I'll admit, I've been accused of having more than one screw loose at times. but I've lost a few bolts and screws on the Sportster lately and i wonder if you guys have any advice.

Anything to keep these things from falling off? I've lost an engine mounting bolt, a few muffles mounting bolts, the seat bolt and a bolt off my luggage rack. I've never owned a bike that has lost so many parts so quickly. *sigh*

Specifically with the rack, I am wondering where I can find a replacement. It's this one here: http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/detachable-solo-rack-pa-01-5351207--1 and the silver bolt is missing from the quick attach cam system on it. (you can see the silver bolt on the second picture there). It looks like a special low profile bolt head.

Where do you guys go to get replacement bolts and how do you keep them from falling off?

Thanks!

 

Blue loctite keeps them on

 

I second the blue locite on the bolts. Anytime I take a bolt out I put a dab on for good luck. Ive only found one application for red and it didn't even work anyway.

 

Red works even better.....

 

Thanks guys, that's kind of what I was already thinking. I was just not wanting to have to think about putting Loctite on every single bolt... It'm surprised that it's not the same kinds of bolts that keep falling off, but different ones from anywhere on the bike.

I found the latch clips I need for the luggage rack on ebay, so I should be able to replace that screw.

Thanks

 

EVERY Single Bolt gets Locktite on my ride...Its very cheap insurance

 

Lol, true but let's not mislead a guy who may not know the difference. Red is MUCH harder to remove, often requiring heat.

Application guide: http://www.loctite.ph/php/content_da...tion_Guide.pdf

 

I've had good luck finding replacement hardware at the local Ace hardware store. I keep two tubes of blue loctite so I never run out, go through a tube in a summer usually. For bolts with nuts - you can often find locking type nuts for those, but of course they're more difficult to deal with in tight spots. I also try to get at least grade 5 when I get new hardware. Using a torque wrench helps, too, not just to avoid too loose, but to avoid stripping them, real easy to do on some of the soft metal parts like primary covers. Red is for the two big nuts in the primary case and rear wheel pulley, can't think of anything else at the moment I use it for on Harleys.

 

+1 - Red Loctite should generally only be used only in the few places the Service Manual calls for it. If you don't have and use the Service Manual, you don't need Red.

 

I use blue on almost everything and in 8 years have never lost one bolt.
Where things often go wrong is once you torque down a fastener with loctite on it NEVER TOUCH IT AGAIN, lots of times people "check" their fasteners from time to time and as soon as you move the bolt the Loctite bond is lost and it can rattle out as if you never had Loctite on it in the first place.
If you are concerned about a particular fastener coming loose take a sharpie and put a dot on the head at 12 o'clock, then you can visually check that it hasn't moved without having to touch it again.