Taillight loose.

[520fd]

Last week I installed my LED taillights. Everything was fine. Saturday went on a 290-mile ride. Got home and started to clean the trike. I noticed the taillights on the right side was loose. I took the LED off. There's a large screw at the top to hold it on the fender. I tried to tighten the screw, but it wouldn't tighten up. I ended up taking the trike to the dealership. They tried to tighten it, with no luck. In the end, they said it was better than it was. What? They said it might be stripped out. I can take the light and move it right to left. Still loose. Does anyone have a Diagram of the taillight of how it supposed to be mounted to the fender? The left taillight is fine. Thanks.

[Jack Klarich]

Jerry, this is a 2020 model, I cannot find the 21 or 22 yet

What I see is I bet the nuts the screws attach to are caged and that may be why they do not tighten up

Have a look @ the picture here, I bet #7 is the piece that houses the nut

68296-99A

part number

Part

68296-99A

[Koolbreeze]

This link may help and provided for future reference. All HD Parts diagrams are now available.

Main listing for HD Service Parts: Genuine Harley-Davidson OEM Service Parts | Harley-Davidson USA

2022 Fender Listing: Genuine Harley-Davidson OEM Service Parts | Harley-Davidson USA

Looks like there is an insert that may have come loose, dealer should replace if under warranty.

Or if the dealer is not willing, and the threads are good, I would remove all parts, remove the insert and put some good plastic/fiberglass epoxy on the insert and reinstall. Once the epoxy is set for 24 hours you should be good to go.

I would approach the dealer first though; however, they could claim you tightened it too tight and made it loose but if you did not touch the offending screw not your fault, assembly fault at factory.

Part#6 in the diagram below

PN: 83778-11

INSERT-TOP HAT,PRESS IN,1/4-201

[Old Road Dog]

Wot? Thou PHD Level Technicians couldnt come up with a better solution? Epoxy will work- Id let it almost set then coat the screw with paste wax and turn it in cutting new threads. Or just say heck with it and install a longer screw with lock washer with nut out the back end.

[hoofmender]

My 2020 did the same thing on one side...wouldn't tighten up...... soooo. I pulled that wheel to gain access to the back of the light assembly and lo and behold, the Harley Gods decided that a brass insert into your plastic/fiberglass fender would be just fine..... not so.... it had stripped out, (not the threads but the insert to fender connection)....

My solution was to remove the brass insert in the fender and fasten the tail light housing with a through bolt and a nylon lock nut..... I checked the "tight" side and it had a minimal amount of play in it already, so I went ahead and did that side as well..... I don't think it's going to be "if" these connectors will fail, but "when"......it was a simple, permanent, secure fix...DW

[Jack Klarich]

My 2020 did the same thing on one side...wouldn't tighten up...... soooo. I pulled that wheel to gain access to the back of the light assembly and lo and behold, the Harley Gods decided that a brass insert into your plastic/fiberglass fender would be just fine..... not so.... it had stripped out, (not the threads but the insert to fender connection)....

My solution was to remove the brass insert in the fender and fasten the tail light housing with a through bolt and a nylon lock nut..... I checked the "tight" side and it had a minimal amount of play in it already, so I went ahead and did that side as well..... I don't think it's going to be "if" these connectors will fail, but "when"......it was a simple, permanent, secure fix...DW

Those brass barrel nuts are an epic failure IMO

HD has used them for years on batwing fairings and back rests to name 2, both of these have had high failure rates

One solution is to epoxy them in so they cannot pull out and spin freely when tightening down attaching hardware

These type of nuts along with other similar hardware is designed for ease of manufacturing ( mostly robotic assembly lines) not user friendly to the average owner IMO

[hardwickbv]

HD has used them for years on batwing fairings and back rests to name 2, both of these have had high failure rates

They are also used to mount the cooling fans in the lowers and they really like to put Loctite on the bolts.

Had a heck of a time with that one

Bob

[520fd]

Jerry, this is a 2020 model, I cannot find the 21 or 22 yet

What I see is I bet the nuts the screws attach to are caged and that may be why they do not tighten up

Have a look @ the picture here, I bet #7 is the piece that houses the nut

68296-99A

part number

Part

68296-99A

Jack, that's the diagram that's correct for the 2022 trike. I shouldn't have to fix. I'm going to take it to another dealership when I have the 1000 mile check up. Maybe they can fix it. Or at least try. Thanks Jack.

[520fd]

This link may help and provided for future reference. All HD Parts diagrams are now available.

Main listing for HD Service Parts: Genuine Harley-Davidson OEM Service Parts | Harley-Davidson USA

2022 Fender Listing: Genuine Harley-Davidson OEM Service Parts | Harley-Davidson USA

Looks like there is an insert that may have come loose, dealer should replace if under warranty.

Or if the dealer is not willing, and the threads are good, I would remove all parts, remove the insert and put some good plastic/fiberglass epoxy on the insert and reinstall. Once the epoxy is set for 24 hours you should be good to go.

I would approach the dealer first though; however, they could claim you tightened it too tight and made it loose but if you did not touch the offending screw not your fault, assembly fault at factory.

