My 2010 Wide glide has about 10,500 miles on it. I started getting a loud "clunk! clunk!" in the front end when I hit little bumps. I suspected the stearing nut needed to be tightened. After tightening it, the sound was still there. I called my local Harley dealership and the service guy told me to check the front bolt on the gas tank. He said, "If it gets a little bit loose, the tank will rattle." I went out to my bike, grabbed the tank and shook it. It was loose. I tightened up the bolt and the problem was solved. When I get home I plan on taking the nut off and putting some thread-lock on it.

I just wanted to share this information with you guys. Glad I had an honest service guy to talk to and didn't have to take it to the shop. A dishonest shop may have charged a 1 hour minimum for the work.

 

Glad you had a good experience with the dealer. You'd be surprised how many loose tank bolts cause that clunking.

 

Thanks for the info. I have the same problem the last 2-3 days. Just saved me from a day off work to take the bike for inspection

Just check it and you are correct. same problem with loose tank bolt. Fixed!!!

 

Yup,...You'd be amazed how often this subject pops up here on the Forums. I'ts a common problem.

Good deal on your Maint. guy being a stand-up sort of fellow.

Best wishes, and Merry Christmas....Tim(HT)

 

I know on my '06 SB the rear gas tank bolt is slightly longer than the front one. Watch it if you have to remove and replace the tank. The rear bolt in the front mount will bottom out in the acorn nut and not tighten up, thus you will have the clunk again. I just guessing the same is true on a '10

 

By the way, werent there some recall/retrofit strengthening tabs that H-D had to add to the front tank mounts to keep them from shearing-off during a crash ?

 

Just ran into the same problem. Great fix! Thanks for the info.

 

Mine did the same thing after 4000 miles.

 

Another thing to check is the two allen bolts on the dash/console. I was getting a weird rattle/clunk sound and cured it by giving those a 1/4 turn each. (I also checked the tank bolts and they were fine)

 

Glad that is all it was. I was gonna suggest checking either the steering stem bearings or the star nut under the upper tree needing tightening.