2003 Honda VTX1800

(1) 2003 HONDA VTX 1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. WHEN REMOVING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, (2) I DISCOVERED THE SMALL BEARINGS PRESSED INTO THE DRIVEN FLANGE (MOUNTED ON REAR WHEEL) WERE VERY ROUGH AND HARD TO SPIN, USING MY INDEX FINGER IN THE AXLE HOLE. I REMOVED THE FLANGE FROM THE WHEEL AND DISCOVERED THE BEARING SEAL MISSING, PROBABLY CHEWED UP; THE CAGE THAT SPACES THE BALL BEARINGS HAD DISINTEGRATED INTO LITTLE PIECES AND HAD BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE BEARING/SLEEVE AREA ONTO THE MAIN REAR AXLE BEARING (WHICH IS STILL OKAY); THE TWO BEARINGS INSIDE THE FLANGE WERE ROUGH AND FELT LIKE THEY RATCHETED INSTEAD OF TURNING SMOOTHLY. (3) I PRESSED THEM OUT, MEASURED THE HOUSING BORE, CLEANED IT AND SLIGHTLY ENLARGED (APPROX 0.0005 IN.) THE BOTTOM OF THE BORE WITH MACHINE TOOLS AND SANDING DRUMS TO WHERE THE NEW BEARINGS ARE A PRESS FIT WITHOUT BINDING -- THE ORIGINAL BORE SEEMED SLIGHTLY TAPERED -CONE SHAPED- AND CAUSED THE OUTER BEARING RACE TO PINCH DOWN ON THE BALLS AND REMOVE ANY CLEARANCE BUILT INTO THE BEARING, CAUSING THE RATCHETING FEELING. REFERRED TO THIS SITE BY VTXOA (VTX OWNER'S ASSOCIATION) WEBSITE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR IS LOCATED ON THE FUEL TANK AND DOES NOT INDICATE WHICH REAR TURN SIGNAL ILLUMINATES. THE SWITCH TO INITIATE THE TURN SIGNAL IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT HANDLE BAR AND ONCE ENGAGED RETURNS TO A NEUTRAL POSITION WHICH ALSO FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE WHICH TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STRUCTURE FRAME APPEARED UNEVEN AND PHYSICALLY FELT UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 6/27/2006 - WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MOTORCYCLE LEANS TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FRAME IS CROOKED. *NM

2003 HONDA VTX 1800 RETRO REAR WHEEL WAS REMOVED FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND FOUND THE REAR FLANGE BEARING TO BE ROUGHLY TURNING INDICATING PREMATURE FAILURE. MANY CASES OF THIS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN THESE SAME MODELS AND NO FACTORY RECALL HAS BEEN DIRECTED. THIS BEARING FAILURE IF NOT DETECTED CAN CAUSE REAR AXLE DAMAGE AND FAILURE AND OR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO BOTH OPERATOR AND PASSENGER. *JB

2003 HONDA VTX1800R MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE UNIT BEARING FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 20K MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE REAR WHEEL REMOVAL, THE TWO RADIAL BALL BEARINGS P/N: 6304UU (20X47X20.9) (TOYO) WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERELY DAMAGED, MISSING BEARINGS ETC.... THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DEATH AND INJURY AS A POSSIBLE RESULT ALSO WHO EVER IT WAS AT HONDA REPORTING THE VTX TO HAVE 106HP SHOULD BE FLAGGED FOR A FLAT OUT LIE. *JB

DT: 2003 HONDA VTX1800 RETRO CAST. THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES KEEP FALLING OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES THEY HAVE CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 60 TIMES SINCE HE HAS OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS GIVING HIM THE LENSES AND HE FIXES IT HIMSELF. WHEN THIS FALLS OF, IT COULD HIT SOMEONE BEHIND THE CONSUMER AND INJURE THEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE LENS KEEPS FALLING OFF.*AK