Swing arm bolt
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Stage II
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2
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From: Burbank, CA
Swing arm bolt
So I'm relatively new to road bikes. I bought my first bike about 3 months ago. It was a highly modified 06 Dyna that I got from an really cool older guy who had done a lot of riding but was ready to give it up and spend more time with his family.
The bike only had about 5.5k miles on it when I bought it and now has about 6k. It has Hines big radius pipes and stage 1 intake. I took it in for a 5k mile service right when I got it. I also purchased a Power Vision module from FuelMoto which worked great.
So last weekend when I was riding on the I-5 freeway the rear end suddenly started swaying all over the place. I was able to work my way to the side of the freeway and proceed to the next exit. Turns out the swing arm nut had come completely off and the swing arm bolt had worked its way out so far that the left side of the swing arm had come completely free.
As it was late at night the girlfriend came with some tools and a flashlight. After much effort I was finally able to work it back in. So I limped home on surface streets occasionally stopping to smack it with a hammer to work it back in.
So to get to my question... My local Harley shop seems to think it will be fine to just put a new nut on it and torque it down. I'm a little unsure about this though. I imagine that there must have been some major stress on that swing arm bolt, not to mention me hammering on it. Wondering what you guys think about this. I don't like the idea of that ever happening again.
Also shredded my rear tire as it ended up rubbing on the rear fender. I have already replaced this.
The bike only had about 5.5k miles on it when I bought it and now has about 6k. It has Hines big radius pipes and stage 1 intake. I took it in for a 5k mile service right when I got it. I also purchased a Power Vision module from FuelMoto which worked great.
So last weekend when I was riding on the I-5 freeway the rear end suddenly started swaying all over the place. I was able to work my way to the side of the freeway and proceed to the next exit. Turns out the swing arm nut had come completely off and the swing arm bolt had worked its way out so far that the left side of the swing arm had come completely free.
As it was late at night the girlfriend came with some tools and a flashlight. After much effort I was finally able to work it back in. So I limped home on surface streets occasionally stopping to smack it with a hammer to work it back in.
So to get to my question... My local Harley shop seems to think it will be fine to just put a new nut on it and torque it down. I'm a little unsure about this though. I imagine that there must have been some major stress on that swing arm bolt, not to mention me hammering on it. Wondering what you guys think about this. I don't like the idea of that ever happening again.
Also shredded my rear tire as it ended up rubbing on the rear fender. I have already replaced this.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 16
From: Blaine, WA
I don't see any reason not to replace the bolt and call it good. I would add some blue loctite to the nut and torque to spec but it should be just fine as long as there isn't any damage to the pivot shaft. Make sure you set your wheel alignment afterwards and get a manual for that thing - it will answer most questions about the bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
The only other thing I would add is that you should probably remove the swingarm (or move it away from the transmission far enough) so that you can inspect the transmission ...
Since the swing arm mounts through the transmission, I would ensure that when it came loose that it did not 'dick up' the transmission housing casting that supports the swing arm ...
Just me, maybe ...
See diagrams below ... the swingarm pivot mounts where I added the red line below ...
I'd probably also inspect the shock mounts to ensure they didn't get torn up from the forces which they are not supposed to be subjected to ... hopefully didn't weaken some other components in the rear suspension ... and avert a catastrophe waiting to happen ...
Good luck ... hope you don't find anything wrong ...
R/
'Chop
Since the swing arm mounts through the transmission, I would ensure that when it came loose that it did not 'dick up' the transmission housing casting that supports the swing arm ...
Just me, maybe ...
See diagrams below ... the swingarm pivot mounts where I added the red line below ...
I'd probably also inspect the shock mounts to ensure they didn't get torn up from the forces which they are not supposed to be subjected to ... hopefully didn't weaken some other components in the rear suspension ... and avert a catastrophe waiting to happen ...
Good luck ... hope you don't find anything wrong ...
R/
'Chop
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Stage II
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2
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From: Burbank, CA
Thanks for the info guys!
SURFOR Chop - I really appreciate the detailed information. I'll look for possible additional damage. Hopefully nothing else...
It did give me a pretty good scare. I was probably doing about 40-50 mph when it happened as the freeway was a little backed up. I can't imagine if it'd happened when I was doing 70 mph, or if I'd been in a turn.
I'm slowly learning more and more things to check on before I ride. :-)
Also, is this something they should have checked (re-torqued) at the 5k mile service? My service advisor said they only check it at the major services.
Thanks again.
SURFOR Chop - I really appreciate the detailed information. I'll look for possible additional damage. Hopefully nothing else...
It did give me a pretty good scare. I was probably doing about 40-50 mph when it happened as the freeway was a little backed up. I can't imagine if it'd happened when I was doing 70 mph, or if I'd been in a turn.
I'm slowly learning more and more things to check on before I ride. :-)
Also, is this something they should have checked (re-torqued) at the 5k mile service? My service advisor said they only check it at the major services.
Thanks again.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
I (and many others) recommend buying a Service Manual published by Harley Davidson (as opposed to Clymers, for example) for your 2006 Dyna ... they are published for each distinct model and year, so make sure you get the right one ...
They are somewhere between about $40 - $60 ... but, it is money well spent ...
Many also advise getting a parts manual ... I don't feel that is absolutely necessary (although it can come in handy sometimes) ... there is enough info on the internet that I feel it is safe to avoid that additional cost ...
I believe there is an electrical supplement ... but, there are wiring diagrams at the back of the service manual, so I don't think that is an absolute necessity either ...
The service manual has a table of maintenance services and the factory recommended interval ... I don't have my manual handy to see when the swingarm maintenance is supposed to occur ... I do not recall it being as early as 5k ...
Good luck ... hope the scare is the last one and you get many enjoyable miles from your bike ...
R/
'Chop
They are somewhere between about $40 - $60 ... but, it is money well spent ...
Many also advise getting a parts manual ... I don't feel that is absolutely necessary (although it can come in handy sometimes) ... there is enough info on the internet that I feel it is safe to avoid that additional cost ...
I believe there is an electrical supplement ... but, there are wiring diagrams at the back of the service manual, so I don't think that is an absolute necessity either ...
The service manual has a table of maintenance services and the factory recommended interval ... I don't have my manual handy to see when the swingarm maintenance is supposed to occur ... I do not recall it being as early as 5k ...
Good luck ... hope the scare is the last one and you get many enjoyable miles from your bike ...
R/
'Chop
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
...I bought my first bike about 3 months ago. It was a highly modified 06 Dyna...the swing arm nut had come completely off and the swing arm bolt had worked its way out so far that the left side of the swing arm had come completely free...Also shredded my rear tire as it ended up rubbing on the rear fender. I have already replaced this.
Get the service and parts manuals. And learn to do proper pre-ride inspections.
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