Sprocket bolts
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Stage I
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1
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From: ankeny, IA
Sprocket bolts
I have a 2002 Harley FXSTD Duece - I put on new wheels and tires a little over a year ago. Was riding last night with a friend and started hearing a noise coming from the rear end of the bike -I pulled up to my friend and said we needed to pull over and check out the noise - when we stopped he said my sprocket was wobbling - we found 4 of the five bolts that hold the sprocket on had snapped off - they did not come lose - they literally broke off. I took it back to the HD where I purchased the wheels/tires and they said it happens. Did not make sense to me. Just wondering if anyone else has ever had this happen.
Did the wheel you put on have the indentation in the hub to line up with the inner ring of the sprocket? they arent meant to just run on the bolts, need that lip on the wheel to help keep it from slapping around on the bolts. Could see it ripping some bolts appart if that lip wasnt on the rim.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 274
From: Milton, Delaware
Several years ago I read several reports of that same thing happening. Seeing as I had just installed a chrome rim on my Deuce I went out to the garage to check. I found two of the bolts loose. You couldn't see it easily so they must have just started to back out. They had been torqued properly and installed with blue locktite. I pulled each one out, cleaned and reapplied locktite and re-torqued them. No problems since, and I check them frequently.
Several people had posted that it may have been a batch of bad chroming that weakened the bolts. Who knows? I sure don't.
Several people had posted that it may have been a batch of bad chroming that weakened the bolts. Who knows? I sure don't.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 61
From: Albany, OR
I've heard of them shearing, coming loose, and bending. When I changed my rear tire I replaced the bolts with US-made grade 8 bolts. When I put them in and torqued them, I made small dot marks with a grey sharpie on the bolt head points and the sprocket in line. I look down there every so often and check the alignment of the dots. So far, they haven't moved a bit. Can't say for sure, but I've heard the HD bolts are Chinese made. Take it for what's it's worth.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 945
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City
Had all 5 break on an on ramp about a month ago. They were aftermarket chrome bolts. Replaced them with ARP black bolts. They don't look as good but I trust them more. Bags pretty much cover them anyway.
Marking them for position is a good idea. I'll do that.
Marking them for position is a good idea. I'll do that.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,232
Likes: 9,282
From: Georgia
I've heard of them shearing, coming loose, and bending. When I changed my rear tire I replaced the bolts with US-made grade 8 bolts. When I put them in and torqued them, I made small dot marks with a grey sharpie on the bolt head points and the sprocket in line. I look down there every so often and check the alignment of the dots. So far, they haven't moved a bit. Can't say for sure, but I've heard the HD bolts are Chinese made. Take it for what's it's worth.
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I pulled up to my friend and said we needed to pull over and check out the noise - when we stopped he said my sprocket was wobbling - we found 4 of the five bolts that hold the sprocket on had snapped off - they did not come lose - they literally broke off. I took it back to the HD where I purchased the wheels/tires and they said it happens.
Also known as "hub-centric" (though I'm not sure I'd blame that, since rotor/sprocket is not weight bearing). Hub centricity is more of an issue with custom automobile wheels, so that the weight support of the vehicle isn't solely dependent on the snugness of the lug nuts.
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anubisss
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Jul 19, 2011 04:28 PM