1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Harley Davidson

ALL 1999 HARLLEY DAVIDSON "TWIN CAM" ENGINES WERE EQUIPPED WITH FAULTY CAM BEARINGS WHICH WERE CHANGED DURING THE 2000 MODEL YEAR. BASED ON PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THE NOISE WHICH THE ENGINE MAKES UPON FAILURE OF THE CAM BEARING CAN COUSE THE OPERATOR TO PANIC OR REFLEXIVELY KILL THE ENGINE AT SPEED AND CAUSE A CHIAN REACTION COLLISION. THERE IS LITTLE OR NO WARNING BEFORE A TERRIBLE SOUND IS EMITTED FROM THE EGINE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED . THE NOISE AND ITS INTERFERENCE WITH THE OPERATORS ATENTION ALONE CAN CAUSE A LOS OF CONTROL WITH ATTENDANT INJURIES TO RIDERS OR BYSTANDERS. IN A JANUARY 22, 2001 LETTER TO PURCHASERS HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT DECLINED TO RECALL ALLEGING (1) THAT THE FAILURE HAD ONLY OCCURRED IN "A SMALL NUMBER HARLEY-DAVIDSON TWIN TWIN CAM 88 ENGINES. . ." AND (2) ". . . IT IS UNLIKELY THAT YOU WILL EVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS SITUATION, . . ." UNFORTUNATELY NEITHER ALLEGATION APEARS ACCURATE AND WORSE, BOTH ARE MISLEADING. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER FAILURES LOCALLY, AND ONE FELLOW WAS STRANDED IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT E.G., THE DESERT. IF THE RIDER ACTIVATED THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH UPON HEARING THE NOISE HE CAN BE REAR-ENDED OR LOSE CONTROL UNDER HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. UPON RECEIVING THE LETTER ADVISIN OF THE DEFECT, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND ASKED FOR THE BEARIN AND ATTENDANT MECHANISMS TO BE REPAIRED. MY CLAIM WAS REJECTED, ALTHOUGH THE THEN SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED THAT THE BEARING WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL. MOROVER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT STOCK THE DEALER WITH THE RELACEMENT PARTS, AND WOULD REQUIRE RETURN OF THE DAMAGED PARTS TO PREVENT A DEFACTO RECALL. ULTIMATELY THE CAM BEARIN(S) FAILED AT SPEED. I RETRURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON OCT. 6 AND IT IS NOT FIXED YET, DUE IN PART TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS AND AN APPROVAL PROCESS. SOMEONE WILL REACT TO THIS DEFECT IN A MANNER CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.

HARLEY HAS HAD FAILURE ON THIS THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THIS FOR 5 YEARS OR 50,000 THOUSAND MILES AND THEY HAVE MADE A CHANGE IN THE 2000 MODEL YEAR . I WOULD LIKE THIS CHECKED OUT I BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING THIS SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A RECALL BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MORE FAILURES THAN THEY WILL ADMIT AND DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY FIXING ALL OF THERE 1999 BIKES. THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL FAIL OR IF IT WILL FAIL AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNTILL IT FAILS WHICH MEANS YOU COULD BE ON A LONG TRIP AND STUCK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE I WOULD ASK THIS BOARD TO JUST INVESTIGATE IT AND SEE IF IT IS WARRANTED TO HAVE A RECALL OR JUST LET IT GO AS IS THANKS FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

HARLEY DAVIDSON JUST SENT ME NOTIFICATION THAT THE CAM BEARING HAD FAILED ON CERTAIN MODELS MOTORCYLES WITH THE TWIN CAM 88 ENGINES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 2000. SINCE MINE WAS BUILT DURING THIS PERIOD, THE FAILURE RATE IS GREAT. I AM CONCERNED AS IF IT FAILS WHILE I AM RIDING IT, THE THREAT OF INJURY TO ME OR MY PASSENGERS IS GREAT. I FEEL THAT IF HD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND SOMEONE COULD GET INJURED, THAN THIS MOTOR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND ASSISTANCE.*AK

REAR CAM BEARINGS ARE BAD ON ALL 1999 MODELS AND MIDWAY THROUGH 2000 MODELS ON ALL TWIN CAM 88 HARLEYS. HARLEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE BEARING UNLESS IT GOES BAD. IF IT FAILS WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYLE IT COULD LOCK UP THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE INJURED OR KILLED. I BELIEVE HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOULD REPLACE THE REAR CAM BEARINGS BEFORE THEY FAIL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT BEFORE IT HAPPENS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT SHOULD BE REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY.