Surprised During Regular Maintenance Inspection

[DK Custom Products]

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

[seniorsgt]

+1 happened to me coming home from TX

[ultrafxr]

Kevin, this was discussed in another thread a few weeks ago - July 18 is the date on the photo I posted. Anyway I lost my cover while on a road trip in 2019. Both grommets were in place when I discovered the cover gone. Got a replacement and very carefully installed it making sure both grommets were in place and it was secure. After just a short time I stopped for gas and discovered that the new cover was loose.

The rubber grommets used to hold the cover in place is a piss poor design imo. Here's what I did: drilled a hole in the bottom of the cover and zip tied it to a tab at the bottom of the motor. See photo.

[Jack Klarich]

That is a poor design, the oil cooler cover on the Freewheelers is set up the same way

I lubed the push pins up with dielectric grease when I had the cover off for painting

I also give the cover a tug @ the bottom , I do not like surprises

[Trampas]

I agree with Jack, a poor design, also I did what ultrafxr did since every time I rode the cover was loose when I stopped somewhere, got tired of this and did the hole thing with a zip tie, no problem if I have to check it, cut zip tie and check then put another zip tie on. Yes I mad sure it was pushed in tight but it still did, the zip tie is the fix until harley comes out something better.

All for now Trampas

[ROAD DOG]

Mine fell off , I got a black finned Kuryakin That bolts on with two 1/4 bolts . Before I did the oil filter relocation the oil would make the grommets swell up . Harley Crap

[NeilK]

Hi All. If you spray a little liquid Windex on the pins and the grommet it will dry and leave behind a slightly sticky residue that helps keep those pins in place.

[rhino 2]

Hi All. If you spray a little liquid Windex on the pins and the grommet it will dry and leave behind a slightly sticky residue that helps keep those pins in place.

Neil..........Welcome To Trike-Talk............

[GARYD]

Windex is great stuff. When I went in to the hospital for hip replacement, they wanted me to take off my wedding ring. I couldn't even with soap. One of the nurses said wait a minute, came back with a bottle of Windex and sprayed my finger = ring almost fell off.

Also use it on all my chrome rather than chrome cleaner.