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What really grinds my gears...

3K views 27 replies 15 participants last post by  braymond52 
#1 ·
OK, a slight exaggeration, shamelessly stolen from Peter Griffin. Hope a giant chicken doesn't come after me.

Anyway, last night I'm tooling over to the Monastery and at a light a rider behind me tells me my left muffler is shaking all over. I had noticed a vibration around 2500 rpm.
Wheel into the lot and have a look. Both of the bolts that hold the muffler (beneath the saddlebag) are gone. WTF?

Back home and get out the service manual. I need two of each:
#3929 (what they call a screw)
#7041 (washer)
No mention of the size.

Get out the parts manual. Same shit - picture and part number but no specs on the hardware.

Look online at the microfiche at Ronnie's. Ditto.

It is 6:00 am and I want to get this done before work... but, no, without specs on the hardware I can't go to Home Depot or Lowe's. I have to wait until a dealer opens and then do it after work... when it will be about 115º.
Yeah, I could take one off on the other side. But, really?

Thanks H-D


... I feel better. No, not really. :rolleyes:
 
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#11 ·
Oh, I misunderstood... sorry, 'Cap.

I don't mind buying specialized hardware from the moco, but generic stuff? Geez. Yeah, at least give your customers the option.

It also helps when getting sockets out for a job if you know the sizes.
 
#12 ·
Same thing happen to me on my SG. Was on my way to work just happen to here the brace fall and make noise. Pulled over and the muffler was just hanging there walked down the road a little way and found the bracket, but no bolts. Went to home depot for my bolts.
 
#13 ·
Been there done that too many times on my '62. I couldn't afford the time or the $$$ to run to Harley every time I need something for that bike. I've got a Home Depot right around the corner.

One time I had the sissy bar come loose on that thing on the freeway which caused the rear fender to bounce on the rear tire. Pulled over and yanked an exhaust mount bolt to get me to the local Ace Hardware about a mile or so away. Got what I needed and was putting it all back together when some Yahoo walks by and loudly tells me that I "should have bought a Harley!" I looked up at him and told him it was a Harley. I just loved the look on his face. :) Made him feel really stupid.
 
#18 ·
10-4 JayRay. My bags are secured with hardware, not the OEM twisties.

I will add some loc-tite when installing the new hardware.

The scoot was just in for warranty work - leaking around tranny trap door. Either they weren't loose/missing then (2 days ago) or they didn't notice.

I do eyeball everything almost every time I head out. I do put her up on the jack once a week and give a more thorough look-see. Guess that's tonight (or early tomorrow).
 
#19 ·
Get yourself a "vernier gauge/caliper" and a "screw pitch gauge" measure the diameter of the bolt and use the screw pitch gauge to determine the thread pitch and you'll be able to workout any bolts you may need.
 
#21 · (Edited)
yeah, where do the bolts go?

yeah, there are a lot of mysteries like that. Like what size is the plug that goes in the rear foot peg holes. They are stock on the police bikes, and on the frame of the older fwd control dynas. I lost the bolts on my left muffler, and never found them. I just took on off of the right side, and rode the thing home. Bought 4 more the next day. 2 to use, 1 to loose, and 1 to throw away. Sometimes a call to J & P Cycles can help on bolt size. They do sell that stuff.
 
#22 ·
And this site is great for overall support. Someone can usually provide an answer.
Hell, many times you get multiple answers.

Just venting on my frustration with H-D over a glaring shortcoming with their documentation. I know, it's intentional on their part. But manipulative and annoying as well.
 
#23 ·
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa...

Apparently there IS a list of hardware in the parts manual. What I needed was right there in black & white on page 277. Thanks Tom.

Guess I'll crawl back under my rock now...
 
#27 ·
I have had a similar issue with the exhaust mount under the saddle, except mine is the rubber insert keeps slipping out, causing the pipe to shake more so then needed. The Moco changed the rubber part, changed me 3 bucks and it is doing it again.
 
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