How many frozen brake pedals and levers?
#21
12-23-2017, 01:26 PM
Elite HDF Member
On my 11' the pedal didn't lock but the ABS failed to activate. Occasionally, on a deserted 2 lane at 60 mph I stomp on the brakes hard enough to activate the ABS. My opinion is if you use it occasionally it's less likely to stick and fail. Several months ago for the first time it failed to activate and the rear tire locked up and slid. Tried it again, same result. Third try it activated as normal. Tried the front and it activated first try. I do change fluid myself for what that's worth. If you read the procedure for fluid change with the Digital Tech box and look at the plumbing diagram for the ABS module it's obvious that just changing fluid without the box and the procedure isn't flushing the module.
I'm guilty. I've not done it or had it done properly. Thinking I probably should soon.
I understand ABS and like the idea but... it has to consistently work every damn time or it's pretty useless.
I'm guilty. I've not done it or had it done properly. Thinking I probably should soon.
I understand ABS and like the idea but... it has to consistently work every damn time or it's pretty useless.
#22
01-16-2018, 12:16 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
#23
01-18-2018, 09:31 AM
Thanks for checking in on this thread with your ABS failure and thanks for reporting to the NHTSA. I have identified additional failures within the threads. It's interesting to note that for some failures the bikes were less than two years old.
ssgunny, 09FLHTCU, front, 8/17
NakedShayne, 12RK, rear, 5/17
JasonDuncan, 09RG, rear, 5/17
1fathog, 10 Ultra, 3/13
OziGlider, 10 SG, front, 4/16
malbanese45, 10 FLHX, rear, 5/16
sheldonrrs, 10 EG, front, 11/16
ssteve, 08 Ultra, front, 11/15
majorbrian, 10 RK
69DoubleG, 08 SG,front, 1/17
hevis1, 09 Ultra, front, 3/14
DavidGroves, 09 Ultra, rear, 3/16
BigGelvis, 12 Ultra, front, 5/12
jrs11456, 08 SG, front and rear, 8/12
daithi2, 09 FLHP, front, 8/12
Wanderer55, 09 Ultra, front, 9/12
voodoo7, 09 Ultra, front, 11/12
Buns79, 12 Ultra, front, 11/12
wingman05, 12 RG, rear, 3/13
DBLX, 09 SG, 3/13
arampgds, 09 SG, 6/14
ddward39, 09 SG, rear, 1/16
A few more failures from the threads:
Borjan, 09 RK, front, 2/15
301Draft, 09 SG, front, 2/15
randallsparks, 11 SG, rear, 7/14
ghostrider45, 09 Ultra, rear, 9/14
Bubracin3, 08 SG, front, 11/17
Whoops, I listed Bubracin3, 08 SG, front, 11/17 twice. Sorry about that. I haven't include mine yet:
wibiker, 09 FLHTC, rear, 5/17
Also attached is a copy the repair bill and a picture of the replaced parts.
I am not aware of any class action suit regarding the ABS failure. I am concerned that the number of failures may be underestimated, especially with regard to the ongoing NHTSA investigation. It would be nice to know how many replacement HCU's have been sold by the MOCO.
ssgunny, 09FLHTCU, front, 8/17
NakedShayne, 12RK, rear, 5/17
JasonDuncan, 09RG, rear, 5/17
1fathog, 10 Ultra, 3/13
OziGlider, 10 SG, front, 4/16
malbanese45, 10 FLHX, rear, 5/16
sheldonrrs, 10 EG, front, 11/16
ssteve, 08 Ultra, front, 11/15
majorbrian, 10 RK
69DoubleG, 08 SG,front, 1/17
hevis1, 09 Ultra, front, 3/14
DavidGroves, 09 Ultra, rear, 3/16
BigGelvis, 12 Ultra, front, 5/12
jrs11456, 08 SG, front and rear, 8/12
daithi2, 09 FLHP, front, 8/12
Wanderer55, 09 Ultra, front, 9/12
voodoo7, 09 Ultra, front, 11/12
Buns79, 12 Ultra, front, 11/12
wingman05, 12 RG, rear, 3/13
DBLX, 09 SG, 3/13
arampgds, 09 SG, 6/14
ddward39, 09 SG, rear, 1/16
A few more failures from the threads:
Borjan, 09 RK, front, 2/15
301Draft, 09 SG, front, 2/15
randallsparks, 11 SG, rear, 7/14
ghostrider45, 09 Ultra, rear, 9/14
Bubracin3, 08 SG, front, 11/17
Whoops, I listed Bubracin3, 08 SG, front, 11/17 twice. Sorry about that. I haven't include mine yet:
wibiker, 09 FLHTC, rear, 5/17
Also attached is a copy the repair bill and a picture of the replaced parts.
