Sheared Off Rear Pulley Bolts
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 351
Likes: 2
Same thing happened to me last night. Rolled my certified used 2002 Road King Classic off the dealer floor less than 2 weeks ago, put 900 miles on it. The bolts sheared off on the interstate last night, all of the bolts gone and bits of metal left from the gear. Signed up for HOG on my iphone on the side of the interstate and called 20 seconds after getting my customer number in an email for the free tow.
Glad I got the extended service, but the dealer just kinda said I should inspect the bike before every ride. After agreeing to repair it of course.
I generally check my tire pressure and and constantly looking at what I think is a beautiful bike, but I wouldn't have known to get down and look at the bolts (half of which are hidden by the frame and belt guard) before every single ride. Any other nuts I'm supposed to know to go around and test before every ride? The certified tech didnt catch this 11 days ago when they still had it?
Not a happy me.
Glad I got the extended service, but the dealer just kinda said I should inspect the bike before every ride. After agreeing to repair it of course.
I generally check my tire pressure and and constantly looking at what I think is a beautiful bike, but I wouldn't have known to get down and look at the bolts (half of which are hidden by the frame and belt guard) before every single ride. Any other nuts I'm supposed to know to go around and test before every ride? The certified tech didnt catch this 11 days ago when they still had it?
Not a happy me.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 239
From: northeast
curious, after reading this whole thread do you think them coming loose could be caused by the tech's retorquing them during the 1000 mile check up maybe breaking the loctight seal in the hub?
Novice
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
From: Richmond,VA
Well mine was a "certified pre-owned" but I kind of mentioned that Thursday when I went in to check on the progress. Since I had just bought the bike and assumed it was gone over for harley to give it that designation. Maybe the tech had not torched the nuts down enough after taking off the pulley?
The dealer kind of laughed and said it wasn't a possibility since to be certified a tech just kind of walks around it and takes stock. They wouldn't have taken anything off.
I don't know if that made me feel better or worse...
The dealer kind of laughed and said it wasn't a possibility since to be certified a tech just kind of walks around it and takes stock. They wouldn't have taken anything off.
I don't know if that made me feel better or worse...
Novice
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
From: Richmond,VA
Well trying not to be too nervous that they are gonna screw with me, but the service plan is sending an inspector out to the dealer now before they approve the repairs. It basically sounds like a whole new back end, swing arm, bearings, pulley, axel, belt, tire, ect. Those bolt heads shreaded a bunch of stuff.
All on a bike I haven't made the first payment on yet.
All on a bike I haven't made the first payment on yet.
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
Had this happen to me but the bike (FLHTC) spit me off lowside at about 20-25 mph. I think this problem could be solved simply by requiring either lock washers, or safety wire through the heads of the bolts. This is an engineering problem, just as someone earlier stated, that could easily be solved. I would hope that HD would revisit this issue. Since it is a safety issue also..( my bike went down and suffered cosmetic and crash bar damage, this is a customer concern issue. Also..as you all may have been told,My Service rep said that HD does not cover "critical fastener" failures..If so many of us are being asked to pick up the damage tab ourselves, why, in the interest of customer safety and customer satisfaction issues has no solution been forwarded. Or has it and I missed the memo. My bike is an 07 FLHTC. just wonderin'...Anyone?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 5
From: Flatlander
The salesman who sold me my 07 Street Bob had the same thing
happen to his 06 Street Bob, not long after I bough mine.
He had a new wheel put on.
Traded my 06 SB in on a 09 NT, I still check the bolts just to be safe.
It’s still shouldn’t happen, I seen this problem to many times.
happen to his 06 Street Bob, not long after I bough mine.
He had a new wheel put on.
Traded my 06 SB in on a 09 NT, I still check the bolts just to be safe.
It’s still shouldn’t happen, I seen this problem to many times.
Stage II
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Bolts Sheared Off...
I had this happen to my 06 streetbob this weekend 3 weeks after it's 10K service visit... Is it possible that when they inspect those bolts that perhaps they are accidentally cracking them without knowing it when they check the torque?,,, I understand that check is done at the 10K interval.
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Joe Kucinski
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
It happened to my old Fatboy, now I carry a 5/8 wrench in my tool bag just in case, I check all 5 bolts monthly and everytime before I go on a long trip, better be safe 
.
Read my post here
.Read my post here
