2002 Fatboy Advise
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 23
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From: Chicago
2002 Fatboy Advise
Looking at a 2002 Fatboy. 25,000 miles and looks like it has been well taken care of.
Any issues with this year that I should be concerned about?
Anything to look out for?
Any issues with this year that I should be concerned about?
Anything to look out for?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 806
Likes: 1,139
From: West Texas
I have a 2002 Fatboy that I bought low mileage a couple of years ago. It is at 30,000 miles now and I have been very happy with it. I am not aware of anything specific to look for problem wise in the year. People will say the bottom end of the engine was better built in the earlier TCs, and there is some truth to that although I personally have never had any trouble with newer TCs I have owned either.
One thing I do think is worth keeping in mind is the cam chain adjusters in the early TCs are not as good as the later ones. They went to hydraulic adjusted chains in 2007 I believe. The earlier ones are spring tension. A lot of people have never had any issues with the spring style. I personally know a guy who traded in a 2003 with 75,000 miles on it and had never had anything apart on it. However, I tore mine down to inspect them at 25,000 miles and they were pretty bad. The shoes were about halfway worn through and one side of the outer tensioner had started breaking of in little pieces. The oil pump and cam plate was showing some scoring already. It could have been put back together with new shoes on the adjusters and kept going, but I put a S&S 509 G gear driven cam set in it with the new cam plate and high volume oil pump and have been happy with that.
Mine is fuel injected and it has been trouble free. Can't speak to anything about the carbs. Stock seat on mine was a torture device, but that almost goes without saying.
One thing I do think is worth keeping in mind is the cam chain adjusters in the early TCs are not as good as the later ones. They went to hydraulic adjusted chains in 2007 I believe. The earlier ones are spring tension. A lot of people have never had any issues with the spring style. I personally know a guy who traded in a 2003 with 75,000 miles on it and had never had anything apart on it. However, I tore mine down to inspect them at 25,000 miles and they were pretty bad. The shoes were about halfway worn through and one side of the outer tensioner had started breaking of in little pieces. The oil pump and cam plate was showing some scoring already. It could have been put back together with new shoes on the adjusters and kept going, but I put a S&S 509 G gear driven cam set in it with the new cam plate and high volume oil pump and have been happy with that.
Mine is fuel injected and it has been trouble free. Can't speak to anything about the carbs. Stock seat on mine was a torture device, but that almost goes without saying.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
Pop that side cover off & have a look at those cam chain shoes.
My 03 has 10K on it now (4K this year)
and I'm going to check mine.
If a set of cams (accidentally) got put in there, I wouldn't cry.
My 00 only had 203's and a Thunderheader, but it had (WAY)
more mid range power than this one !!!
But it was carb'd. Dunno if that helped.
The FI is flawless , I hate to admit it. I don't like the idle though.
It sounds like a loud air compressor.
My 03 has 10K on it now (4K this year)
and I'm going to check mine.
If a set of cams (accidentally) got put in there, I wouldn't cry.
My 00 only had 203's and a Thunderheader, but it had (WAY)
more mid range power than this one !!!
But it was carb'd. Dunno if that helped.
The FI is flawless , I hate to admit it. I don't like the idle though.
It sounds like a loud air compressor.
Novice
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: Houston,TX
If it looks clean, sounds good, and rides well, I would have no reservations. My shop suggested most riders baby the Harley's and they see many miles without major repairs.
I'm keeping my 2006 FLSTFSE with almost 40,000 miles, after asking my shop what repairs I can expect vs buying a new bike.
Buying anything used, anticipate repairs. With a Harley, I believe any repairs on a clean used bike are less expensive than buying new. With any machine: ride, listen, and feel it. If it 'talks' funky, get it looked at before a minor failure causes major repairs.
My experience: 2005 FLSFSE bought new 2006
* pushing 40,000 miles ((little riding between 2010 and 2015)
* 2 transmission repairs last year (minor repairs, transmission work is expensive due to labor)
* I asked shop if I should sell and what repairs should I anticipate? Shop indicated my bike is one of cleanest, most well maintained machines they work on. They've only seen 2 other bikes with similar repairs over past 15 years; those repairs typical of hard riding.
* My shop suggested with the recent repairs and routine maintenance, I could expect another 40k-50k without significant repairs.
I'm keeping my 2006 FLSTFSE with almost 40,000 miles, after asking my shop what repairs I can expect vs buying a new bike.
Buying anything used, anticipate repairs. With a Harley, I believe any repairs on a clean used bike are less expensive than buying new. With any machine: ride, listen, and feel it. If it 'talks' funky, get it looked at before a minor failure causes major repairs.
My experience: 2005 FLSFSE bought new 2006
* pushing 40,000 miles ((little riding between 2010 and 2015)
* 2 transmission repairs last year (minor repairs, transmission work is expensive due to labor)
* I asked shop if I should sell and what repairs should I anticipate? Shop indicated my bike is one of cleanest, most well maintained machines they work on. They've only seen 2 other bikes with similar repairs over past 15 years; those repairs typical of hard riding.
* My shop suggested with the recent repairs and routine maintenance, I could expect another 40k-50k without significant repairs.
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