Where did Harley Davidson go wrong?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,272
From: West Central Florida
I have a 70s jap bike that had a nylon rear drive sprocket. The sprocket was pretty durable until you did burnouts then it would shear the teeth right off and turn into a plastic disk. What were they thinking.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,197
Likes: 708
From: (Toronto) Canada
Harley did not go wrong.
The internet arrived and allowed everyone to get on and bitch about everything.
I ride an 01 ultra. Twin cam with tensioners. MM. Had it since new. Over 200,000 miles on it.
Yes, I had to maintain it. Just like bikes before. Yes, I broke down. Just like before. But after all the Wings, Shadows, Ventures, etc, etc, before, I still ride and love the old 01 HD.
The internet arrived and allowed everyone to get on and bitch about everything.
I ride an 01 ultra. Twin cam with tensioners. MM. Had it since new. Over 200,000 miles on it.
Yes, I had to maintain it. Just like bikes before. Yes, I broke down. Just like before. But after all the Wings, Shadows, Ventures, etc, etc, before, I still ride and love the old 01 HD.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,122
Likes: 51,431
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
twinkies and i dont work on them - you need a 50 ton press to do the flywheels - we teach in the shop the guys who want to learn - no way i would let them do that operation they could with a mistake get killed - AND why did they make them round when they knew in the 70s the top fuel sportys were 6 point crank pins flywheela and pin holes - they were like an allen wrench - never going to scissor and do not need that amount of press - and are serviceable - not the round at 50 tons (thats 100,000 pounds ) nothing survives the squeeze - looks like a throw away to me
the cams - chains and inferior plastic tensioner's - surround the oil pump in a cast alloy shell - NO alignment tool to re set just pins even if they have or might have made a tool - the open cast oil pump cam tensioner housing does not have a memory like a T6 forged AFTERMARKET piece - that holds it and does not allow the oil pump to trash out - looks to me they cheeped it as much as possible - and who pays the dealer repair at a couple grand each time - it was all the talk back then it seem like a good many trashed out of warrantee go figuer - ok they changed the plastic pad 5 years later but did not up date the design till 07 - really
at the dealer when i needed odd stuff my then dealer that is closed today - they always had completely torn apart changing frames < what was that about
its like a drinking favorite - you have your idea and others have other ideas - i am told the bugs are all gone but at whos expense
the cams - chains and inferior plastic tensioner's - surround the oil pump in a cast alloy shell - NO alignment tool to re set just pins even if they have or might have made a tool - the open cast oil pump cam tensioner housing does not have a memory like a T6 forged AFTERMARKET piece - that holds it and does not allow the oil pump to trash out - looks to me they cheeped it as much as possible - and who pays the dealer repair at a couple grand each time - it was all the talk back then it seem like a good many trashed out of warrantee go figuer - ok they changed the plastic pad 5 years later but did not up date the design till 07 - really
at the dealer when i needed odd stuff my then dealer that is closed today - they always had completely torn apart changing frames < what was that about
its like a drinking favorite - you have your idea and others have other ideas - i am told the bugs are all gone but at whos expense
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,122
Likes: 51,431
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
My post covers some of that, we as a nation have moved away from a repair or rebuild mentality to a replace it mindset. An example, refrigerators or other major appliances that were made in the 40 & 50's are still working, try buying one today that'll last 10 years.
Same with bikes, they have a designed life span, once past that it's more cost efficient for a number of reasons to replace than rebuild it. Designed obsolescence.....
Same with bikes, they have a designed life span, once past that it's more cost efficient for a number of reasons to replace than rebuild it. Designed obsolescence.....
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 359
Likes: 56
From: Chicago
twinkies and i dont work on them - you need a 50 ton press to do the flywheels - we teach in the shop the guys who want to learn - no way i would let them do that operation they could with a mistake get killed - AND why did they make them round when they knew in the 70s the top fuel sportys were 6 point crank pins flywheela and pin holes - they were like an allen wrench - never going to scissor and do not need that amount of press - and are serviceable - not the round at 50 tons (thats 100,000 pounds ) nothing survives the squeeze - looks like a throw away to me
the cams - chains and inferior plastic tensioner's - surround the oil pump in a cast alloy shell - NO alignment tool to re set just pins even if they have or might have made a tool - the open cast oil pump cam tensioner housing does not have a memory like a T6 forged AFTERMARKET piece - that holds it and does not allow the oil pump to trash out - looks to me they cheeped it as much as possible - and who pays the dealer repair at a couple grand each time - it was all the talk back then it seem like a good many trashed out of warrantee go figuer - ok they changed the plastic pad 5 years later but did not up date the design till 07 - really
at the dealer when i needed odd stuff my then dealer that is closed today - they always had completely torn apart changing frames < what was that about
its like a drinking favorite - you have your idea and others have other ideas - i am told the bugs are all gone but at whos expense
the cams - chains and inferior plastic tensioner's - surround the oil pump in a cast alloy shell - NO alignment tool to re set just pins even if they have or might have made a tool - the open cast oil pump cam tensioner housing does not have a memory like a T6 forged AFTERMARKET piece - that holds it and does not allow the oil pump to trash out - looks to me they cheeped it as much as possible - and who pays the dealer repair at a couple grand each time - it was all the talk back then it seem like a good many trashed out of warrantee go figuer - ok they changed the plastic pad 5 years later but did not up date the design till 07 - really
at the dealer when i needed odd stuff my then dealer that is closed today - they always had completely torn apart changing frames < what was that about
its like a drinking favorite - you have your idea and others have other ideas - i am told the bugs are all gone but at whos expense