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Interesting and totally believable. I have encountered many instances of overseas products not meeting specs. I doubt an inspection report or MTR even exists on the bolt in question.
I now have my bike back from the dealer, they replaced the entire rear shock assembly as well as the rear fender. The stock replacement bolt they installed in the adjuster, may or may not be a grade 8 part. It is simply a 1/4-20x1 Torx head bolt. I replaced it with a sure enough grade 8 socket head cap screw for my own satisfaction, and added a zip tie teather of sorts to keep it from falling into the shock, if the bolt breaks again. I will keep a close eye on this from now on. The service manager did tell me that H-D is aware if the issue, is seeing it happen more frequently and they expect a tech bulletin out at some point. Not soon enough apparently!
Thanks for the update, it would not surprise me either if the bolts are not what they say they are as quality control seems to have gone out the window at H-D these days.
For reference those lines on the head of the Button head Torx indicate that it is a grade 8 bolt, but I think I will still change ours out too as a precaution.
I now have my bike back from the dealer, they replaced the entire rear shock assembly as well as the rear fender. The stock replacement bolt they installed in the adjuster, may or may not be a grade 8 part. It is simply a 1/4-20x1 Torx head bolt. I replaced it with a sure enough grade 8 socket head cap screw for my own satisfaction, and added a zip tie teather of sorts to keep it from falling into the shock, if the bolt breaks again. I will keep a close eye on this from now on. The service manager did tell me that H-D is aware if the issue, is seeing it happen more frequently and they expect a tech bulletin out at some point. Not soon enough apparently!
There ya go! Them black oxide allen screws from Home Depot are high carbon and hard as diamonds but they do get surface rust easy. Maybe slather a thin layer of grease on it for long term application. Also, why not get one slightly longer and hit it with a Teflon lock-nut on the back side of it? I wouldn't trust the threads very long in that application.
There ya go! Them black oxide allen screws from Home Depot are high carbon and hard as diamonds but they do get surface rust easy. Maybe slather a thin layer of grease on it for long term application. Also, why not get one slightly longer and hit it with a Teflon lock-nut on the back side of it? I wouldn't trust the threads very long in that application.
They are black oxide coated, they are not from Home Depot, They are from Fastenal, and do have a rust preventative coating on them. As for the nut, the previous failure was at the bolt head and not in the threads, use of a nut wouldve made no difference. If this one does start to rust, I have some cad plated and some zinc finish grade 8s handy as well to give a try.
Replaced out our two Deluxes with quality high tensile grade 8 socket heads & yes there is on the 3/4 inch, length to put a lock nut on the other side!
HD replaced the rear shock assembly and rear fender under warranty for me. I replaced the factory bolt with a grade 8 socket head capscrew as shown in the pics I posted. I have put 18K miles on since with no further issues, but I do continue to keep an eye on it. Hopefully yours works out as well.
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