Part#6 in the diagram below

PN: 83778-11

INSERT-TOP HAT,PRESS IN,1/4-201

I looked up that brass insert on e-bay. What a piece crap. I think a speed nut would be better.

Thanks Kool, for the listing. Make a lot of sense looking at the diagram of the part. Thanks

[hoofmender]

I looked up that brass insert on e-bay. What a piece crap. I think a speed nut would be better.

Through bolt it with a nylon lock nut....sinole, secure, done!DW

[Jack Klarich]

Through bolt it with a nylon lock nut....sinole, secure, done!DW

That works good, double nutting also works

The drawback is knowing how tight is tight enuff to not crack the lens OUCH

[hoofmender]

That works good, double nutting also works

The drawback is knowing how tight is tight enuff to not crack the lens OUCH

The lens is fastened with its own two screws, the bolt through the fender only fastens the backing plate....at least, that's how my 2020 is....I hope this helps....DW

[Jack Klarich]

The lens is fastened with its own two screws, the bolt through the fender only fastens the backing plate....at least, that's how my 2020 is....I hope this helps....DW

Yeah, Thanks. I shoulda finished my answer, I got carried away on my 15 Freewheeler and cracked the RR lens after putting in LED bulbs, I knew I was reefing on the screw, I had put antisieze on them

[520fd]

My 2020 did the same thing on one side...wouldn't tighten up...... soooo. I pulled that wheel to gain access to the back of the light assembly and lo and behold, the Harley Gods decided that a brass insert into your plastic/fiberglass fender would be just fine..... not so.... it had stripped out, (not the threads but the insert to fender connection)....

There that little bastard. I think your idea for a longer bolt and a nylon nut just might be the answer. But I'm going to try another dealership. see what they will do. Thanks.

My solution was to remove the brass insert in the fender and fasten the tail light housing with a through bolt and a nylon lock nut..... I checked the "tight" side and it had a minimal amount of play in it already, so I went ahead and did that side as well..... I don't think it's going to be "if" these connectors will fail, but "when"......it was a simple, permanent, secure fix...DW

[520fd]

My 2020 did the same thing on one side...wouldn't tighten up...... soooo. I pulled that wheel to gain access to the back of the light assembly and lo and behold, the Harley Gods decided that a brass insert into your plastic/fiberglass fender would be just fine..... not so.... it had stripped out, (not the threads but the insert to fender connection)....<br>

My solution was to remove the brass insert in the fender and fasten the tail light housing with a through bolt and a nylon lock nut..... I checked the "tight" side and it had a minimal amount of play in it already, so I went ahead and did that side as well..... I don't think it's going to be "if" these connectors will fail, but "when"......it was a simple, permanent, secure fix...DW

<br>

There's the little bastard. I like your idea of putting a longer bolt and using a nylon nut. I think I'll try another dealership and see what they come up with. Warrantee work.

<img src="https://www.triketalk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=107592&amp;stc=1" attachmentid="107592" alt="" id="vbattach_107592" class="previewthumb"><br>

[JeffIA]

Last week I installed my LED taillights. Everything was fine. Saturday went on a 290-mile ride. Got home and started to clean the trike. I noticed the taillights on the right side was loose. I took the LED off. There's a large screw at the top to hold it on the fender. I tried to tighten the screw, but it wouldn't tighten up. I ended up taking the trike to the dealership. They tried to tighten it, with no luck. In the end, they said it was better than it was. What? They said it might be stripped out. I can take the light and move it right to left. Still loose. Does anyone have a Diagram of the taillight of how it supposed to be mounted to the fender? The left taillight is fine. Thanks.

Had the same thing.

+1 on the longer bolt & nylock nut. Almost two years later and it's still snug.

[520fd]

I have an appointment for my 1000 mile oil change/check over, at a different dealership at the end of this month. Couldn't get in any closer. I also mentioned my issue with the tail light being loose. They said they would look at that too. The cost at this dealership is half the price of my purchasing dealer. He also said, if I would have purchased my trike through them, it wouldn't have cost anything. This dealer also gives you a life time warranty, if you buy from them. NOW they tell my.

[Trampas]

I have an appointment for my 1000 mile oil change/check over, at a different dealership at the end of this month. Couldn't get in any closer. I also mentioned my issue with the tail light being loose. They said they would look at that too. The cost at this dealership is half the price of my purchasing dealer. He also said, if I would have purchased my trike through them, it wouldn't have cost anything. This dealer also gives you a life time warranty, if you buy from them. NOW they tell my.

Sorry about your problem, my dealer has a forever warranty but it is only good if you get service and all work done by them, since I change my fluids myself and other work that I can do I voided my forever warranty, no big deal to me.

All for now Trampas

[520fd]

Dealer called me today and informed me they had a cancellation for tomorrow so I can get my 1000-mile service. Great news. The dealer that I bought my trike wanted $400.00 + for the service. A local dealership wanted $575.00 for their service. The dealer that I'm going to want's $240.00 for their service. Such a deal.

[520fd]

Had the taillight repaired. They said it was cross threaded. Had to be done at the factory. Tapped it out, put some glue on it. Nice and tight.