HD Clutch Recall 2018...Over 200,000 Affected!

[MDO]

I got my safety recall letter today. I was supposed to be there tomorrow at 10am, but we pushed it back to noon. We are forcast to get snow showers tonight. I had to break out my Tourmaster winter gauntlet gloves.

I have only used them once in 20 years, so there in great shape.

I don't normally ride when it's 22°, but I want to get this done. They are serving lunch to Veterans, so if there is no freezing issues, I'm gonna brave it & go.

[Rmitchell55]

I got my recall notice yesterday, so today I went to the dealer and was talking to one of the service writers and he said that they sent out over 200 automated phone calls to owners about the recall and that they got 6 kits in the mail this past week. He said that they are expecting a lot more replacements next week.

[MDO]

19° this morning, but I braved it & went to my chosen dealer, Doc's HD & got the recall done. It took them about an hour. On the service order, they write it up for 1 recall kit, 1 bottle of DOT 4 brake fluid & 1.1 hours labor. I can't say that I noticed any difference in the clutch actuation/ engagement, but then again, I could not feel my fingers

Those Tourmaster winters gloves I thought were good, officially suck!

A couple good things, Doc's HD in St. Louis, served a BBQ lunch for Veterans today & also handed out a nice coffee mug. They are a very nice dealership. The owner, Beth, was there greeting & talking with everyone. A class organization.

[Free Bird]

A little detail on YouTube

[MDO]

On the order, they put the part price at $10.99 & the brake fluid at $7.99 + the labor.

[Free Bird]

On the order, they put the part price at $10.99 & the brake fluid at $7.99 + the labor.

That's odd... they said it was more like $150/bike but I won't have a receipt for the work for a while (after the paint)

[MDO]

That's odd... they said it was more like $150/bike but I won't have a receipt for the work for a while (after the paint)

That would be about right. $18.98 in parts + 1.1 hours labor.

220,000 vehicles × $150=$33 million.

[Free Bird]

That would be about right. $17.98 + 1.1 hours labor.

220,000 vehicles × $150=$33 million.

Oops... yes you said "plus labor"

And yes BIG bucks. And I understand it was a design issue, not a defective part that they can push to a supplier. Wrong choice of materials for the application.

[MDO]

With the transmission fluid migrating to the primary on some engines, this could be an attempt to supplement the tranny fluid level with some fresh dot 4.

[Jack Klarich]

A little detail on YouTube

I see what looks like a gasket for the trap door in the bag

Any one confirm this?

[Free Bird]

I see what looks like a gasket for the trap door in the bag

Any one confirm this?

It is the seal on the back of the secondary clutch actuator (item 33 below). You can see the original installed and the replacement part from the kit in the video captures below

[Jack Klarich]

It is the seal on the back of the secondary clutch actuator (item 33 below). You can see the original installed and the replacement part from the kit in the video captures below

Look when he is holding the parts bag, I see what looks like a door cover gasket and the piston with the seal already installed

I dunno why the door would have to come off, the piston appears to deal the slave cylinder to the door. I am wondering if HD is wanting to check the inside of the trap door?

I do not trust this fix

[MDO]

I see the seal your talking about Jack. I'm just guessing, but they may change that seal if after the piston/seal change, it fails the leak down test.

I can imagine what the DOT 4 does to certain seals if it eats paint.

[Free Bird]

I see the seal your talking about Jack. I'm just guessing, but they may change that seal if after the piston/seal change, it fails the leak down test.

I can imagine what the DOT 4 does to certain seals if it eats paint.

Ah! I see what you're referring to Jack... Looks like the kit does come with a tranny side cover gasket. To MDO's point, likely backup in case the pressure test fails.... And I would agree that the fact they are sending 230k + cover gaskets out with the recall kits says there is likely a potential failure mode for the gasket or its intention that is not discussed in the recall letter.

[dannymax]

I had the recall work done yesterday, about an hour from arrival to departure (which included a complementary bike wash).

The service mgr showed me one of the kits, I don't recall seeing a gasket of the type shown above but honestly didn't check it out that closely. The service record showed 12 oz. of platinum hyd. fluid so a complete change was done....as you would expect. Once I de-trailer the bike today I will get a benchmark fluid level and monitor it over the 2019 riding season.

The extend-a-trailer tagged along like it wasn't even there and the bike rode comfortably with no complaints. A couple extra steps to load & unload but overall a nice low budget setup for the rare times I will be needing to trailer the bike.

[MDO]

Here is a link to the clutch recall performed on a trike. Note to all- he has a different recall kit than the previous video??? It's a new derby cover O-ring.

[dannymax]

Here is a link to the clutch recall performed on a trike. Note to all- he has a different recall kit than the previous video??? It's a new derby cover O-ring.

The recall kit pictured in this video (with the derby cover o-ring) is the one used on my '17 FW.

[Jack Klarich]

AHHHAAAA, I thought I saw another gasket in the earlier post. I thought it was a tranny door gasket. Now it makes sense after checking the clutch plate lift to replace the derby cover o ring

Thanks Michael

[MDO]

AHHHAAAA, I thought I saw another gasket in the earlier post. I thought it was a tranny door gasket. Now it makes sense after checking the clutch plate lift to replace the derby cover o ring

Thanks Michael

I really like his videos. He has a way of cutting through the B.S.

I thought the same as you that it looked like a tranny door gasket. I am a bad boy in that I have had my derby cover off twice in a year & I re-used the original o-ring as it looked fine. It is not under that much pressure & I clean it & the mounting surface off with a lint free cloth. At my 10,000 mile service, I will be a good boy & replace it.

Actually, QUAID HD replaced it at the 1,000 mile service, so it's not the original.

[Jack Klarich]

I thought the same as you that it looked like a tranny door gasket. I am a bad boy in that I have had my derby cover off twice in a year & I re-used the original o-ring as it looked fine. It is not under that much pressure & I clean it & the mounting surface off with a lint free cloth. At my 10,000 mile service, I will be a good boy & replace it.

I like the rubber O ring type gasket better than the paper one.

I relube mine with some di-lectric grease and re use it, checking to make sure it is still pliable and has not shrunk

I have not changed one for many years now with NO leakage and a lot of miles and services