Who is affected by the Harley-Davidson USA brake fluid recall?
Im Moment kursieren viele Meldungen zu einer freiwilligen Rückrufaktion von Harley-Davidson USA, in der auf mögliche Bremsprobleme bei einigen Modellen hingewiesen wird.
Es betrifft 31 Modelle aus den Baujahren 2008 bis 2011, die in den USA zurückgerufen werden. Die Wirkung der Bremskraft kann im Falle einer Notbremsung möglicherweise nicht die erwartete Kraft entwickeln.
There have been 43 complaints in the USA and so far 3 cases where accidents may have occurred as a result, but only possibly. However, the traffic authority in the USA is strict in suspected cases and forces the manufacturer to act until clarification is obtained.
Es betrifft Fahrzeuge der Modelle V-Rod , Touring and CVO Tourer, mit ABS System, wenn die Bremsflüssigkeit älter als zwei Jahre ist. Dann könnten wegen Ablagerungen in der Bremsflüssigkeit die Probleme beim Bremsen auftreten.
If you have your vehicle serviced by an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer, you don't have to worry about this; after two years, the brake fluid is changed according to the checklist during the inspection.
Maintenance should generally be carried out according to the manufacturer's checklist!
What has already happened, however, is that customers have not had this done because of the effort and costs, which can be around 100 euros. So you should check carefully, even if you have bought a used vehicle with a checkbook, whether the item has been excluded.
Es gibt derzeit noch keinen offiziellen Recall in Deutschland, wer ein importiertes Fahrzeug aus der Modellgruppe hat, sollte es auf jeden Fall in Auftrag geben.
You should not assume that Harley-Davidson will cover the costs if changing the brake fluid after 2 years is on the checklist anyway.
Conclusion: Wer nach Scheckheft und Checkliste die Wartung beim Harley-Davidson authorized dealer machen läßt, den betrifft es nicht und wer sie nicht an den Wartungsplan gehalten hat, oder ein Importfahrzeug, oder Fahrzeug ohne nachvollziehbaren Wartungsplan (Werkstattrechnungen) fährt, sollte auf jeden Fall die Bremsflüssigkeit wechseln.
When should the brake fluid be changed?
This recommendation also applies to cars and not just motorcycles. The brake fluid should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, the driving performance is not necessarily dependent on this, the brake fluid can form deposits and a special characteristic is that it attracts water, which lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid and gas bubbles form during heavy braking, which can lead to a loss of brake pressure. The gas bubbles are compressible and form a buffer under pressure, which does not transfer the brake pressure to the brake cylinder. Porous brake lines are also a real problem, and are usually checked during the main inspection, but you should always keep an eye on the condition of the brake hoses yourself. It is also possible to have the brake fluid checked, but not without changing the seal afterwards. As an unskilled person, you should definitely keep your hands off the brake system. If you do not bleed the system properly, you will have more problems afterwards than before. A specialist workshop will not only change the brake fluid, but also flush the line to remove all water residues. And the disposal should only be done professionally, even if you like to work on your bike yourself, you should not take any chances with the brakes.
Bildnachweis: Symbolfoto Harleysite
