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:

Pulley Bolts

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 3, 2014 | 12:23 PM
  #1  
Tucker99's Avatar
Tucker99
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 894
Likes: 6
Default Pulley Bolts

Replacing rear tire and looking for a tire shop. Reading threads here, many mention that some shops require the pulley to be removed. The book says if you remove those bolts they need to be replaced with new. I can understand the factory doing this as a liability issue, but as practical matter, is replacing the bolts necessary?
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2014 | 06:43 PM
  #2  
bigdumbnoitall00's Avatar
bigdumbnoitall00
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 714
Default

the bolts are torqe to yield, they stretch and should not be reused.
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2014 | 06:50 PM
  #3  
RollieB's Avatar
RollieB
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Default

your manual will tell you.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2014 | 10:00 AM
  #4  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Default

I've had the darned things come undone, although not with any harm done, fortunately. Brake rotor screws are the same IIRC. When buying a new factory custom rotor it comes with new screws.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2014 | 10:04 AM
  #5  
Uncle Larry's Avatar
Uncle Larry
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,525
Likes: 57,081
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Default

Don't be penny wise and dollar foolish ... Replace the bolts ... Peace of mind has no price.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2014 | 10:13 AM
  #6  
senna's Avatar
senna
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 17
From: San Jose
Default

Pulley is different than a brake rotor, I would have no problem reusing them. As long as you are willing to accept that if they did come loose it's on you and no one else.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2014 | 10:30 AM
  #7  
Def Mute's Avatar
Def Mute
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Fla
Default

I understand the concept of bolts being stretched when they are torqued...

What I don't understand, is why steel bolts would stretch more than the aluminum they are threaded into.
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2014 | 10:34 AM
  #8  
UppercaseJC's Avatar
UppercaseJC
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 17
From: Ontario Canada
Default

Originally Posted by RollieB
your manual will tell you.

Actually the manual doesn't answer his question. It does not say why they should be replaced. Nice to see that someone did tell him the "why" I am sure you were really trying to help him with you comment "your manual will tell you" but you were unable to understand the real question he had.
 
Reply
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 Apr 4, 2014 | 10:43 AM
  #9  
Tucker99's Avatar
Tucker99
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 894
Likes: 6
Default

Originally Posted by Def Mute
I understand the concept of bolts being stretched when they are torqued...

What I don't understand, is why steel bolts would stretch more than the aluminum they are threaded into.
EXACTLY! I don't think there is any way those bolts stretch when threaded into an aluminum rim. That's why I asked the question!
 
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2014 | 10:47 AM
  #10  
qtrracer's Avatar
qtrracer
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Default

Originally Posted by Def Mute
I understand the concept of bolts being stretched when they are torqued...

What I don't understand, is why steel bolts would stretch more than the aluminum they are threaded into.
You asked the million dollar question. I have read some guys are putting the longest bolts they can so as to get all the thread that is available, especially when mounting thicker than stock pulleys. My thought is, if it were that critical why not stud it?

Heck I'd just go to a tire shop that doesn't remove the pulley.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:02 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