Hi all, this post is a FYI for all interested in changing out your stock wheels for aftermarket.
After the riding season of 2023 I purchased a set of aftermarket wheels for my 15 Heritage. Installed pulleys on new wheels with new OEM bolts, torqued it all down according to Harley specs and in the spring took it out. So, after putting on about 10,000 kms and close to the end of riding season in 2024, had gone for a ride about 80 kms and was about to head home but something was not right. Bike was clicking while trying to go, anyway, had to get it towed home. Found three bolts had broken off, one was loose and other still tight. Ruined hub and pulley, chewed up my swingarm a bit. Ordered new hub, pulley and bolts. Once again installing new pulley to new hub with new OEM bolts by Harley specs, ready for 2025 riding season. Now out riding in 2025, being paranoid about bolts coming loose, always checking them before or after a ride. 2000 kms later, I found one bolt had come loose so I removed all the bolts and found that the bolts were bottoming out by about 2 or 3 mm. Cut the bolts down, reapplied green loctite to bolts, put around 12,000 km and of course checking bolts many times throughout the year and not one come loose. The moral of this story, double check the depth of the bolt hole before bolting up pulley.
Cheers

 

I throw a wrench on the pulley bolts before every significant trip “just because”. I’ve not found one loose yet, but I will keep checking.

 

Checking bolts that have Loctite on them breaks the seal of the Loctite, thereby making the Loctite ineffective!!!

 

Harley says to replace bolts every time pulley is removed. When I replace belt I replace pulley and bolts
My buddy is an indie. His tire machine can't fit pulley so he pulls. When I use his machine I have reused bolts

Bolts snapping is odd, and I suspect rare.

 

There have been numerous posts on this and other forums about rear sprocket bolts coming loose and/or breaking.

I think it is more of an issue on machines with solid mounted sprockets, not the cush drive type used on modern touring bikes.

 

Guess I am lucky two bikes they were good until I replaced pulleys. Something to check next time tire is off.

I used blue not green loctite