Shock Mounting Bolt sheared in two
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From:
Shock Mounting Bolt sheared in two
Has anyone had this happen to them?: I was riding (25 mph in the rain), hit a modest bump, and the upper mounting bolt on the rear shock sheared in half. I pulled over with no accident, called the tow truck, and had both upper mounting bolts on the shocks replaced. The MoCo's answer from Milwaukee- "We don't know why this would happen."
I don't know what would have happened if I had been riding with a passenger at highway speed! Jay
I don't know what would have happened if I had been riding with a passenger at highway speed! Jay
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
From: ca
I had the same thing happen to me. I had to drill that sucker out of the frame. And belive me that was one hard a$$ bolt. It also bent the cover on my left shock. It was the perfect excuse to get some black 412.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 7
From: Gulf Coast
Lost one on the way to Sturgis,don't actually know how long I'd ridden with it like that. Was way over loaded with luggage and camping gear and saw the broken upper shock bolt when I unloaded at the camp site. Do remember hitting a hellofa big frost heave a hundred or so miles outta Sturgis but didn't really feel any problem other than a minor vibration which I attributed to rain grooves in the road. One thing for sure,one Progressive heavy duty can carry a hell of a load.
I wrapped a bag around the offending shock to keep it from scratching the fender mount and rode the bike into Sturgis the next morn and got one of the tent mechanics to fix it rather than riding all the way back to Rapid City to the Harley dealer. Guy only charged me fourty bucks. My extended warranty deductable would have been fifty bucks.
Pics kinda blurry but you can see the bag wrapped around the shock. Bike didn't really set much lower than normal.
Good Luck
Tom
I wrapped a bag around the offending shock to keep it from scratching the fender mount and rode the bike into Sturgis the next morn and got one of the tent mechanics to fix it rather than riding all the way back to Rapid City to the Harley dealer. Guy only charged me fourty bucks. My extended warranty deductable would have been fifty bucks.
Pics kinda blurry but you can see the bag wrapped around the shock. Bike didn't really set much lower than normal.
Good Luck
Tom
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 141
Likes: 43
From:
Happened to me on my 06 Super Glide.Hit a pothole on the 101 @ about 85. Damn lucky my wife wasn't with me or that both bolts didn't break. A shock at the end of a 4" long bolt holding up a 650+lb bike, not counting rider, is not a good design. I rode home on 1 shock,replaced all the bolts. I dropped the rear fender and cut a screwdriver slot into the end of the bolt with a dremel tool. I removed the broken end with a large screwdriver.
If I am riding hard or have a passenger I keep this experience in mind.
If I am riding hard or have a passenger I keep this experience in mind.
