Harley Davidson Forums

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

shock bolt broke on swing arm

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 28, 2012 | 04:06 PM
Share
  #1  
markkoby's Avatar
markkoby
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
Default shock bolt broke on swing arm
MY mates 95 fatboy had a shock bolt broke off and the threaded part of bolt is still in the swing arm. We are going to try a bolt remover and any ideas from other members would be helpful.
We have new progresive shocks and bolts.
Thanks
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 28, 2012 | 04:24 PM
Share
  #2  
Tom84FXST's Avatar
Tom84FXST
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,706
Likes: 22,726
From: Farmington ,MS
Default
It will probably be best to remove the swingarm from the bike. If you are not experienced drilling/removing bolts, taking it to a machine shop may be in your best interest...that is a very critical area of the bike, and if it comes apart on the freeway...you will not like the results. Good Luck!!!
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 28, 2012 | 05:26 PM
Share
  #3  
Kowan's Avatar
Kowan
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 5
From: So California
Default
Originally Posted by Tom84FXST
It will probably be best to remove the swingarm from the bike. If you are not experienced drilling/removing bolts, taking it to a machine shop may be in your best interest...that is a very critical area of the bike, and if it comes apart on the freeway...you will not like the results. Good Luck!!!
Worth repeating.
Originally Posted by Tom84FXST
It will probably be best to remove the swingarm from the bike. If you are not experienced drilling/removing bolts, taking it to a machine shop may be in your best interest...that is a very critical area of the bike, and if it comes apart on the freeway...you will not like the results. Good Luck!!!
^What he said. Those bolts are installed with red loctite and can be tough to remove when not broken off.
 
Reply
1
Old Feb 28, 2012 | 07:10 PM
Share
  #4  
Karsten's Avatar
Karsten
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 738
Likes: 6
From: Brigham City, Utah
Default
Depending on how much of the bolt is left to grab. Heat the bolt with a pencil torch to soften the Red Loc-Tite. Clamp some vise grips on and back out what is left of the bolt.

Karsten
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 28, 2012 | 07:20 PM
Share
  #5  
DaytonaDan's Avatar
DaytonaDan
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach
Default
Once you get it out don't replace it with a Harley bolt instead call diamond engineering in Ormond Beach FL. They have some special hardened SS bolts to replace it with that won't bend or brake like the Harley bolts do. There number is 386-677-9093
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 12:23 AM
Share
  #6  
markkoby's Avatar
markkoby
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
Default
Thanks for all those great ideas, I will keep you posted. Will be doing the bolt removal on monday.
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 01:40 AM
Share
  #7  
akmorris81's Avatar
akmorris81
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Juneau, AK
Default
If your using a bolt extractor (EZ Out) make sure you drill deep enough otherwise your EZ out will break inside the broken bolt then your screwed. I would center punch then dril a pilot hole all the way through the broken bolt working your way up to the size you need for your extractor. And definitely melt the loctite
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Feb 29, 2012 | 01:46 AM
Share
  #8  
akmorris81's Avatar
akmorris81
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: Juneau, AK
Default
Or.... Sounds like a good excuse to upgrade to a chrome swing arm....
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 07:07 AM
Share
  #9  
cwsharp's Avatar
cwsharp
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
Default
uh... buy a new bolt, get rid of the Harley?
 
Reply
0
Old Feb 29, 2012 | 10:29 AM
Share
  #10  
str8jacket's Avatar
str8jacket
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 324
Likes: 1
From: USA
Default
Originally Posted by Karsten
Depending on how much of the bolt is left to grab. Heat the bolt with a pencil torch to soften the Red Loc-Tite. Clamp some vise grips on and back out what is left of the bolt.

Karsten
If there is enough left of the bolt to grab onto, a small pipe wrench will work better than vise grips.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:53 AM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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