Warning Please Read!!!!!
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Warning Please Read!!!!!
I took of from my home this morning in Illinois and crossed the river into Missouri headed to the Arcadia Valley. Its a very pretty area to ride in lots of good back roads, hills, forests and quaint villages.
As I pulled in to gas up near Festus ,Mo I thought that the handle bars shuttered a little and I heard an unfamiliar noise. After stopping I got of the bike and did a closer inspection.
Much to my dismay I found that the front two motor mount bolts had fallen out. I was about 8 miles from a dealer so I started the bike up looking for excessive vibration. Not finding any I slowly made my way to the dealer. Upon reaching the Dealer, Surdyke Harley Davidson, they looked the situition over and came up with a quick fix and got me on the road again.I still got to enjoy the beautiful weather and the Dogwoods and Redbuds blooming.
I am not a mechanic and do not know what the possible danger might have been or damage this might have created if unfound while riding the bike at speed and something let go.
The bike had only 2452 miles on it and the 1000 mile inspection was done about a month age. I thought that all critical fasteners were checked at that time. needless to say I am very unhappy with the Dealer that did the 1000 mile check up and I will be talking with them tomorrow.
This is the typed resolution given to me by Surdyke HD
Tech tapped holes in the head where screws had fallen out and damaged threads.
Installed temperary bolts as they did not have the correct ones in stock. Also came up with temporary spacers. Customer will have to have local Dealer order and replace Head,damaged rocker box, bolts and spacers to repair.
My many many thanks to Surdyke HD for the Service they gave me and expedited the same to get me back on the road and allowed me to have a great day.
I would like to hear from some of you as to what you feel might have happened if I had not found the problem.
As I pulled in to gas up near Festus ,Mo I thought that the handle bars shuttered a little and I heard an unfamiliar noise. After stopping I got of the bike and did a closer inspection.
Much to my dismay I found that the front two motor mount bolts had fallen out. I was about 8 miles from a dealer so I started the bike up looking for excessive vibration. Not finding any I slowly made my way to the dealer. Upon reaching the Dealer, Surdyke Harley Davidson, they looked the situition over and came up with a quick fix and got me on the road again.I still got to enjoy the beautiful weather and the Dogwoods and Redbuds blooming.
I am not a mechanic and do not know what the possible danger might have been or damage this might have created if unfound while riding the bike at speed and something let go.
The bike had only 2452 miles on it and the 1000 mile inspection was done about a month age. I thought that all critical fasteners were checked at that time. needless to say I am very unhappy with the Dealer that did the 1000 mile check up and I will be talking with them tomorrow.
This is the typed resolution given to me by Surdyke HD
Tech tapped holes in the head where screws had fallen out and damaged threads.
Installed temperary bolts as they did not have the correct ones in stock. Also came up with temporary spacers. Customer will have to have local Dealer order and replace Head,damaged rocker box, bolts and spacers to repair.
My many many thanks to Surdyke HD for the Service they gave me and expedited the same to get me back on the road and allowed me to have a great day.
I would like to hear from some of you as to what you feel might have happened if I had not found the problem.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
No telling what could have been damaged if this had not been taken care of, there are however other points the engine is mounted to beside the top of the front head. It is possible the dealer who serviced it at 1k didn't check the fasteners and it is also possible the fasteners loosened up since the 1k service. The good thing is you noticed it and you found a dealer who was able to get you going again. Now it will be interesting to see how your dealer will follow up and make the permanent repairs.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 899
Likes: 10
You could say every fastener on a bike is "critical" to some degree. If a sprocket, pulley, or brake rotor comes undone it could mean your life, if a mirror, inspection cover, or light fixture comes undone it means your wallet gets lighter.
Any check the dealer does on these fasteners (other than the ones removed to perform scheduled maintenance) is at best going to be visual, or maybe they'll shake on a part and if it doesn't move or wobble they call it good. Most important fasteners are torqued so to truly check them would mean taking them out, cleaning, re-applying Locktite if applicable, and re-torquing them back down. In any case some fasteners shouldn't be torqued more than once before requiring replacement. And all that would take hours to accomplish.
Something you can do as an owner to prevent loosing the motor mount bolts, or anything else again (and I'm not familiar with how motors are mounted in Triglides) is if you can see the bolt heads or nut ends putting a small dab of red nail polish on those parts can index them so all it takes is a quick look to see if they've moved.
Good . . .
Bad . . .
Any check the dealer does on these fasteners (other than the ones removed to perform scheduled maintenance) is at best going to be visual, or maybe they'll shake on a part and if it doesn't move or wobble they call it good. Most important fasteners are torqued so to truly check them would mean taking them out, cleaning, re-applying Locktite if applicable, and re-torquing them back down. In any case some fasteners shouldn't be torqued more than once before requiring replacement. And all that would take hours to accomplish.
Something you can do as an owner to prevent loosing the motor mount bolts, or anything else again (and I'm not familiar with how motors are mounted in Triglides) is if you can see the bolt heads or nut ends putting a small dab of red nail polish on those parts can index them so all it takes is a quick look to see if they've moved.
Good . . .
Bad . . .
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,792
Likes: 6
From: North East Ohio
You could say every fastener on a bike is "critical" to some degree. If a sprocket, pulley, or brake rotor comes undone it could mean your life, if a mirror, inspection cover, or light fixture comes undone it means your wallet gets lighter.
