Checking for loose bolts

[jmk865]

A day or so ago i noticed a rattle coming from the right side of my Tow-Pac equipped Vulcan. I did a check and didn't find anything loose. The rattle was intermittant; but got steadily worse. Today when I returned home from a short ride; I went over things again; and this time found the culprit. A bolt hidden under the right side saddlebag was loose and probably 3 or 4 turns from coming off. This bolt was out of sight under the bag and is holding a bracket that goes out to the right wheel and fender. Don't think it would have caused an accident; but might have torn up a fender or let it rub the tire if it had come loose.
Everything snugged down now and once again I am happy thaat I routinely check things and never ignore new rattles.

[slick rick]

Got a friend with the bolt on the other end of that bracket breaking causing the fender to bounce up and down , he knows soon as it happens . I tore it down yesterday , drilled the bolt holes out to hold a bigger grade 8 bolt and told him if it happens again will were going to weld it ,,,tired of messing with it !!!!!!

[jmk865]

I'll be keeping a much closer eye on all bolts from now on. Last thing a guy needs is a bolt causing any problems on the road.

[Bikerbozo]

I used to have a '77 HD that had a bolt in same location that like loosening. Often enough that I carried extra ones with me.
Once again the non-Harley companies have copied the HD. Probably not the best thing to copy.

[tbear]

I usually re-check all bolts,allen heads etc. when it is raining out and you can't go anywhere and you are bored staring at the walls. (which is atleast once a week here in Michigan). and by the way; after doing a 4 hour ride here in Michigan today, it felt like I did a 24 hour ride on the body! the roads here in this state are BADDDDD!!!
They will rattle your bones and make you feel like a very old person by the time you get home...........................

[jmk865]

Kinda wonder why some of these bolts aren't a little longer and finished off with a cotter pin to keep the bolt from just dropping off if it get loose and isn't noticed......or further secured with a jam nut.

[Sully]

Lock-tight and Split washers and self-locking nuts. as needed.

[slick rick]

,,,On the one I'm doing it's shearing the bolt , same one every time , to small I think . This time I bored the hole a little bigger and used grade 8 with a lock nut topped by a jam nut . If it breaks this time after tearing it down when I get through next time he'll have to cut it off . The thing is a lot of trouble and he doesn't know the difference between a monkey wrench and a hammer or is that what he wants me to think .