Floorboards Falling off my Deluxe
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 269
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Floorboards Falling off my Deluxe
My left floorboard keeps coming loose on my 07 Deluxe. I've re-attached it a few times but after a week or 2, it loosens up again. Seems the board is attached to the metal plate below it by 5 rubber nipples that extend thru 5 holes in the plate. I just talked to one of the techies at my Harley dealer and he told me this is a common problem with Deluxes. The rubber nipples are too soft and they allow too much play. So after a while they work themselves thru the holes. 2 days ago I had to grab my left board before it came all the way off and became road trash. The techie agreed this is a design flaw with Deluxe floorboards and the 09s use the same design. Anyone else see this problem and if so, any recommendations on how to fix it (short of buying new boards)? I'm thinking of some super glue under the nipples. You'd think after a few complaints HD would have redesigned them by now.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
Just thinkin' out loud here.......... where the nipples (mmmmm... nipples) come through the plate, would it be possible to put a good sized washer with a smaller hole than the plate.......... and pull the nipples through the plate and the washers???
My mind's picture of this is lookin' pretty good! Let us know.
My mind's picture of this is lookin' pretty good! Let us know.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
My wife's nipples came out too. The ones on her Deluxe. She layed it down in the garage one day and the floorboard came off.
I put it back on but since then it keeps popping off. I was thinking maybe I hadn't pulled the nipples down far enough or had missed one but now your question has me wondering if maybe there's a design flaw.
If they come off again I'll give crawdadaz's idea a try. Sounds like a good place to start.
I put it back on but since then it keeps popping off. I was thinking maybe I hadn't pulled the nipples down far enough or had missed one but now your question has me wondering if maybe there's a design flaw.
If they come off again I'll give crawdadaz's idea a try. Sounds like a good place to start.
Last edited by jimmers1817; Aug 27, 2008 at 03:59 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 1
From: Cali
DELUXE FLOORBOARD ARE A PIECE OF ****!!! The best thing to do is replacethem with aftermarket ones... I know more money but is a safety thing for me, what if they come out on the freeway? what if they hit a car? or worse if they hit you or your bike.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: East Texas
I've had the same problem with my left side floorboard. It has only happened once. My boss noticed it hanging off one night when I pulled up at work. He rides a Goldwing so he is always ribbing me about HD. Makes it hard to argue when your floorboard is hanging off. I like the washer idea mentioned by CrawdadAZ and might give that a go. I'll post up on what I come up with.
Romey
Romey
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 1
From: Haney, British Columbia
My left board popped off as well when I had my minor mishap. Took me a while to get the nipples back into their holes. Kinda struck me as a wierd way to attach, but hopefully it stays on.
Swap them out with some fatboy pans and new inserts. nobody sells replacement inserts for the deluxe
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 51
From: Cincinnati
I changed mine out and the stock ones are in the attic. I wanted the insert to match the other things on my bike. Swap out your pans and inserts and it will go away.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
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From: Inverness FL
My right floorboard kept coming loose cause my bad leg would not let me clear it so I loosened up the bolts and no more problem!! Try a little glue under it and ur problem is solved...