I have noticed a reccuring pattern amongst the threads that I think would be in HD's best intrest to address. I personally have not yet been a victim but who wants to worry about: 1.Exploding Oil Tanks, a quality issue that Sporters don't deserve.
2. Battery Covers Fying Off. Geeze guys all it's gonna take, given the established history of this occurance, is for one to come off and hit another motorist in the face and...well, can you spell LIABILITY LAWSUIT?
3.Fuel Pump Reliability, I know you have dealt with this, so how about a recall on all bike models in jeoparty.

We Sportster owners truly love these machines with a passion and we should be able to piss and moan about paint or bling and such, but EXPLODING OIL TANKS?

Mikie

I have noticed a reccuring pattern amongst the threads that I think would be in HD's best intrest to address. I personally have not yet been a victim but who wants to worry about: 1.Exploding Oil Tanks, a quality issue that Sporters don't deserve.
2. Battery Covers Fying Off. Geeze guys all it's gonna take, given the established history of this occurance, is for one to come off and hit another motorist in the face and...well, can you spell LIABILITY LAWSUIT?
3.Fuel Pump Reliability, I know you have dealt with this, so how about a recall on all bike models in jeoparty.

We Sportster owners truly love these machines with a passion and we should be able to piss and moan about paint or bling and such, but EXPLODING OIL TANKS?

Mikie

I have not suffered from 1 or 3 but have had the problem with the cover. The first time HD replaced it using a flimsy connector. The second time they did the same. I reminded them that the first time didnt work. I decided to drill a small hole in the cover and use a cable tie connected to the frame. Yes whenever I need to take the cover off I need to break the tie but they are dirt cheap compared to the battery cover.

I wonder if they fixed the rusting rear axle problems for 07 and 08?

rusting rear axle on 07s? tell me about this. don't know nuthin about it

The rear axle for 06's is made of really cheap metal. The guy at the factory did not get a good coat of grease on it and left a lot of bare metal. Bare metal rusts very quickly. I have seen two 06 axles with more rust on them than my 10 year old dirt bike axles.

It is possible to rust so bad, that a seriously big hammer will be needed to get the axle out. In that case you will usually need a new axle and bearings. Pulling out the axle and regreasing it is not part of the standard service procedures preformed by the dealer. I don't know how many other years are affected.

2. Battery Covers Fying Off.

Not sure if it's true, but I mentioned this to a tech at my dealer and he said I needn't worry, they fixed this problem for '07. :dunno Can anyone confirm?

2. Battery Covers Fying Off.

Not sure if it's true, but I mentioned this to a tech at my dealer and he said I needn't worry, they fixed this problem for '07. :dunno Can anyone confirm?

Mine didn't fly off (07) but it came open 3 times until I removed the clips and tywrapped it on !

I haven't had any of those problems on my '07. The side covers are poorly attached though. I never even heard of the exploding oil tank.

The 07 battery cover is still junk but I too have never heard of an exploding oil tank. That sounds to me like somebody overfilled the tank and blew the cap off. I have seen that happen many times on Buells. But that is not HDs fault.

The posts on the exploding oil tanks involved plastic oil tanks and low ambient air temps somewhere around freezing.

:D Best way to fix those poblems is buy an Ironhead,never had any of "THOSE" problems:smoke

:D Best way to fix those poblems is buy an Ironhead,never had any of "THOSE" problems:smoke

True.... but we have an entire different world of problems :doh :laugh

True.... but we have an entire different world of problems :doh :laugh

You can say that again!!!!!!!

I had my cover fly off at about 75, it bounced down the highway for about 100 yards, then my dumba$$ went back and picked it up. I dont know how many rubbermount riders I have donated parts to to fix this over the last couple of months. all I do is put a screw in the back clip. problem solved.

My 2004 XL battery cover also got road rash going about 130 kph in the middle of nowhere last year. I stopped and picked her up. Took to a paint shop, and the guy repaired it 100%. (Way cheaper than putting a new one here). I drilled a hole and attached it to the frame by a plastic wire.

I have noticed a reccuring pattern amongst the threads that I think would be in HD's best intrest to address. I personally have not yet been a victim but who wants to worry about: 1.Exploding Oil Tanks, a quality issue that Sporters don't deserve.
2. Battery Covers Fying Off. Geeze guys all it's gonna take, given the established history of this occurance, is for one to come off and hit another motorist in the face and...well, can you spell LIABILITY LAWSUIT?
3.Fuel Pump Reliability, I know you have dealt with this, so how about a recall on all bike models in jeoparty.

We Sportster owners truly love these machines with a passion and we should be able to piss and moan about paint or bling and such, but EXPLODING OIL TANKS?

Mikie


Thanks for the education! I knew about the battery covers, but not about the other two problems! Now it makes me wonder, did they fix these problems on the 2008 models...

I dunno for shure, but my answer is a HELL NO!!!

There is a fix for the exploding oil tanks.....








Move to a warmer climate! :doh

Sorry, I had to go there. I hope that they try to resolve these issues.