First, let me say that I am a technician in a new car dealer. Have been for 18 years. I am no stranger to parts issues and recalls. Here is what I think is going on, my opinion based on my many years working on new, high end automobiles.

Lets say that the part number for the old style, 8 degree injectors, is XXXX. These injectors are being produced in a factory in PODUNK, ALABAMA. (Sorry, I picked on myself on that one). They have been using exactly the same pintle valve, seat, coil windings, housing, and nozzle since their inception. They have been working fine, no issues. THEN, one of the suppliers of, lets say, PINTLE VALVES, starts pricing themselves out of the "Profit margin" that the injector factory likes to maintain. THEN, the injector factory decides to start using PINTLE VALVES from a different supplier, midstream of the model year. These valves ar completely untested, but meet the same specifications of the old supplier. DO YOU FOLLOW ME SO FAR? Ok, The injector factory starts assembling the injectors using the NEW PINTLE VALVES, they pass the flow rate test and seat pressure test, so, they box and ship them. They look the same, the feel the same, they even have the same part number as the injectors that were built with the PINTLE VALVES provided from the original supplier. Now, the MoCo gets these injectors and starts installing them, mixed in with the old stock that they still have on hand, in new bikes. So, theoretically, the assembly line went from, "Bikes with 2 injectors with old style PINTLE VALVES", to "Bikes with one old style, and one new style", to "Bikes with two new style pintle valve injectors" Now remember, these are still 8 degree injectors, just with pintle valves from 2 different suppliers. So.....3-4 months go by....MoCo is selling a few bikes ( it's winter remember?) and all of a sudden, bikes are being sold that hardly run! But why? They have the SAME PART NUMBER INJECTOR AS THE BIKES THAT RUN FINE?.....but nobody knows that the supplier for the pintle valves has changed!

Got me so far?

So now, the MoCo is completely baffled. They have many bikes in service that run fine, many that do not, with the same injector......what went wrong? More importantly.....WHEN DID IT GO WRONG? They migh have an idea......but do not know for sure. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD, DO NOT MISS THIS......

IF THE MOCO DOES NOT CLOSELY EVALUATE THE POOR RUNNING BIKES, TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED, THEY HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG.

Sure, they could just do a blanket recall of 2006 FI bikes, but, remember, it's about money.

First, if they can accurately determine WHEN the problem started, they can issue a much smaller recall for bikes built after XX/XX/05, but before XX/XX/06....SEE???

Second, if they can determine what actually caused the injector to fail, they will return these products to the vendor, and get them replaced or credit given for the faulty pieces.

Bottom line.....I think there will be a recall.....but it takes time to get the dates, times, failed parts, etc in order. The fact that the MoCo is arbitrarily installing the new 25 degree injectors starting on XX/XX/06 is a sure sign that they are scrambling to get the problem rectified....stop the hemhorraging, if you will. Now they know that all bikes built after XX/XX/06 are ok...now they can concentrate on the poor running bikes, and why and when they started having injector issues. Remember also that I am assuming that they know that the pintle valve is the problem ( remember, I just used that as an example ) If they have not identified the root of the problem, it will take even more time. I realize that this will not make you feel better if your bike runs poorly, but at least you might understand why things take so long......


nogood o~`o

 

thanks, i feel so much better now

 

Damn that took alot of thought, But I think that you hit the Injector on the head.
I am well aware of your part supplier changing vendors, I mean hell I work
for the company ( U.S. Goverment) that always buys stuff from the lowest bidder no matter how clueless
they are

 

Well done...

BTW: what have they symptoms of the problem been?

 

Well put. Thumbs up!

Thought Moco would say the same to place owners at ease.

Thanks for the analogy.

 

Cold start running problems, stalling, coughing.....actually, not ONLY aggravating, but dangerous as well....


nogood o~`o

 

This is really ****. Cant they make quality products any moore, is it all about costs and not about quality at all for them, when we pay what we pay for a new harley.

I want a bike that allways runs and take me to destinations, offcourse some accidents and fault might happend but not that the bike stalls in every trafic light.

And why open loop efi, so that we have to by all software for the efi and the company gets more money, if you did´nt know a closed loop efi with o2 sensor in the exchaust will adjust the air/fuel mix properly always, no programming needed. Then if the injectors cant provide the right amount on fuel for a high performance engine the injectors and the fuel pump has to be changed but a closed loop will ask the system to give the right amount.

I am not looking forward to my SG as before anymore, sad but true, not before I know that I have a reliable engine and don´t have to pay more to get it.

-Mikael

 

Good thread. I think all HD forum member should write a letter to HD bringing the problem to their door step.

 

I think also!

 

This was good reading.

I pushed and pushed my wife to let me get a 2005 and I'm sure glad we did.