Bigdaddy, I have no personal experience with it either, but I do remember a couple of threads on here that several people mentioned such experience. Just proves anything mechanical can break if not properly maintained.

 

Do a search on it there are quite a few

 

No joke! I had mine come dangerously loose. the bolts started to rub the frame.

I locktited the bolts, torqued them down, and marked the bolts as a visual indicator if they come loose again.

 

No. Do a search on this forum, you'll find plenty of examples. I also personally know at least 4 or 5 people who've had this experience over the past few years.

I would say it seems to happen in a few instances;
1) On a new bike
2) When you've had work done somewhere, which involved them removing the pulley
3) When you've removed the pulley and used the same bolts to put it back on
4) When the old pulley is removed & replaced with a new one, and the same bolts are used

To be safe, I recommend new bolts any time you install a pulley, and make sure they are torqued exactly to spec. Further, from what I can tell, it seems the chrome bolts are more likely to sheer.

 

+1 on what MidNitEviljust said, my sister had the bolts on her Deluxe let go just after exiting a freeway. Chrome bolts.

 

I had it happen to me. Check out my post. And yes it was a chrome bolt the dealer put on at time of purchase back in 2006. At that time HD didnt have a chrome cap bolt for the Street Bobs so they used one for a Softail. Not the right size....

 

Like anything else, HD's are engineered so stuff does not come loose, but like anything else, sh** happens, basic safety tells you that you should inspect your ride regularly (liquids and mechanical), specially before a long ride, (you do this a few days before your ride so when your friends show up your not scrambling to fix something). I check most of my bolts when I wash and wipe the bike, just yesterday I've notice my battery cover screw was loose, not life threatening but annoying when you loose it and have to run to the dealer to get one.

 

Here is a chart showing critical fasteners as listed in the 06 manual.



Just because a fastener isn't listed above doesn't mean it isn't critical.

 

I have a Shovelhead in the garage. I consider myself to be in Gods good graces if I make it home after a long trip with all the parts still on the bike I left with. Not to much falls off my Low Rider, but I did have to tighten my front axle once.

 

Its good practice to check over the whole bike every few weeks. I have stuff come loose all the time, and it will start to rattle, jingle, vibrate, shake, all that good stuff. Its part of owning a Harley I suppose. Just check over your bike to be on the safe side. It never hurts to get to know your bike a little better, right?