Winter project 2015
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
This is not so good. Pulled the rockers off today for service and found this problem. This is the bolt that holds the spherical bearings in place on the rigid fork. It's under the bearing retainer. If this bolt fails the rocker could come off of the rigid fork. It's actually a stud with a pressed on head. Judging from corrosion it broke sometime ago. I serviced the front end about 10K miles ago.
You are servicing your frontend on a regular basis aren't you? 10K is the recommended interval.
You are servicing your frontend on a regular basis aren't you? 10K is the recommended interval.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
Does 23 have the female allen that you set the rocker tension with, then hold it and tighten #20 to spec?
It's cold out in the garage so I'm too lazy to go look....lol BTW cold in my book = current temp, 54 degrees.
It's cold out in the garage so I'm too lazy to go look....lol BTW cold in my book = current temp, 54 degrees.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
Another set back with an exhaust stud. Bought new bolts and one of them had a burr. I'm sure I didn't cross thread. Made about a turn then it got tight. Took it off and no other bolt would go on. Ran a tap in the nut and the tap hung, too. Tried a Dremel on the end of the stud hoping to remove the bad spot but no luck.
Ended up taking about 2 hrs heating the head with a propane torch, tapping the stud with a hammer, rocking it around with visegrips, a lot of cussing...ad infinitum. Finally came out with no damage to the head.
Ended up taking about 2 hrs heating the head with a propane torch, tapping the stud with a hammer, rocking it around with visegrips, a lot of cussing...ad infinitum. Finally came out with no damage to the head.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
^^^Gordon when you say bought new "bolts" and one had a burr, did you mean to say "nuts"?
If so, sounds like you got a mis-threaded nut and it screwed up your stud (and the tap wouldn't to through the nut either) which meant you had to replace the stud because you couldn't fix it.
If that's right, where did you get the new nuts? I am always hesitant to mess with exhaust bolts (many years as a young man fooling with header/manifold bolts, they get hot so often they don't last and break, often in the head...requiring head removal.... ugh). When and if I ever need to remove my exhaust, I would buy new nuts for this reason, but I don't want to buy them where you got yours! Lol
If so, sounds like you got a mis-threaded nut and it screwed up your stud (and the tap wouldn't to through the nut either) which meant you had to replace the stud because you couldn't fix it.
If that's right, where did you get the new nuts? I am always hesitant to mess with exhaust bolts (many years as a young man fooling with header/manifold bolts, they get hot so often they don't last and break, often in the head...requiring head removal.... ugh). When and if I ever need to remove my exhaust, I would buy new nuts for this reason, but I don't want to buy them where you got yours! Lol
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
Yes, I meant nuts. They came from HD. Any flanged nut would work. I got them at HD since I was already getting a boatload of other stuff.
The studs are in good shape. The rust is pretty much surface rust. I'm not replacing the other three.
The studs are in good shape. The rust is pretty much surface rust. I'm not replacing the other three.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
http://s471.photobucket.com/user/gtm...project?sort=2
Pretty good progress the past few days. Front end disassembled/cleaned/reinstalled (except the rockers - parts arrived late yesterday). Exhaust system, lights, handlebars, controls, wiring done.
It's possible I could finish up over the weekend. Temps in the 70's next few days!
A few things left -
- Finish front end
- Clean/repaint carb and install
- Compound/wax front fender and tank
- New brake fluid
- Repair broken thread in one saddlebag
- Treat the leather stuff
Pretty good progress the past few days. Front end disassembled/cleaned/reinstalled (except the rockers - parts arrived late yesterday). Exhaust system, lights, handlebars, controls, wiring done.
It's possible I could finish up over the weekend. Temps in the 70's next few days!
A few things left -
- Finish front end
- Clean/repaint carb and install
- Compound/wax front fender and tank
- New brake fluid
- Repair broken thread in one saddlebag
- Treat the leather stuff
Last edited by gtmalone; Jan 30, 2016 at 08:57 AM.