I WAS RIDING MY 2003 MID-WEST CHOPPERS MOTORCYCLE ON AUGUST 29TH, 2003. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN MY REAR SWINGARM ASSEMBLY ON MY MOTORCYCLE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. I ALMOST WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE SHIFTING OF THE SWINGARM ASSEMBLY. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME …
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I WAS RIDING MY 2003 MID-WEST CHOPPERS MOTORCYCLE ON AUGUST 29TH, 2003. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN MY REAR SWINGARM ASSEMBLY ON MY MOTORCYCLE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. I ALMOST WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE SHIFTING OF THE SWINGARM ASSEMBLY. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SHOP IN THE AREA - I DID. THE SHOP DISASSEMBLED THE SWINGARM ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THE SWINGARM PIVOT BOLT TO BE SNAPPED JUST WHERE IT FITS INTO THE BUSHING. MID-WEST CHOPPERS (GALESBURG, IL) WAS CONTACTED AND INSTRUCTED ME THAT PRO-STREET FRAMEWORKS (HENRYETTA, OK) WAS RESPONSIBLE. I HAD THE SHOP (DD CUSTOMS, GURNEE, IL) CONTACT PSFW AND PSFW ADMITTEDLY HAD ISSUES WITH THEIR "TRADITIONAL V-STYLE" SWINGARM ASSEMBLY AND SAID THEY WOULD SEND A NEW SPACER AND BOLT. AFTER SEEING THE NEW SPACER AND BOLT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS FIX PROBABLY WOULD NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WOULD PUT ME IN JUST AS MUCH RISK AS BEFORE. I AM NOW STUCK WITH AND $30,000 MOTORCYCLE THAT IS QUESTIONABLY SAFE AT BEST. MID-WEST CHOPPERS (S. LHEUREUX) INSTRUCTED ME THAT THIS WAS A BAD BATCH FROM PSFW AND THEY WERE WORKING TO RECALL SOME OF THOSE ASSEMBLIES. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING A RECALL. SOMEONE WILL MOST LIKELY DIE BECAUSE OF THIS SWINGARM ASSEMBLY - ONE THAT HAS BEEN SOLD TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP ME PREVENT ANY FUTURE FATALITIES DUE TO THIS UNSAFE PRODUCT. THE VIN IS [XXX] - A VIN MID-WEST CHOPPERS HAS ASSURED ME IS VALID, HOWEVER NO ONE ELSE THINKS SO. SINCERELY, [XXX] *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A "FLOATING" 1" DIAMETER SWING ARM PIVOT BOLT SPACER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE PIVOT BOLT COULD BEND AND POSSIBLY FRACTURE, AFFECTING REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL WELD A LARGER PIVOT BOLT SPACER TO THE FRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 13, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MID-WEST AT 1-309-342-7433 OR WWW.MIDWESTCHOPPERS.COM.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE04007 · Sudden Rear Suspension Misalignment
Opened Jan 16, 2004 · Closed Mar 18, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:rear
THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT USING A SOFTAIL-STYLE FRAME PRODUCED BY PRO-STREET FRAMEWORKS OF HENRYETTA, OKLAHOMA.THESE FRAMES HAD 1 O.D. FREE-FLOATING SWINGARM LEFT-SIDE PIVOT BOLT SPACERS.DUE TO INADEQUATE PIVOT BOLT SUPPORT, THIS DESIGN ALLOWED THE PIVOT BOLT TO DEFLECT AND, IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE, FRACTURE.WHETHER THE PIVOT BOLT DEFLECTED (BENT) OR FRACTURED, REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS AFFECTED AND MOTORCYCLE CONTROL COULD BE COMPROMISED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.IN SOME INSTANCES, RIDERS WOULD BECOME AWARE OF THE CONDITION BECAUSE DRIVE BELT TENSION WOULD BE REDUCED AND/OR THE REAR TIRE WOULD RUB ON THE FENDER.TO REMEDY THIS CONDITION, MWC HAS ADVISED THE AGENCY THAT IT CONTACTED ALL AFFECTED OWNERS BY TELEPHONE AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE A 1.75 O.D. SPACER WELDED TO THE SWINGARM.MWC WILL FOLLOW UP WITH LETTERS TO THE OWNERS.WITH THIS RECALL, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension:rear
THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT USING A SOFTAIL-STYLE FRAME PRODUCED BY PRO-STREET FRAMEWORKS OF HENRYETTA, OKLAHOMA.THESE FRAMES HAD 1 O.D. FREE-FLOATING SWINGARM LEFT-SIDE PIVOT BOLT SPACERS.DUE TO INADEQUATE PIVOT BOLT SUPPORT, THIS DESIGN ALLOWED THE PIVOT BOLT TO DEFLECT AND, IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE, FRACTURE.WHETHER THE PIVOT BOLT DEFLECTED (BENT) OR FRACTURED, REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS AFFECTED AND MOTORCYCLE CONTROL COULD BE COMPROMISED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.IN SOME INSTANCES, RIDERS WOULD BECOME AWARE OF THE CONDITION BECAUSE DRIVE BELT TENSION WOULD BE REDUCED AND/OR THE REAR TIRE WOULD RUB ON THE FENDER.TO REMEDY THIS CONDITION, MWC HAS ADVISED THE AGENCY THAT IT CONTACTED ALL AFFECTED OWNERS BY TELEPHONE AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE A 1.75 O.D. SPACER WELDED TO THE SWINGARM.MWC WILL FOLLOW UP WITH LETTERS TO THE OWNERS.WITH THIS RECALL, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION.
Suspension:rear
THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT USING A SOFTAIL-STYLE FRAME PRODUCED BY PRO-STREET FRAMEWORKS OF HENRYETTA, OKLAHOMA.THESE FRAMES HAD 1 O.D. FREE-FLOATING SWINGARM LEFT-SIDE PIVOT BOLT SPACERS.DUE TO INADEQUATE PIVOT BOLT SUPPORT, THIS DESIGN ALLOWED THE PIVOT BOLT TO DEFLECT AND, IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE, FRACTURE.WHETHER THE PIVOT BOLT DEFLECTED (BENT) OR FRACTURED, REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS AFFECTED AND MOTORCYCLE CONTROL COULD BE COMPROMISED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.IN SOME INSTANCES, RIDERS WOULD BECOME AWARE OF THE CONDITION BECAUSE DRIVE BELT TENSION WOULD BE REDUCED AND/OR THE REAR TIRE WOULD RUB ON THE FENDER.TO REMEDY THIS CONDITION, MWC HAS ADVISED THE AGENCY THAT IT CONTACTED ALL AFFECTED OWNERS BY TELEPHONE AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE A 1.75 O.D. SPACER WELDED TO THE SWINGARM.MWC WILL FOLLOW UP WITH LETTERS TO THE OWNERS.WITH THIS RECALL, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION.
2003 MID-WEST Choppers Motorcycle Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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