99FLSTS Gremlins? - Harley Forum

StallionMarine · #1 12-16-2007, 09:01 PM

Ok I'm a newby here and have some questions regarding the repair history of my 99 FLSTS. It currently has apx 24,000 miles and has been in my opinion not a very reliable machine. I am curious as to weather this is normal or if this has just been a gremlin magnet. Here is my list of problems w/it since I bought it new in 99.

Starter replaced <10,000 miles, fortunately under warranty
Speedo replaced<10,000 miles, warranty
Rocker box gaskets 1x under warranty later 2x out of warranty (3x now)
Exhaust header weld failed at Y <10,000 miles, warranty
Spot lamps kept throwing circuit breaker and I would lose headlights too. I had the spot lamps wired separately from the headlights. So now if the spot lamps trip the breaker, I'll still have headlights.
Now the gasket at the base of one of the push rods is leaking like the Exxon Valdez, so here goes pulling the rocker boxes again to access the push rod base.
My frustration is I have been riding since I was 5 years old, and always wanted a Harley. I had numerous Hondas, and didn't have this many problems with a machine with the exception of a 76 Honda CB500T that ate clutches and trans. Owning this FLSTS has been a love/hate relationship. It's a nice looking black with blue trim. It's easy to ride, unlike 2 previous Gold Wings that were like climbing up on a horse. This isn't what I expected when I bought a HD. The bike has low miles as my work has me travel away a lot.
Ok, enough of my moaning about this bike. Is this much trouble with a 99 HD the norm?

Bikerbitch · #2 12-16-2007, 09:17 PM

It seems to be an huge Gremlin magnet you got there.

No, this is not normal.

#3 12-18-2007, 12:49 AM

Wow.

Get rid of that Bad piece of luck. If that was normal folks would not be buying Harley Davidsons.

StallionMarine · #4 12-18-2007, 01:02 PM

I thought something was wrong with this picture. Well it's paid for and I hate car/motorcycle payment hell. I've heard of problems with early Evo's and had the mad delusion I was making a good decision when I picked this one.
Getting to the age where I better start slamming some savings, so it's keep the thing and hope to be done boogering with repairs, or go without.
Glad no one thought I was here to bash HD, just frustrated with quality issues. Maybe it was built on a Monday after a rough weekend.

94flhtcu · #5 12-18-2007, 03:29 PM

I'd like to post my point of view, if you don't mind. First, I don't know about the norm... things happen... these all seem like somewhat normal instances to me, and you were fortunate enuff to get hd to fix most issues under warranty. Don't begin to compare it with the wings, as there's really no comparison. Road bikes, and that's it.

All these guys (and gals, huh bikerbitch?) are lucky , very lucky indeed, if they had NO problems at all with their scooters. I've had lots of problems with my old girl, so this does sound normal to me. After all, yer bike is 7 to 8 years old, with only 24k. Man, ya gotta ride that thang! You may not believe it, but it's harder on one to sit rather than to ride the hell out of it. You may have experienced more problems than you should have, but these are real minor, easily corrected things. If you were telling me it smokes, the crank pin came loose, or some real horrid fly apart mayhem took place then yes, I could see the point.

The thing about the lights bothers me... the original wiring of yer lights should work great... it may have been a bad circuit breaker, or a rubbed spot on the wire shorting to ground. With the lights wired independantly, the spots can be turned on seperate of the h-light. It's cool to do, but here, that's an infraction and they'll ticket ya. Was this a pro harley mechanic that did this work? Sounds like he didn't understand electricity.

Anyway, I just hate for someone to have gotten a bike, and it not be a good one. They cost too much. Are you mechanical? Even a little? You may find doing the repairs yourself to be gratifying. Honestly, it sounds like you could be saving money AND getting yer bike fixed right the first time. Get a manual and go to town. Those manuals are VERY WELL written, and I'd be surprised if you couldn't do SOME stuff yerself.

Plus, you are more familiar with the bike, and will understand the tech and what he's tellin ya... or know that he's NOT the one you want pokin around there. Once they step off the path and tell ya something that doesn't add up it's kinda fun to watch 'em stammer and squirm.

I'm just offering an alternate point of view. Who knows, maybe yer bike is trouble some. Have you ridden a new one? You should, even if only to make yerself feel better about the one you have.

Take care, good luck, and RIDE THAT THANG! (Just ribbin ya a little!)

frisco-rigid · #6 12-19-2007, 02:23 AM

Yeah 94,, a good point of view,, the best advice so far..
In a nut-shell the encouragement to learn to do for your own sickle is right-on.. If it's a gremlin magnet it's only cuz of who's been messin with it..
Unless the "shops mechanic" is your best bud it's a freakin crap shoot..

YOU are your sickles best friend,, only you know and feel when it's stumbling..
Get the manual..
When you learn to fix the baby you'll likely have no more trouble with that prob for a long time..
You have a good sickle, it just needs some care..