Any check the dealer does on these fasteners (other than the ones removed to perform scheduled maintenance) is at best going to be visual, or maybe they'll shake on a part and if it doesn't move or wobble they call it good. Most important fasteners are torqued so to truly check them would mean taking them out, cleaning, re-applying Locktite if applicable, and re-torquing them back down. In any case some fasteners shouldn't be torqued more than once before requiring replacement. And all that would take hours to accomplish.
Something you can do as an owner to prevent loosing the motor mount bolts, or anything else again (and I'm not familiar with how motors are mounted in Triglides) is if you can see the bolt heads or nut ends putting a small dab of red nail polish on those parts can index them so all it takes is a quick look to see if they've moved.
Good . . .
Bad . . .
Any check the dealer does on these fasteners (other than the ones removed to perform scheduled maintenance) is at best going to be visual, or maybe they'll shake on a part and if it doesn't move or wobble they call it good. Most important fasteners are torqued so to truly check them would mean taking them out, cleaning, re-applying Locktite if applicable, and re-torquing them back down. In any case some fasteners shouldn't be torqued more than once before requiring replacement. And all that would take hours to accomplish.
Something you can do as an owner to prevent loosing the motor mount bolts, or anything else again (and I'm not familiar with how motors are mounted in Triglides) is if you can see the bolt heads or nut ends putting a small dab of red nail polish on those parts can index them so all it takes is a quick look to see if they've moved.
Good . . .
Bad . . .
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 379
Likes: 1
From: Central Wisconsin
Joe, this is off the topic just curious if the fuel moto set up was a big improvement over stock? We did it to the wife's 09 Street Glide and it was very noticeable. She is now leaning towards a TriGlide (she is vertically challenged) and I get the Street Glide. The TriGlide would of course become the travel bike.
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Stone1
I felt a very noticable improvement in power the first time I rode the Trike after the Mod's, It really seems to jump when I get on it. I do have one problem though, I love the sound of the Rhineharts and run it up the gears more than I need to. I also think it dropped my gas mileage to around 32 miles per gallon. Yesterday coming back from Missouri I was running 70 to 80 all the way home. I'm sure thats not helping the gas milage. I also get the looks when I pass someone either that a really nice bike, thumbs up or who does that old man think he is.
I traded away my 2009 Ultra with misgivings but after getting about 2500 miles on the trike, I wouldn't go back. I love this machine and have already taken it places that I would have not tried on two wheels.
I felt a very noticable improvement in power the first time I rode the Trike after the Mod's, It really seems to jump when I get on it. I do have one problem though, I love the sound of the Rhineharts and run it up the gears more than I need to. I also think it dropped my gas mileage to around 32 miles per gallon. Yesterday coming back from Missouri I was running 70 to 80 all the way home. I'm sure thats not helping the gas milage. I also get the looks when I pass someone either that a really nice bike, thumbs up or who does that old man think he is.
I traded away my 2009 Ultra with misgivings but after getting about 2500 miles on the trike, I wouldn't go back. I love this machine and have already taken it places that I would have not tried on two wheels.
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Good News
I called my Dealer, Freize HD in O'Fallon, IL today and explained the situation. They said that they would get the repair parts on order and do the fix when they came in. I'm not surprised because they have always been very good to me. I don't know if this is something they should have caught at the 1000 mile check up or they started to come loose after that. I do know I have ridden some really rough secondary roads in the last month.
My first Harley was a 1977 Low Rider and I always was tightning something up.I knew that I needed to. Had the kickstand fall of once going down the interstate. Even so I would love to have that bike back.
Thanks for the replies. I thought that if the dealer was checking critical fasteners they would put a wrench on it. I think I'm going to get a manual and a torque wrench so I can check them myself. I also like the idea of marking them with the locktite.
I called my Dealer, Freize HD in O'Fallon, IL today and explained the situation. They said that they would get the repair parts on order and do the fix when they came in. I'm not surprised because they have always been very good to me. I don't know if this is something they should have caught at the 1000 mile check up or they started to come loose after that. I do know I have ridden some really rough secondary roads in the last month.
My first Harley was a 1977 Low Rider and I always was tightning something up.I knew that I needed to. Had the kickstand fall of once going down the interstate. Even so I would love to have that bike back.
Thanks for the replies. I thought that if the dealer was checking critical fasteners they would put a wrench on it. I think I'm going to get a manual and a torque wrench so I can check them myself. I also like the idea of marking them with the locktite.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,926
Likes: 138
From: NE Ohio
I believe they are checked at either 5,000 or 10,000 miles, would have to look at the service table again.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 379
Likes: 1
From: Central Wisconsin
I like the sound of the Rhineharts, a friend has them on his Ultra but they do get a little loud for my ears so I may look at the SE Super Traps like Boom is showing. On the 09 Street Glide, we have the quiet baffle, it is close in loudness to stock at idle but still makes some noise under acceleration. The TriGlide has me thinking I want a more finished end cap look compared to the slash cut on the Street Glide. So many choices and I will have to get the wife's opinion sine it is sort of going to be hers when we do it.
Lucky for us, Fuel moto is not far away so it is sort of easy to go look at options.
Lucky for us, Fuel moto is not far away so it is sort of easy to go look at options.