When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Long story short, my wife and kids got me an early Father's Day gift and upgraded the radio and speakers for my '16 SGS. Picked the bike up yesterday and rode a while with friends. This morning I go to install a 3 pocket fairing pouch. I removed the 3 bolts and went to install the pouch and put the shield back in place. Got the center bolt in and if your facing the fairing, the left bolt went in fine but the right bolt will only go in maybe 1-2 turns and completely stops. My guess is the cross threaded it when putting the fairing and shield all back together.
I am going to contact the dealer when they open Tuesday and see what they will do to take care of this. In the mean time does anyone know a part number and how to get them out?
remove the screw, you can get a tap to recut the threads at any hardware store.
the steel tap is harder than the brass but use a lube.
careful as the brass is into plastic and you don;t want to break it loose.
I replaced the stock screws with stainless phillips heads- I used a die to chase or clean up the threads on the screws to remove burrs or poor machining.
and I have a little lube in there to ease then in and out
( I use phillips as I swap windscreens alot...a few times a year...taller seat for touring, taller windscreen...shorter seat for in town, shorter windscreen)
moving forward when starting a machine screw or bolt, go counter clockwise by hand until you feel a click- at this point the threads are lined up and you can go clockwise.
once started by hand, switch to a tool
on the 1996~2013 fairing the size is 1/4-20
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Apr 10, 2016 at 02:31 PM.
You can get the brass inserts from the dealer, I have replaced mine. The replacements will have a screwdriver slot on one end put it in the hole as it helps to cut the threads to hold it in. I use a 1/4-20 x 1" hex head bolt with a nylon locknut threaded on the bolt with the nylon end towards the end away from the hex head. Put it on deep enough to thread the insert on the bolt about 3/4s the length of the insert
+1 on MK's response.
If you choose to get a tap, be sure it's a bottom tap as the standard tapered will not get you the depth needed to start thread cleaning.
I'm surprised the screw was cross threaded and fully seated. I'd think the brass insert would have stripped spun itself inside the faring mount hole first.
Sometimes the mounting screw will bite on the edge of the plastic faring material right at the beginning of the screw insertion process. Repositioning it helps it find home.
It was a pain to remove the bolt, which was my first clue and I knew was going to be a problem on the reinstall. How does that brass insert come out? I'm sure Tuesday this will be another round and round battle with this dealership.
Unless you simply choose to wait (and that's OK too), I offer this; Problem solving can be a good learning experience. Why not pick up the bottom tap with the tee handle at the hardware store and try yourself? It could be fixed today. I can't imagine what more the dealer would do. How to remove an insert? Well, they're driven in...one way. So, how to un-drive it is the mystery. I've stripped two simply by overtightening...and it doesn't take much. Then they come out real easy! At that point JBWeld is your friend.
I'd hate to see the dealer hack you for whatever $$$ (they don't call it HD for nothing). But then maybe they might do the repair for nothing...thatta be great.
Unless you simply choose to wait (and that's OK too), I offer this; Problem solving can be a good learning experience. Why not pick up the bottom tap with the tee handle at the hardware store and try yourself? It could be fixed today. I can't imagine what more the dealer would do. How to remove an insert? Well, they're driven in...one way. So, how to un-drive it is the mystery. I've stripped two simply by overtightening...and it doesn't take much. Then they come out real easy! At that point JBWeld is your friend.
I'd hate to see the dealer hack you for whatever $$$ (they don't call it HD for nothing). But then maybe they might do the repair for nothing...thatta be great.
Good luck
I hear what you're saying about the dealer and the $$$$. I've taken these out myself a half dozen times or more trying out different windshields. I always hand start them and am very careful. I'm not able to get to a parts store today to find a tap set. And the 1/4x20 and some others I just need to keep on hand anyways. I don't want to create more of a problem trying to get the brass piece out if I don't have to.
I do know however this was a dealer screw up, as the bolt was a pain coming out. Of course now, it'll be their word against mine on the whole issue. With that said I don't have much faith in this dealership, since my hydraulic clutch went out at 176 miles and due to their renovation didn't have time to come get my bike from my garage or fix it. Another dealer was at my house Oman hour of a phone call and took care of the problem. If my kids and wife hadn't done this I would have never gone back to that dealer to begin with.
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.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
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.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Batwing Fairing Brass Windshield Bushing
