Reprinted from: James Russell Publishing
Note: I am not the author of the original article.
This article, after reconsidering the content, has been edited to remove some unnecessary comments that were considered irrelevant.
Part Five.....
32. The swingarm bushings in all models of the Twin-Cam bikes are weak. Yes, they do work, but they just won't last. You will notice, when they are failing, handling of the bike begins to suffer from wobbling. If those bushings outright fail it can throw you right off the bike due to a loss of control crash! These bushings have no zero grease fittings to lube and they are of a sleeve nature.
33. Be aware that any engine or transmission failure can result in a lock-up of the rear wheel or create an oil breech from the cases that will flood the rear wheel for instant loss of control and a devastating crash. You got to pay attention to those Twin-Cam Harley's as those defects can bite you hard. Falling off a motorcycle or crashing into objects can be devastating to your health and to your wealth. If you use 100% synthetic oil with a large engine oil cooler you can escape from many engine failures. While it may not solve or cure problems, it will certainly increase the longevity of your engine and transmission and primary system resisting component failure. Example: We know the cam chain tensioners shoes will wear out, but they will last much longer using cool synthetic oil. Even if the Synthetic oil increases some engine/transmission noise it is better to live with that than a catastrophic engine failure.
34. Again, the Sportster frame, engine and transmission has none of the defects you read about here on the Twin-Cam bikes. The Sportster is actually a perfected machine for it is a racing engine design. Older riders are wise and jumping ship from the TC to the Sportster. These Sportster's are being converted into baggers, choppers, touring models and they ride nice now due to the upgrades in suspension and wheels. With a minor investment of installing taller handlebars, stretch seat, Progressive rear shocks with extending foot pegs a little bit more for tall riders these cost effective modification can give you the comfort of the larger H-D touring models. With good pipes you won't miss anything because the 1200 Sportster sounds just as awesome as the Twin Cam's. And for those who want to ride with a passenger just install a two tooth smaller countershaft pulley for that extra pulling power. If you love to ride Harley-Davidson's and find the TC's an expense try the Sportster. I did and I have no regrets! It has been one positive experience upon another. Even parts and accessories, tires, brakes, everything is cheaper including insurance and registration with great fuel mileage too!
35. The metal circlips inside the transmission that holds the gears in place are not strong enough and can fail causing massive transmission damage. The problem is found on 2006-09 Cruise Drive transmissions, but are being watched on late models as a "concern" to be aware of. If you want to have a better transmission on any Twin-Cam Harley-Davidson replace it with a Baker Drivetrain unit. They are built strong and will not fail. But it will be expensive to make the upgrade. You can purchase their bearings and gears set and install them in the stock transmission case at a lower cost.
36. Bad brakes? Yes, the brakes on most all Twin-Cam engine motorcycles have bad brakes. What does "bad brakes" mean? Well, it does not mean the brakes won't stop the bike... it means the brake pads are fine, but the brake rotors are overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the bike. It means the front wheel brake rotors will warp from heat and that is why you have been likely told by a dealer that you need new brake rotors and brake pads. Harley's are heavy, heavy, heavy bikes and the rotors are just too thin to handle all that weight. So, do not be surprised to keep paying for front fork brake jobs. The rear brakes are okay, they just don't heat up as much as the front brakes as most of a motorcycle's stopping power is up front. Brakes are not covered under warranty.
Many motorcycle magazines are reporting on these defects and their cures. The worse thing you can do is be ignorant and assume nothing is wrong with your Twin-Cam engine for that will only lead to disaster which most riders will painfully realize.
You will often notice that the repair shops at H-D dealerships are now being sealed from public view. They are actually hiding what is going on back there. What they don't want you to see is that novice, unskilled people are working on your bike. Tire changes are not performed by mechanics, yet should be as tire mounting errors and failure can kill quickly. Oil changes are also being performed by parts people, service writers and other non-mechanics. But this is not what you are paying for. You are paying top dollar for service you are not getting. Then, when you add in the severe engine failures due to defects of design the poor bike owner is being scalped.
Sound Advice: Don't buy a used Twin-Cam Harley-Davidson motorcycle unless it has a extended warranty as long as you will own that bike. The moment the warranty expires trade it in for another bike. Devise a plan where the bike you own is always under warranty, or else! And don't do anything that can cause the warranty to become void. Never trust or believe a salesperson, a parts person or a service writer sitting behind the counter. They are all professional liars working for a boss who tells them to say things they should not be saying. Verbal communications are not to be trusted. Read the warranty and obey it. Harley-Davidson does deny warranties if you hop-up the motor to create more power, so beware. Try to keep the bike stock as much as possible. Even a Stage-1 tune up can void your warranty depending on which part fails.
Note: No motorcycle is perfect. All have drawbacks of one sort of another. However, serious mechanical problems will be experienced with the Harley-Davidson. As long as you are aware of the problems and accept the drawbacks you will be a happy Harley owner knowing that you knew beforehand certain problems can arise. This article exposes them so you can take appropriate action to fix the problems to prevent disaster. Knowledge is power! I
"Take steps now to fix the problems. Don't ignore them. They won't go away."
None of the above problems are secrets. You will find these issues mentioned in motorcycle magazines at one time or another. You certainly will not hear about them from other Harley riders as most are not even aware of these problems. You won't hear about these problems from a Harley dealer or salesperson. But you do have a right to know.
"Show me proof what you write is true."
Some readers of this article ask for validated proof of what the author has written is true. He can gladly say if you subscribe or purchase back issues of V-Twin Magazine and other motorcycle magazines you will have read about these defects. It is common knowledge in the industry these serious abnormalities exist. It is no mystery except for the fact most Harley-Davidson riders are totally not aware that these defects exist and they ride in a land of oblivion mindset... until they have to pay the bill. Road Iron Magazine exposed the cam defects in January 2013 issue as did Baggers Magazine too. Most magazines have covered the defects which leads me to believe the "code of conduct" among riders is still strong. Perhaps, if they ignore the problems the problems will go away? Pipe dream.
Ok, we have gone through what James Russell would like you to think is a lot of reasons not to own a Harley Davidson Twin Cam powered motorcycle. This seems like serious model bashing and scare tactics to most who will after reading a few paragraphs or less will pass it off as garbage not worth the time to read.
But the problems in this article do exist to a certain extent, maybe not as bad as the original author wants you to believe, but they exist none the less.
If you own one of these bikes, then I would suggest that you seriously consider that although it may never happen, there is a chance it might.
Most Harley Davidson motorcycles work fine if they are maintained religiously. Learn how to look after your bike & learn to do repairs to keep it in good running order. If you can't do that them find someone who can that you can trust & make them your best friend.
There are a lot of parts that you can buy to make your bike run better & last longer. Find out what is available and if you can, install as many upgrades as you can afford or a knowledgeable person deems necessary.
If you notice something you think is wrong or if someone else points out a possible problem, have it check immediately. It could save your life or the life of some in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Ride Safe..... Be Aware.....
Happy Trails.......
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