Harley-Davidson is recalling 45,901 model-year 2014-15 motorcycles manufactured between from April 28, 2014 to October 24, 2014 because the clutch may not fully disengage.
The models affected are Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Electra Glide Ultra Classic – Twin Cooled (FLHTCU TC), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), 2015 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low (FLHTCUL), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low – Twin Cooled (FLHTCUL TC), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Road Glide (FLTRX), and 2014 CVO Road King (FLHRSE)
The clutch issue is described as the clutch master cylinder losing the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch, especially if the motorcycle has been parked for an extended period of time. When the engine is running and the motorcycle is in gear, if the clutch cannot be fully disengaged, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash. Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and Harley dealers will flush the clutch system and rebuild the clutch master cylinder free of charge. The recall started April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company is also recalling certain model year 2015 XG500 motorcycles manufactured January 28, 2014, to March 9, 2015, and 2015 XG750 motorcycles manufactured May 12, 2014, to March 9, 2015. The affected motorcycles may have been manufactured without a rear reflector assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” If the motorcycle is missing the rear reflector it can reduce the vehicle’s visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will install a rear reflector assembly, free of charge. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464.
H-D recalls are nothing new of course but missing exterior parts on the bike does seem to point specifically to a disturbing lack of quality control in the final assembly and inspection process. Hopefully MOCO can get a handle on this sooner than later.
Recalls are so common in the transportation business , a little better planning and design would stop most of these flaws . Too big of a hurry to bring new products to market . Then comes the lawyers .
Test , test and test again . It’s cheaper and safer in the end . Jg
The reflector thing is not such a big deal – these things are just adhesive backed stick-ons and a shitload of them are required by the feds. For the Motor Company to neglect to put at least one of the required stickers on is a stupid oversight by more than one person (the person who planned it, the person who was supposed to stick it on, and the person who should have supervised and approved the bike upon final assembly) because, while the fix is simple, the hassle they may have gotten from the Feds and the black eye of having to notify customers to bring their bikes back for a federal recall is not.
BUT, you would think that the engineers would have determined the correct size master cylinder required to deliver adequate hydraulic pressure to completely disengage the clutch while the engine is running LONG before bikes reach the assembly line, rather than after they are in customers’ hands!
Didn’t the MoCo just recently have a recall on brake master cylinders? Now clutch master cylinders?
Probably both master cylinders from same supplier. Hint: find a new supplier!
reflectors: Some people (Who, me?) remove them anyway. They’re just saving riders the hassle of getting the heat gun out. ha
In case my last post which was a bit of a rant doesn’t make it past the moderator I have had some discussion with a good friend of mine who is a respected custom builder in the industry and was also a Harley-Davidson dealer for a long time.
So a bit of background on this issue.
Last year a couple of other well respected builders in the industry looked into the Harley clutch throw problem and found that the stock HD clutch only throws about 60 thou. & needs to throw about 80 to fully release. The rebuild kit that is being used in the repair will not throw it enough, the problem is mechanical not fluid related. They measured the full possible stock throw and it was not enough. They took an old ramp with more aggressive angle and modified it to work in the new bikes and got a throw of 90 thou. They converted some for customers and no more problems. It gives a slightly harder pull but not really noticeable. He said, “Harley changed the ramp angle a few years ago to make the clutch pull easier for the new wimpy riders.”
He said it looks like Harley’s recall fix is replacing parts in the master cylinder. Unless you change the bore or stroke it will only push what it did originally so the problem will still be there.
In my first post/rant on this I said “You just pay for new s****y parts the same as the parts that f**ked up.” How did I know I wonder? Maybe from 40 years of having HD’s and watching the gradual deterioration of the brand. Ya I know the AMF ’70’s sucked but I’ve got a 74 FXE and it’s just fine now, due to the higher than HD quality of aftermarket stuff now. You can’t get the old stuff from HD anyway.
ozzie21.
My nephew has had these problems.
Three trips to the dealer with less than a desirable result only having to resort to extreme caution when operating.
He’s not upset with the dealer for they tried but he is upset with the Mo Co for not responding to the dealer.
My sportster is having the exact same issue. I pull in the clutch and shift into gear, the bike will lunge forward. When on the blocks, the rear tire will spin when in gear and the clutch pulled in….not good.
d, you have a hydraulic clutch on your sporty?
Ozzie, the clutch ramps you refer to are on cable type clutches. This recall is for Hydraulic clutches.
d, it sounds like a full clutch adjustment would cure your problem. First, loosen the adjuster on your cable, then adjust the release mechanism under the derby cover. Then re-adjust the cable and you should be happy.
Looks like the threat of losing a job & outsourcing
Part-Time & seasonal work for former full time workers
Money that’s gone to over paid CEO’s , CFO’s, whatever &
$$$ spent on useless monuments to corporate identity (Sturgis.Daytona)
are coming back to haunt them.
Happy workers do not make dumb mistakes that causes recalls …..