I am not aware of any class action suit regarding the ABS failure. I am concerned that the number of failures may be underestimated, especially with regard to the ongoing NHTSA investigation. It would be nice to know how many replacement HCU's have been sold by the MOCO.
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; 09-30-2018 at 08:10 AM. Reason: Multiple posts
#25
02-07-2018, 02:41 PM
CVO Brake problem
You would assume when you bring your 2009 RG CVO to the Harley dealership every 5,000 miles for the schedule maintenance the brake fluid would be changed every two years without having to tell them what to do.
Well after 20,000 miles I bring it in for scheduled maintenance and tell them specifically that the front brake lever almost touches the grip. When I pick it up, no change in the front brake. I argue with the service manager and mechanic that it needs fixing. They tell me that’s normal. Finally they change brake fluid and now I have a front brake. Thank you Boston Harley Davidson.
Well after 20,000 miles I bring it in for scheduled maintenance and tell them specifically that the front brake lever almost touches the grip. When I pick it up, no change in the front brake. I argue with the service manager and mechanic that it needs fixing. They tell me that’s normal. Finally they change brake fluid and now I have a front brake. Thank you Boston Harley Davidson.
#26
02-07-2018, 03:13 PM
Guess they are trying to stop any law suits.
Changing the break fluid is owners responsibility. Not the motor company.
#27
02-07-2018, 03:20 PM
Club Member
From what I just read, the recall is to replace the brake fluid with a special formulation. Just a bandaid really and buys more time.
#28
02-07-2018, 08:09 PM
It's hard to believe that the NHTSA would buy off on a recall that allows this band aid to be used in place of a real remedy that addresses the HCU design flaw. The owners are still on the hook for all costs associated with replacing bad HCU's and have to ride two wheelers that may not have functioning brakes with no warning.
#29
02-07-2018, 08:27 PM
Most modern Motorcycle manufacturers require a minimum of 2 year brake fluid change intervals with bikes equipped with ABS and DOT 4 fluid. If you own older Harley's or Military equipment, you have DOT 5 in your system which was designed for things that sit for very long periods, years even and things that required higher heat dissipation. Unfortunately, DOT 5 doesn't work with ABS systems so don't think about using it.
DOT 3 and 4 attracts water, even from the air and can eat your paint but works great with ABS systems but since it attracts water, brake fluid changes need to be more frequent; water eats parts.
DOT 5 doesn't eat your paint, Doesn't attract water, it repels water but doesn't work well with ABS systems and repelling water actually can cause other issues.
I know, more than you needed to know. Be glad I didn't mention DOT 5.1.
Oh and this data is for motorcycles only, not cars, different animal, different pros and cons.
DOT 3 and 4 attracts water, even from the air and can eat your paint but works great with ABS systems but since it attracts water, brake fluid changes need to be more frequent; water eats parts.
DOT 5 doesn't eat your paint, Doesn't attract water, it repels water but doesn't work well with ABS systems and repelling water actually can cause other issues.
I know, more than you needed to know. Be glad I didn't mention DOT 5.1.
Oh and this data is for motorcycles only, not cars, different animal, different pros and cons.
Last edited by BluesCast; 02-07-2018 at 09:16 PM.
#30
02-25-2018, 11:20 AM
Apparently the new specialized DOT 4 brake fluid formulation [H-D Platinum Label DOT 4 Brake Fluid] will be the silver bullet that will make all of the old HCU's perform in a safe manner from here on out. The purpose of this thread is to document the incidence of HCU failure. The 43 failures everyone references was the number of failures reported to the NHTSA when they opened their investigation in 2016. We all know that not every failure was reported and that failures have continued to occur, some of which have been reported and many not reported. The only one that knows for sure is the parts department at the MOCO.