Things Getting Hot for H-D Engines

[PlanB]

Action Suit Over Air-Cooled Engine Heat Advances
by Jason Giacchino

There is an ever-increasing movement of folks who feel Harley-Davidson has taken the air-cooled engine about as far as it can go. It seems like, without fail, anticipation rises among industry insiders and consumers alike that H-D is finally going to deliver upon rumors of making the move to liquid cooling. Of course back in 2001 when the V-Rod was first announced, it almost appeared as though the air-cooled days were numbered, but in the decade that's followed, H-D has silenced its skeptics by proving the air-cooled Evolution engine and liquid-cooled Revolution design can share a product line in harmony.

Well, believe it or not, there are more than just technology hounds taking a stand against H-D's reluctance to adopt modern liquid cooling. A federal judge ruled that a class action lawsuit against Harley-Davidson, claiming Harley engines run so hot that they pose a constant danger of burning their operators/passengers, is going forward.

The sympathetic arbitrator sided with four bikers claiming their Harley-Davidson motorcycles were defective in design.



The complaint goes on to state that since 1999, Twin Cam engines between 88 and 110 cubic inches are capable of producing excess heat - enough in fact to cause clothing to catch fire in normal operating conditions.

The suit also alleges that the motors burn hot enough to pose a danger of burn injury to both riders and passengers. As if all of these concerns for personal safety aren't valid enough, the suit even contains evidence that such high operating temperatures causes premature engine wear and transmission failures in certain models.

"The Motor Company" was hoping the Eastern District of California court would dismiss the suit under state law, but this latest word that the U.S. District Judge sided with the biker complainants is big news indeed.

Of course, the allegations of a few riders will unlikely sway the entire manufacturing process of Harley-Davidson, but there is legitimate concern that as the suit passes into higher courts, other sympathetic judges may determine that such high operating temperatures are in fact design defects and hence affect not only future engine production, but retroactively demand updates to existing H-Ds via mandatory recalls.

Further complicating matters, the plaintiffs are relying upon undisputed evidence of Harley marketing larger engines, which are unable to meet emission standards in many states (one of those being California).

On the flip side, those opposed to the idea of H-D facing legal action for simply doing what they've always done claim that higher operating temperatures on air-cooled motors are to be expected and fall under the jurisdiction of common sense.

Things Getting Hot for Harley-Davidson's Air-Cooled Engines - HDForums.com Harley Davidson Forums

[Slash]

The suit was filed by 4 numbnut guys from California

Pure "Take Care Of Poor Me" Nanny-State Bullshit,there's plenty of fine liquid cooled motorcycles for people like this,they should have done their homework and bought one.

The Pussification of America continues.

Rode my '08 FLHTCU in plenty of upper 90's and 100 degree weather without crying about excess heat

[mes]

so 4 assholes go out and buy Harleys knowing full well that they get hot. water cooled or not you are going to get your ass burned if you don't pay attention. bikes aren't for pussies

[tcspannerwrench]

Sounds to me like another stab at killing American manufacturing jobs! there is no way any company could recall that many vehicles and retro fit a cooling system (not that i would let them do mine) it would bankrupt a solid company.

Mes is right if riding was for pussy's every "Metro" sexual would do it

[Berserker]

Ya th engine is hot, but not so hot its a danger unless you touch hot metal, which is a risk with any engine.

My aftermarket 01 is alot cooler. But its not the governments business.

[Slash]

So these 4 guys (AKA Whining Pussies) from California are bitching about motorcycles produced by a manufacturer who was forced by their state to meet the most demanding emissions standards of all 50 States.

The Company’s motorcycles that are sold in the United States are subject to certification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for compliance with applicable emissions and noise standards and by the State of California Air Resources Board (CARB) with respect to CARB’s more stringent emissions standards. Company motorcycles sold in California are also subject to evaporative emissions standards that are unique to California. The Company’s motorcycle products have been designed to comply fully with all such applicable standards. The EPA has implemented tail pipe emission standards for 2010, which are harmonized with the California emissions standards.

This is from:
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-K
 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2010
􏰀 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to
Commission file number 1-9183 Harley-Davidson, Inc.

[Martyvz]

Thank God I have an 883!

[pquirk]

Originally Posted by Martyvz

Thank God I have an 883!

Me too. Test rode some 103s the past few weeks, they are way hotter indeed. My 883 doesn't get over 180, ever. The 103s ran about 210 under normal conditions. Even smell hot. Don't give a shit though, I reckon their designed to handle that.

[Berserker]

Originally Posted by pquirk

Even smell hot. Don't give a shit though, I reckon their designed to handle that.

Now that is an interesting assumption, which I would like to believe.

I did put a cooler on my 07 as soon as I bought it. I can't feel any gain with it, but it works in theory. I also run synthetic, for the same reason.

[pquirk]

Originally Posted by Berserker

Now that is an interesting assumption, which I would like to believe.

I did put a cooler on my 07 as soon as I bought it. I can't feel any gain with it, but it works in theory. I also run synthetic, for the same reason.

Lol, I'm an optimist. I don't think 215 is too hot for these motors do you? I know guys who have 1250 kits in their sporties that run 200+ no problem. I don't know much about the BT motors, but I haven't heard of a spontaneous combustion epidemic as yet. Sounds like these CA pansies just want someone to blame because they were stupid enough to burn themselves.