Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

'03 Fat Boy - Dropped/Lost Battery Spacer

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 5, 2021 | 02:48 PM
  #1  
Gibler77's Avatar
Gibler77
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 14
From: Georgia
Default '03 Fat Boy - Dropped/Lost Battery Spacer

Swapping out the battery on a 2003 Fat boy, and while hooking up the negative, I dropped the brass terminal spacer. Can't find it anywhere. Lifted the battery and spent 45 minutes shining a flashlight into every crevice I could see, and nothing. Swept the entire garage, as well. I've cranked the bike up but haven't ridden it anywhere, yet. What are the chances that it's fallen somewhere that will cause damage?
 
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2021 | 03:45 PM
  #2  
Garage Queen Rescue's Avatar
Garage Queen Rescue
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 9,655
From: GA
Default

That happened to me once and I finally found it on top of the transmission, on the primary side by the front pulley (Dyna). Took me over an hour to find that little bastard!

Then it took me 30 minutes to take off the belt guard and fish it out with a coat hanger because my hand was too big to get any fingers on it. Best of luck
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2021 | 08:52 AM
  #3  
hattitude's Avatar
hattitude
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,160
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Default

Funny how those little dropped objects can disappear.....!!

The only place it could drop and possibly cause damage would be at/around the rear drive pulley....

If it got somehow wedged between the pulley and the case, it could gouge the case/pulley. If it got wedged between the belt and the case or belt guard, it could cause a furrow in the outside of the belt as it spins by the obstruction (like rocks/stones sometimes will do). More importantly if it fell and is resting on the top (inside) of the rear drive belt (probably a one in a million chance), it might damage teeth on both the pulley or the drive belt.

Bottom line is to inspect very closely around the rear drive pulley, the belt, and the belt guard near the trans...... and don't forget to look around the bike, on the floor, up to 5+ feet away. That little spacer could have hit the ground and rolled a bit away from the bike.

Good luck with the search....
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2021 | 09:06 AM
  #4  
theheder's Avatar
theheder
Road Master
5 Year Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 1,250
From: Clayton, NC
Default

Take an air compressor hose with a nozzle on it and blow around the engine / trans area. Hopefully it will drop out and you can put it back on.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Blu3s17
Softail Models
3
Nov 6, 2021 07:04 AM
frenchman
General Harley Davidson Chat
4
Oct 8, 2011 05:49 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:53 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE