NOTE THAT MY 2004 HARLEY DOES NOT DO THIS). WHEN I ASKED IF CHANGING THE EXHAUST AND AIR CLEANER WOULD HELP THEY SAID THAT IT PROBABLY WOULD, BUT THAT IT WOULD ALSO LIKELY VOID MY WARRANTY. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS BEGUN SELLING ''MID FRAME AIR DEFLECTORS'' TO ''DIRECT HEAT AWAY FROM THE RIDER TO IMPROVE COMFORT ON HOT SUMMER RIDES'' FOR $90. THIS IS NOT A COMFORT ISSUE '' IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THEY ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE RIDER, THEN THEY SHOULD COME STANDARD ON THE BIKE. BETTER YET, THEY SHOULD JUST ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

10192700

Incident

May 12, 2007

Mileage

400 mi

PURCHASED A FLHTCU IN SEPT. 06. SINCE DAY 1 I FELT INTENSE HEAT ON MY THIGHS AND THE WEATHER WASN'T EVEN HOT ( IN 60'S). HD REP AND DEALERS STATED BIKE IS RUNNING LEAN DUE TO EPA REGULATIONS AND I NEED TO INSTALL, AT ADDITIONAL COST , A S.E.R.T. AND STAGE 1 KIT TO MAKE IT RUN COOLER. ON MAY 25, 2007, MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF WERE IN TRAFFIC MOVING ABOUT 20 MPH AND WE COULD FEEL THE HEAT. AT AROUND 5 MPH THE HEAT WAS GETTING SO UNBEARABLE MY PASSENGER HAD TO PUT HER RIGHT LEG ON MY LAP. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE EXPRESSWAY BECAUSE OF THE HEAT. MY PASSENGER CHECKED HER LEG AND IT WAS SO RED AND BURNING THAT I HAD TO ADMINISTER FIRST AID CREAM ON HER LEG. I CHECKED THE BIKE TEMPERATURE WITH A SURFACE TEMPERATURE DEVICE ( WHICH I ALWAYS CARRY ON THIS BIKE) AND IT WAS ABOVE 450 DEGREES! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO HAVE A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT AND GET THE MEDIA'S ATTENTION BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS RECTIFIED! I HOPE NOT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10192373

Incident

May 25, 2007

I PURCHASED PEACE OFFICER ULTRA CLASSIC MODEL, I ALSO OWN A 2005 SPORTSTER. THE ULTRA WAS DANGEROUSLY HOT ON THE LEFT SIDE ABOVE THE EXHAUST, WHERE LEFT LEG SAT BY DESIGN. I' READ THE OTHER POSTS AND FELT HD NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS. THE LATEST HD MAGAZINE SIMPLY SUGGESTS TO WEAR HEAVY PANTS. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW. HD WAS OFFERING A REPROGRAMMING THAT SHUT OFF THE REAR CYLINDER AT PARADE SPEEDS. AGAIN, I BELIEVED THE EXHAUST WAS THE PROBLEM, AND ALSO CHECKED MYSELF AT LONG LIGHTS TO MAKE SURE PANTS WERE NOT ON FIRE! *AK

NHTSA ID

10190622

Incident

May 14, 2007

THIS IS THE FOLLOW-UP RELATING TO THE COMPLAINT I FILLED ON MARCH 6, 2007 (ODI NUMBER) 10184521. AGAIN, WE STOPPED AT A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER ON OUR TRIP TO CALIFORNIA WITH OUR FRIENDS, THIS TIME SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WE HAD SOME SERIOUS HEATING PROBLEMS. PIPE DISCOLORATION, EXCESSIVE HEAT, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A DYNA. HE RECOMMENDED A DEALER THAT WASN'T OPEN FOR 3 MORE DAYS. THAT WASN'T GOING TO WORK. WE THEN HAD TO STOP AT QUAID HARLEY DAVIDSON ON THE WAY HOME, BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. AFTER COMING BACK FROM CALIFORNIA AGAIN AND EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE HEATING ISSUES, WE THOUGHT HARLEY DAVIDSON WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WE BROUGHT OUR BIKE TO HACIENDA HARLEY DAVIDSON IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ THE FOLLOWING MORNING WITH MASSIVE DISCOLORATION (BLACK/DARK BROWN) ON THE PIPES NOT INCLUDING THE BLUE AND YELLOW ONES (FROM THE DAY WE DROVE IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP) AND OIL THAT WAS SO THICK, YOUR FIGURES STUCK TOGETHER. I THEN CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND SPOKE TO DEB. SHE STATED THAT THEIR (HARLEY DAVIDSON) REP WAS GOING TO LOOK AT THE BIKE. SO WE LEFT IT AT THE DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE HARLEY DAVIDSON REP STATES THAT THE BIKE IS JUST FINE AND THAT WE NEED TO TAKE OFF THE LOWERS. ALSO, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE RACE TUNER THAT WE WERE TOLD TO PURCHASE AT $500.00 PLUS $500.00 INSTALLATION WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY ON THE MOTOR IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THIS IS SOOO WRONG. WE NOW HAVE TO PICK UP A BIKE THAT INJURIES RIDERS. WE LIVE IN ARIZONA, WHICH THERE IS A "LEMON LAW", HOWEVER, WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT APPLIES. PROBABLY NOT. OUR ONLY OTHER RECOURSE IS TO SUE HARLEY DAVIDSON. WHAT TO SUE THEM FOR? I DO NOT KNOW, BUT I HAVE A $37,800.00 BIKE THAT I MAKE A PAYMENT OF $700.00 MONTHLY ON THAT WE ARE SCARED TO RIDE. WE HAVE PERSONALLY PUT "NOTHING" ON THIS BIKE, AND IT IS A "BOMB" WAITING TO EXPLODE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188766

Incident

Apr 24, 2007

Mileage

200 mi