How often should critical fasteners be checked? Once per year, more, less, never?

 

For me, it's every oil change, 5K.

 

I check mine monthly....takes about an hour with a beer....it isn't worth my life for a "critical failure'..........

 

Some fasteners I check prior to the days riding. Pulley bolts and axle nuts are a couple. Once they're torqued to spec I run a black sharpie over the bolt head or nut and carry it over to whatever it's bolted to. A quick look to see that the lines aren't separated and I'm good to go.

 

Your Harley service manual lists in the Maintenance Schedule section how often you should check the critical fasteners.
Typically, it's at 1,000 miles, 10,000 miles, 20,000 miles, etc .... every 10K miles
Your service manual will also list which fasteners are the critical ones. See the "Critical Fastener" Section.

 

The "Ride it Wrench it" guy on you tube has a pretty good quick video about exactly this question. I thought it was interesting and when I checked some of mine - sure enough a few were out of torque

 

Common points that tend to loosen from riding

http://rideitwrenchit.com/maintenance/