Bars slipped while riding!
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 2
You can start by sanding some of the powder coat off the inside of the risers. I have nash bars and they aren't knurled but have put a strip of dry wall screen in there and they hold tight. But yeah have heard of shim made from a can working as well. I did strip out my risers though, put in heli coils and they are rock solid now.
Brother ,that is a sweet looking bones
Novice
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I would try staking the the riser and cap. simple process were hold a center punch at a 45 degree angle and mark the aluminum. the impression left will have rise of a couple thousandths. several of these marks on both cap and riser will hold it tight.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 26
From: Florida
Man, I am probably jinxing myself, but I never had this happen. I did check the torque on the risers every so often though. You can't just tourque them down and assume they are good though, you got to look at the gap between the riser and the riser gap to make sure it is uniform. I will say that getting them to the 16 or so lb ft was nerve racking, especially after all the stories I have heard on here about stripped risers.
Novice
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
the bars coming loose is a problem. the factory has sent an advisory to the dealers. the torque specs were originally wrong. the dealer replaced my bars and risers and they still loosened up. finally had the bars pinned. seems the alum risers aren't working. don't over tighten the bolts they strip very easily
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 139
Likes: 1
The only problem with pinning is you create a weak point in the bar and you still will have some slop. If they were steel I would say no problem. However, with them being aluminum and the stress put on the bars in normal riding, there is a chance of the bars failing at the holes. Although, it is small, I would rest easy with piece of mind and would weld them.
Last edited by flyingtiger77; Apr 13, 2011 at 12:17 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Dirty South, Florida
Dude same thing happened to me with 16" Carlini's. Scared the **** out of me. Went to my mechanic and the stock bushings that come from Harley are thin soft rubber ( which were installed with my apes ). I went to Harley and bought HD polyurethane bushings. Those things are awesome. Had a little play in my bars ( even torqued down ) but with the new bushings, those things don't move. They were well worth it.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, Texas
Alright bro - Check it out. Here is how you fix this once and for all.
Drill and tap the riser and clamp and use set screws. I also cut two strips of drywall repair mesh and wraped around the bars where the clamps grip for the added grip. My bars have not even thought about moving since. This is the only thing that has been solid and I have tried all the tricks.
What you will need is a 5/16 Heli-Coil kit from Autozone. $20 or so. You will also need a 21/64 drill bit. It comes with instruction but I will try and give you a high level overview.
First you will drill out the existing threads with the 21/64 bit. Not all they way through the lower clamp but to the bottom of existing threads. (Easier than it sounds)
Second, you will re-thread the new holes with suplied tap.
Third, insert 5/16 heli-coil. I apply a bit of red lock tite to secure the coil. Once you screw the coil in. Lift the punch up a bit and give it a half turn. Then punch out the coil notch. (Again easier than it sounds)
Let it set for a bit.
During this time I apply the strips of drywall repair mesh around the bars. Only about a 1/2" strip that will hide under the clamp. This helps insure grip.
Finally, place bars back on and tighten down with existing allen bolts.
Should be good to go. Hope this helps brother.
This is similiar to the kit I got at AutoZone.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...26tbs%3Disch:1
Drill and tap the riser and clamp and use set screws. I also cut two strips of drywall repair mesh and wraped around the bars where the clamps grip for the added grip. My bars have not even thought about moving since. This is the only thing that has been solid and I have tried all the tricks.
What you will need is a 5/16 Heli-Coil kit from Autozone. $20 or so. You will also need a 21/64 drill bit. It comes with instruction but I will try and give you a high level overview.
First you will drill out the existing threads with the 21/64 bit. Not all they way through the lower clamp but to the bottom of existing threads. (Easier than it sounds)
Second, you will re-thread the new holes with suplied tap.
Third, insert 5/16 heli-coil. I apply a bit of red lock tite to secure the coil. Once you screw the coil in. Lift the punch up a bit and give it a half turn. Then punch out the coil notch. (Again easier than it sounds)
Let it set for a bit.
During this time I apply the strips of drywall repair mesh around the bars. Only about a 1/2" strip that will hide under the clamp. This helps insure grip.
Finally, place bars back on and tighten down with existing allen bolts.
Should be good to go. Hope this helps brother.
This is similiar to the kit I got at AutoZone.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...26tbs%3Disch:1