Checking Rear Wheel Lugs Torque

[JTJersey]

Cliche coming : "I saw a YouTube video", actually several, that say the rear wheel lug torque should be checked after 100 miles if the wheels have been removed. I believe at some point in the 1000 or 5000 mile service by the dealer the wheels were supposed to be removed for some reason and they should have informed me about rechecking the torque when I got the trike back. They didn't. I would like to check the torque without damaging the caps that hide the lugs. Anyone have a suggestion on removing them? Made a minimal attempt with fingernails with no success. Is there a special tool or suction cup or something I need? So basically, how in the world do these caps come off?

 

[W3JNP]

Torque Value

I have the 2016 Touring Maintenance manual and just went thru the torque value chart and did not find any value for this. I went thru it twice and may have missed it but do not think there is one in there for it.

 

[RKplus10]

All I’ve ever used was my fingers. Came off easily.

 

[rhino 2]

Cliche coming : "I saw a YouTube video", actually several, that say the rear wheel lug torque should be checked after 100 miles if the wheels have been removed. I believe at some point in the 1000 or 5000 mile service by the dealer the wheels were supposed to be removed for some reason and they should have informed me about rechecking the torque when I got the trike back. They didn't. I would like to check the torque without damaging the caps that hide the lugs. Anyone have a suggestion on removing them? Made a minimal attempt with fingernails with no success. Is there a special tool or suction cup or something I need? So basically, how in the world do these caps come off?

View attachment 108453

I'm no expert.....And theres been discussion about this before but i use a 19mm socket to tighten and or loosen as need be and never had to remove the decorative caps and or damaged them...But after have 3 Tri-Glides i never needed to remove them, But then again i'm not an expert...But experts are never wrong' Right....

 

[JTJersey]

I have the 2016 Touring Maintenance manual and just went thru the torque value chart and did not find any value for this. I went thru it twice and may have missed it but do not think there is one in there for it.

My '21 manual is pretty specific: "...tighten lug nuts to 90–100 ft-lbs in a cross-wise pattern.

Always check lug nut torque within 500–1,000 mi after wheel installation."

 

[JTJersey]

I'm no expert.....And theres been discussion about this before but i use a 19mm socket to tighten and or loosen as need be and never had to remove the decorative caps and or damaged them...But after have 3 Tri-Glides i never needed to remove them, But then again i'm not an expert...But experts are never wrong' Right....

Sorry, should have specified this is a Harley Freewheeler. There's this note in the service manual: "FLRT: Carefully remove center hub cap." However, they give no sugestions as to how to go about "carefully removing the hub cap" which would have been nice.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I just grab it with my hands, rock it once and it pops off pretty easy, I check my lug nut torque at least once a week along with PSI in the tires, usually on a Sunday

 

[rhino 2]

Sorry, should have specified this is a Harley Freewheeler. There's this note in the service manual: "FLRT: Carefully remove center hub cap." However, they give no sugestions as to how to go about "carefully removing the hub cap" which would have been nice.

No its my fault......I didn't realize ---Freewheeler......But Im thinking that the Tri-Glides lugs are the same lugs as the Freewheeler...

 

[arnie]

if you can't just pull it off, mine has a notch in it. i sometimes stick a screwdriver in the notch & pull towards me.

 

[JTJersey]

if you can't just pull it off, mine has a notch in it. i sometimes stick a screwdriver in the notch & pull towards me.

I must be brain dead today. I've been trying to figure out how to get that shinny HD Logo cover off. The entire black plastic hub is what gets removed. I saw that notch and the light bulb lit up. Popped right off. Going to be one of those days, I guess.

 

[RKplus10]

It happens to the best of us. Have a good rest of your day. Be safe.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I must be brain dead today. I've been trying to figure out how to get that shinny HD Logo cover off. The entire black plastic hub is what gets removed. I saw that notch and the light bulb lit up. Popped right off. Going to be one of those days, I guess.

View attachment 108457

Note how tight the fingers on the cap are, on my 15 Freewheeler I lost one hub cap

Since then I check the hubcaps when I pull them off closely, I had to run some duct tape on 1 cap on my 17

So far the 21 is behaving, time will tell

This is another reason I chose to use my hands to remove the cap, I can tell right away if it is loosening up or not

 

[ultrafxr]

On the TG the center hub is not big enough to cover the lug nuts. I like the way the cap on the FWs does that. I had never noticed it before.

 

[arnie]

On the TG the center hub is not big enough to cover the lug nuts. I like the way the cap on the FWs does that. I had never noticed it before.

You can take that off lil center cap by pulling the wheel off, & install the freewheeler hubcaps if you like them. Harley also has another one in there parts book.