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Jul 25, 2011 | 08:23 PM

boss man

Thread Starter

Stage I

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

From: rockwell nc

confused

new to the forum and harleys,might be a stupid question recently purchased a 2011 fat boy lo and a set ofsoftail leather bags fa boy styling and can't figure out how to break the bolts loose to mount them.don't want to strip them out

Jul 25, 2011 | 08:54 PM

dcgray2

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Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 436

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From: Pittsburgh PA

Make sure you are using the correct size torx bit! Heat them up one at a time. Sticking a soldering iron in the end works.

You need to break the red loctite. Also use red locktite when you put them back on.

Jul 25, 2011 | 08:55 PM

tmitchellof PG

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 3,718

Likes: 11

From: Punta Gorda,FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by boss man

I broke mine loose, on my 2005, using a #45 Torx bit and a cheater bar. Make sure you are using the right size bit for the bolts, I know on the 2005 some owners mistaken use an allen wrench and strip the heads. You may also need to heat the bolts up, with a heat gun or hair dryer, to loosen the Loctite before they will break loose. I was prepared to do that, but I didn't have any problem with my long handle cheater bar. Also on my 2005, I had to squeeze a finger between the fender and the tire to hold the steel strap with the nut plate and wire holder in place while I removed the original bolts and put in the new ones.
I don't know if your 2011 is the same setup as my 2005.
Tom

Edit: I changed the Torx size in the above post, for some reason I was thinking about the primary inspection cover

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Last edited by tmitchellof PG; Jul 27, 2011 at 06:53 PM.

Jul 25, 2011 | 09:55 PM

HoggyMtnBreakdown

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 4,133

Likes: 125

From: Japan

The strut bolts are Torx size T45 for 2007 and later Fatboys, I believe. Don't use the L-Torx wrenches that came with the bike. Rather get a T45 bit (or set of all sizes) for your 3/8 socket wrench. This will allow you to get even leverage on the bolt without stripping it out.

Jul 26, 2011 | 05:17 AM

oct1949

Club Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 145,895

Likes: 821

From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

Make sure U have the correct size and put pressure straight in on the bolt as U loosen it, and don't let the torx head roll out of the bolt head. Thats how most guys round out the bolt heads.

Jul 26, 2011 | 06:22 AM

Kojax

Grand HDF Member

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 4,677

Likes: 141

From: haverhill mass

i have the fatboy lo i put the new chrome torx bolts on . they came off very easy size torx is 45

Jul 26, 2011 | 09:42 AM

dcgray2

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 436

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From: Pittsburgh PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmitchellof PG

I broke mine loose, on my 2005, using a #27 Torx bit and a cheater bar. Make sure you are using the right size bit for the bolts, I know on the 2005 some owners mistaken use a #25 Torx and strip the heads. You may also need to heat the bolts up, with a heat gun or hair dryer, to loosen the Loctite before they will break loose. I was prepared to do that, but I didn't have any problem with my long handle cheater bar. Also on my 2005, I had to squeeze a finger between the fender and the tire to hold the steel strap with the nut plate and wire holder in place while I removed the original bolts and put in the new ones.
I don't know if your 2011 is the same setup as my 2005.
Tom

I did my bolts one at a time and didn't have any issues with the steel strap/nut plate inside the fender.