Dyna Glide Models Super Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

side cover removal problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 10:33 AM
  #1  
upflying's Avatar
upflying
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,844
Likes: 38,842
From: Post Falls, ID
Default side cover removal problem

I attempted to remove this side cover and the bolts just turn. It feels like the blind nuts under this cover broke free from their mounts..assuming the nuts are in some sort of plastic housing. How do I access the blind nuts or is it time to break out a drill to drill out the bolts?
Disclosure: This bike was stored for years in an unheated garage with high humidity. Gray fuzz is on some of the bolts so I suspect corrosion seized these bolts to the nuts.

 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 10:41 AM
  #2  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,726
Likes: 6,491
From: Honah Lee
Default

Try grabbing then with needle nose vice grips and pull up or out to lock the turning nut or retainer.

Works for removing my leather bags since the pressed in retainers spin in the bag mounting plate.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jan 15, 2025 at 10:46 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 10:53 AM
  #3  
upflying's Avatar
upflying
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,844
Likes: 38,842
From: Post Falls, ID
Default

Originally Posted by Jackie Paper
Try grabbing then with needle nose vice grips and pull up or out to lock the turning nut or retainer.

Works for removing my leather bags since the pressed in retainers spin in the bag mounting plate.
There is no access to the nuts with a needle nose.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 10:58 AM
  #4  
snake_eyes's Avatar
snake_eyes
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 1,933
From: Unreconstructed
Default

QUOTE=upflying;21917318]I attempted to remove this side cover and the bolts just turn. It feels like the blind nuts under this cover broke free from their mounts..assuming the nuts are in some sort of plastic housing. How do I access the blind nuts or is it time to break out a drill to drill out the bolts?
Disclosure: This bike was stored for years in an unheated garage with high humidity. Gray fuzz is on some of the bolts so I suspect corrosion seized these bolts to the nuts.
[/QUOTE]

I have a last model year Dyna so I do not have those bolts on the side, but I can tell you that the bolts on top are screwed into metal (brass?) sleeves that are inserted into the plastic housing. If they're just spinning, I would guess that the press fit of the sleeves into the plastic has given up or the plastic is cracked. You could try and pry them upward until you can get a grip on them then just yank them out.

EDIT: The inserts I mentioned above are circled here along with a nut that is holding the side cover on. Not really clear though how that nut would do anything given the diagram. It must be behind the plastic ECM.BCM box?

 

Last edited by snake_eyes; Jan 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 11:06 AM
  #5  
upflying's Avatar
upflying
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,844
Likes: 38,842
From: Post Falls, ID
Default

Originally Posted by snake_eyes
I have a last model year Dyna so I do not have those bolts on the side, but I can tell you that the bolts on top are screwed into metal (brass?) sleeves that are inserted into the plastic housing. If they're just spinning, I would guess that the press fit of the sleeves into the plastic has given up or the plastic is cracked. You could try and pry them upward until you can get a grip on them then just yank them out.
Makes sense, the brass sleeves broke free from the plastic. Electrolysis with steel and brass after 14 years. Not sure I can get a pry tool under the bolt heads, I'll let you know how it works out. I hate to bugger up ****. Looks like the small Allen bolts on the side come off first. Maybe the cover just pulls off from grommets. I feel stupid if that's how it comes off.
 

Last edited by upflying; Jan 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 11:07 AM
  #6  
cobra23's Avatar
cobra23
Road Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 953
From: Sarasota Florida
Default

I would look up your bike here and see how the bolts are attached, and then go from there. This link gets you to a page where you can input your bike and year.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...df149e2d790b/y
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 11:07 AM
  #7  
snake_eyes's Avatar
snake_eyes
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 1,933
From: Unreconstructed
Default

Originally Posted by cobra23
I would look up your bike here and see how the bolts are attached, and then go from there. This link gets you to a page where you can input your bike and year.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...df149e2d790b/y
That'll take you to the same image I just posted.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 11:10 AM
  #8  
fskitch's Avatar
fskitch
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 493
From: Northern CA
Default

The screws on the fuse box cover are decorative. The cover pulls off. Pins from the cover snap in. Since it’s been sitting a bit of force may be required. See #9 and #35 on image.
 

Last edited by fskitch; Jan 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 11:12 AM
  #9  
snake_eyes's Avatar
snake_eyes
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 1,933
From: Unreconstructed
Default

Originally Posted by fskitch
The screws on the fuse box cover are decorative. The cover pulls off. Pins from the cover snap in. Since it’s been sitting a bit of force may be required.
Nice! Just found that in another forum. Look at the diagram, 35 is the pin and 9 is the rubber grommet.
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2025 | 03:28 PM
  #10  
upflying's Avatar
upflying
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 35,844
Likes: 38,842
From: Post Falls, ID
Default

Originally Posted by fskitch
The screws on the fuse box cover are decorative. The cover pulls off. Pins from the cover snap in. Since it’s been sitting a bit of force may be required. See #9 and #35 on image.
Thanks, I'll take a senior moment and egg on my face for not realizing this fuse box cover just pulls off. My bad, appreciate the self-degradation I did on this thread.
 

Last edited by upflying; Jan 15, 2025 at 03:29 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:00 AM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE