My buddy is working on my 04 FLSTCI .. basically I got oil coming out of the fork, he figured it was a blown seal (rare at 14k miles, but possible i guess) so took it all apart to get at it.

Bike jacked up, wheel off .. the right (sitting on bike, right side) fork began sliding to the floor. He realized it had unscrewed itself within the tripple.

He is very experienced and hasn't heard of anything like this, and tonight will try to put it all back together to make sure nothing is damaged ..

But i was wondering if anyone had ever come across this, and what might cause it? Anything else i should be aware of to have him check?

Thanks.

 

I had an odd problem on my '08 FXSTB. I took the forks apart for new seals, springs and to repaint the lowers (the previous owner had painted them and the paint was chipped). The screw on the bottom of the right fork leg was loose, it was basically kept from falling out by the axle and a lot of the oil in that side had already leaked out. I'm sure having that screw tight also cured a clunking noise I had heard when going over bumps.

 

happened on my bike and a buddys bike. the pinch bolt broke on mine. his was just loose so ya it happens

 

Pinch bolts loose or broken.

 

Okay we got into it tonight and here is the deal .. try to figure this one out lol

The pinch bolt on the right leg was snapped completely in half!

Ok its a head scratcher how this thing could snap, but whatever .. he happened to have a bolt that would work so we push forward. Get the fender in place, slide the second leg up. We put the second pinch bolt in and begin tightening .. it snaps! Now both bolts snapped!!

He didnt have a second bolt so tomorrow going to hit Home Depot and buy 2 grade-8's to replace the factory grade-6 (i think thats what they were, they had 3 dashes?)

Its hard enough to believe 1 of these hardened bolts snapped .. but both?? what the frig lol

 

Its strange, but not completely unheard of, especially when your threading a steel bolt into an aluminum piece like that.
Just be glad you can get the old pieces ones out, that's not a nice area to have to get a bolt shank out of.
Before you put the new bolt in make sure its not too long and the internal threads in the tree are really, really, really clean.
Any old lube or locking compound in there is going to make the bolt bind up before it gets tight and you could easily break another one, even if it is a grade 8.