Why I clean my bike...

[wiz1974]

The wife and I went for a 2 hour ride yesterday (one of the few nice days left in central Illinois I am afraid), so I thought I would clean the bike up for the week. Cleaning away on the forks and I kept hearing a slight rattle... got to looking around and noticed one of the bolts missing at the bottom of the forks. I don't think that's a good thing. Turns out the remaining bolts were ready to fall out. Not sure if this is part of the set-up for the bike, but on top of the rubber stops not being glued on (lost one of those) and missing a couple of bolts on the tupperware. i am beginning to think I need to have a talk with the dealership. Going to pick up the missing bolt along with some locktite and have my self a bolt check party. So anyway, glad I am anal about keeping my rides clean (noticed water leaking into my back floorwell on my cage while cleaning it the other day, but that a story for another board another day). You guys might want to check the bolts at the bottom of the forks.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Set up is everything. Glad you keep the ride clean as it allows an inspection off all things that make them go. You have checked the saddlebag locks, yes?

--G

 

[bramfrank]

it is not unheard of for things to vibrate loose. Do not apply loctite to any pf the screws that hold plastic.

In fact, get a manual and tighten things up by the book.

 

[madjackdog]

Sounds like it's time for a dealership change.

 

[kaitsdad]

Wiz, it's not the first time I've heard this. Glad you caught it before it became a much larger problem.

And that episode of WKRP is my all time favorite !!

 

[HotRodZilla]

Your personal info shows you have an '08...I'd take that thing back to the dealer and have them fix it for free. Then I'd make them give me something for wasting my time with their incompetence. Then...I'd look for an new dealer.

 

[GPRIDER]

it is not unheard of for things to vibrate loose. Do not apply loctite to any pf the screws that hold plastic.
In fact, get a manual and tighten things up by the book.

What bamframk said. Order a service manual and buy a decent torque wrench. It will save a lot of worry over something getting tighten correctly. Not all screws and bolts need to have loctite applied. But from experience I'll tell you that you need to loctite the sidebag locks for sure. The dealers should do this upon assembly. The sidebag assembly instructions they get with the bike tell them this, but they rarely do it.

GP

 

[mcatrophy]

QUOTE (wiz1974 @ Oct 19 2008, 11:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... forks and I kept hearing a slight rattle... got to looking around and noticed one of the bolts missing at the bottom of the forks...

Sounds like your dealer was limp-wristed. Those bolts are put in by the dealer (it's shipped with the front wheel off).

As the others have said, whether you get the dealer to do it or do it yourself, get EVERYTHING checked, including bag lock screws

(click on any image for larger view)



the clear plastic protective pieces round the bag mouting holes



that you've got the infill pieces for the bag holes, the 3rd lock, the tool-kit, etc etc.

Then, go enjoy it!

 

[JRO]

I would take it back to the dealer. I would be very unhappy about it, too. Loose fasteners on a motorcycle is a condition which does not inspire confidence. I would make certain the dealer understood this.

Then, I would probably check things over myself, after I got it back.

Stories like this remind me how lucky I am that my bike came from a competent dealer.

 

[zorkler]

I would ask why did this happen and if he gives you i lam *** answer . Tell me i thing or two like what if its was yor bike and all the bolts just came right off while you were riding . I would really think about another dealer to do any work on your bike

 

[big ears]

My dealer left the fork pinch bolts loose also and all but one fell out. They won't loosen on their own very easily. When tightened down they are in a constant strain similar to a lock washer. No excuse for such.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Well of all the limp assed excuses for havin a ghey scoot............

Had a golf ball sized clump of dirt fall off the otherday while out on a ride. Later I noticed the front axle had fallen out...... Thankfully I was able to retrace my tracks to the exact place where the lump of mud made it's get away an found my axle. Can you imagine how much trouble I'da had if it was ghey???

Muds yer friend.

:jester:

 

[palerider]

The wife and I went for a 2 hour ride yesterday (one of the few nice days left in central Illinois I am afraid), so I thought I would clean the bike up for the week. Cleaning away on the forks and I kept hearing a slight rattle... got to looking around and noticed one of the bolts missing at the bottom of the forks. I don't think that's a good thing. Turns out the remaining bolts were ready to fall out. Not sure if this is part of the set-up for the bike, but on top of the rubber stops not being glued on (lost one of those) and missing a couple of bolts on the tupperware. i am beginning to think I need to have a talk with the dealership. Going to pick up the missing bolt along with some locktite and have my self a bolt check party. So anyway, glad I am anal about keeping my rides clean (noticed water leaking into my back floorwell on my cage while cleaning it the other day, but that a story for another board another day). You guys might want to check the bolts at the bottom of the forks.

I've never cleaned any bike and never had a bolt fall out or even loosen. It's a proven fact that cleaning causes fasteners to loosen and fall out. If you'd stop this obsessive cleaning, you'd stop having this problem. Other aspects of your life would improve too.

:yahoo:

 

[painman]

Like kaitesdad said not the first time this has come up. Had a loose front axel bolt when I got home from the dealer new. They made up for it with a free 600 mi. service. Needless to say I now do all my own work on the bike except if something major comes up under warrantee then I have a dealer I know is qualified within driving distance for that work. Also to me a clean bike is not gay, its just part of maintainence for protection and will cause problems that might be hidden to show up sooner. And part of your regular checks on the bike are the fasteners. Take care, PM. <><