Harley Davidson Forums

Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Quick - Urgent question about front forks

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 27, 2011 | 04:15 PM
Share
  #1  
dz1087's Avatar
dz1087
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: NW FL
Default Quick - Urgent question about front forks
Do I have to take out the bolt at the bottom of the shocks in order to get the tubes out? I'm trying to change the seals, and the allen bolt at the bottom is almost stripped out. So at this point, I'm going to have to get a mechanic to extract it if I have to take that bolt out in order to remove the tubes.
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 27, 2011 | 04:29 PM
Share
  #2  
bubbabear's Avatar
bubbabear
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 779
Likes: 21
From: Dacula, Ga
Default
Yes. You do.
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 27, 2011 | 04:32 PM
Share
  #3  
dawg's Avatar
dawg
Seasoned HDF Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,552
Likes: 3,954
From: Vermont
Default
Yep, 6mm allen bolt can be a PITA to remove. air impact usually takes it out.
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 27, 2011 | 04:37 PM
Share
  #4  
Stiggy's Avatar
Stiggy
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
Default
And if the bolt is stripped too badly, you can drill the head off, remove the leg and the bolt with pliars and replace with a new bolt upon assembly.

I've never removed them sucessfully without an air impact gun.
 
Last edited by Stiggy; Aug 28, 2011 at 04:15 AM.
Reply
0
Old Aug 27, 2011 | 04:41 PM
Share
  #5  
Beemervet's Avatar
Beemervet
Ultimate HDF Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
Default
Originally Posted by Stiggy
And if the bolt is stripped too badly, you can drill the head off, remove the leg and the bolt with pliars and replace with a new bolt upon assembly.

I've never sucessfully removed them sucessfully without an air impact gun.
That's it. No mechanic needed.
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 27, 2011 | 04:48 PM
Share
  #6  
dz1087's Avatar
dz1087
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: NW FL
Default
How big of a bit are we talking here? Never done this before.
 
Reply
0
Old Aug 27, 2011 | 05:10 PM
Share
  #7  
shooter5074's Avatar
shooter5074
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 31
From: Western Illinois, land of bad roads, and corrupt politicians
Default
Originally Posted by dz1087
How big of a bit are we talking here? Never done this before.

Get a service manual...... it's not a one time shot. You will need it for other things too.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Aug 27, 2011 | 06:08 PM
Share
  #8  
fabrik8r's Avatar
fabrik8r
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
Default
Originally Posted by dz1087
How big of a bit are we talking here? Never done this before.
Just as big as the bolt head or a little bigger, but small enough to fit in the recess in the fork. The allen recess will serve as a pilot, almost can't do it wrong, aproach it good and straight, go easy till the head comes off, dont want to drill into the fork, but the bolt material will keep it from just digging in once you get through the head, no worries if you exercise a little caution.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 28, 2011 | 08:26 PM
Share
  #9  
dz1087's Avatar
dz1087
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: NW FL
Default
Got both of them off fine. And yes I have the service manual, I was just not straight on if I HAD to take that bolt off. Thanks for the help guys.
 
Reply
0
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Stripped Shock Bolt
sledgeb1
Sportster Models
13
Apr 30, 2023 03:01 AM
Options to remove frozen bolt
scooper321
Wheels/Tires
24
Feb 11, 2018 09:31 AM
bolt extractor success - now what?!
maverickwolfe
General Topics/Tech Tips
3
May 28, 2015 10:57 PM
Replacement shock bolt.
SDNightster
Sportster Models
15
Jun 18, 2014 11:53 PM
Help!! I just stripped a hex bolt
Scarz
Touring Models
25
Nov 29, 2012 10:26 AM
Tags
Back to Subforum
Touring Models
View Next Unread
Road King Gauges




Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:08 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE