In a few weeks we are headed out west, so a couple of days ago I started going over the Tri Glide, just checking wires, hoses, fasteners, etc. Put my hand on the water pump cover and it was a little loose.
Yeah, I know the TG is dirty...that's some Colorado, Badlands, Yellowstone & Beartooth Pass dirt...good memories! haha. Gotta do a deep cleaning one of these days.
Pulled it off and was surprised that one of the two rubber grommets was missing.
Here is a diagram of how the cover attaches. It hooks in at the top and then there are two pins that are part of the cover, one on each side, (green in diagram) and they push into the rubber grommets that are seated in the frame. (red in diagram)
This results in a secure mounting. Folks that have lost their water pump covers while going down the road, almost always this has happened after the cover was removed and then put back on, but the pins were not pushed into the rubber grommets.
I have no idea how it happened, but there was no rubber grommet in the frame. Looked all around to see if it had popped out somewhere on the floor. No luck.
The other side was fine, which is why I had not lost my cover. Photo of left side mount with rubber grommet in place.
Went looking in my misc. parts bins. Came up with this, not exactly the same...
...but it fit, and the cover is back on, nice and secure.
Did not finish my inspection and fluids change. Gotta get that done this week. But I'm glad I found that. Last thing I want is to be riding down some roads with those wires and plastic water pump exposed to road debris.
Kevin