Engine Stabilizer bolts

[onahog]

Does anyone have experience removing the front engine stabilizer T40 torx bolts?
I tried mine in various ways to loosen but scared to break something or snap the torx bit off and do a number on something else...
They must have lock tight on em..
I tried a 3/8 t40 bit with a lengthy ratchet, a breaker bar with it and no movement...I have a impact t40 but its 1/2 drive and no room to get it in straight...Wonder if anyone has maybe tried a heat gun first???
Why the hell would HD use torx bolts there anyhow is beyond me..
Any info appreciated!
I have a replacement dampner style to go on it.
Thx..HankB
:xzqxz:

 

[eagle1]

you have to try removeing when the head is hot. mine on rt side broke off along with a good chunk of the head, so i got a new head under ext. warrenty. mine was a 1 1/4" 9/16 bilt though.i found some grat torex ''s at autozone. they seemed to be better than the ones from sears.
& they replaced them with 9/16 bolts. wonder why yours is torex too>

 

[onahog]

Im tring to remove the ones from the stabilizer that mount to the mount on the head.
My head ones are 9/16 wrench head as well, the stabilizer uses the torx 40s..I have snap on torx sockets>A hot head might help tho, as the stabilizer gets pretty warm too..

 

[msocko3]

Getting it warm should help, I can remember the one on my dads was pretty tight when I had to replace the link.

 

[onahog]

Mike..Im gonna try this..get a T40 bit and weld a nut to it so it fits close to the bolt head..Then run bike till warm or try warming area with my heat gun as well and give it a shot...Hopefully they break free..HanKb.

 

[rap47]

If you have an 09 or later TriGlide, why would you replace the factory solid one with one that has movement. With the new four point mount system, that is solid to prevent side movement.

 

[onahog]

Check other posts for mounting bolt breakage due to solid style link

 

[KindaOldTriker]

While washing trike last weekend I noticed one of front mt. bolts gone along with the spacer they use. I was suprised. Is this common. I haven't had my trike long, only about 4,900 on it now, 500 by me. Had 5k checkup when I got it used from dealer rental. I replaced the hex and found a similar spacer in my parts drawers, but couldn't figure out why they used that 1/2ish" spacer anyway?

 

[msocko3]

While washing trike last weekend I noticed one of front mt. bolts gone along with the spacer they use. I was suprised. Is this common. I haven't had my trike long, only about 4,900 on it now, 500 by me. Had 5k checkup when I got it used from dealer rental. I replaced the hex and found a similar spacer in my parts drawers, but couldn't figure out why they used that 1/2ish" spacer anyway?

Its starting to sound like a normal happening, more and more people are experiencing it.

 

[tempus]

I have a 2010 TriGlide I bought last Nov from private seller above Atlanta. Trike had been serviced at same Harley dealer she purchased it from. In the tour pack there was a parts bag with her name on it and inside the bag was the 1/2" spacer. I found this after getting it home (Virginia). On a ride I noticed more noise from the front of the bike. I found (like others) there was only ONE bolt & spacer holding the stabilizer to the engine. The threads I could see in the head were deformed. I went to my dealer, got a bolt ($1.00) and put it in and torqued both to the spec. About 600 miles later (wait for it) I noticed more noise from the front of the bike. This time the other one was missing, bolt & spacer.

Went back to the dealer got both and lock-tighted them in.

If I find them loose again (I check a lot more now!) I will replace them with drilled bolts and safety wire them together. Then they won't fall out again!!

 

[msocko3]

I have a 2010 TriGlide I bought last Nov from private seller above Atlanta. Trike had been serviced at same Harley dealer she purchased it from. In the tour pack there was a parts bag with her name on it and inside the bag was the 1/2" spacer. I found this after getting it home (Virginia). On a ride I noticed more noise from the front of the bike. I found (like others) there was only ONE bolt & spacer holding the stabilizer to the engine. The threads I could see in the head were deformed. I went to my dealer, got a bolt ($1.00) and put it in and torqued both to the spec. About 600 miles later (wait for it) I noticed more noise from the front of the bike. This time the other one was missing, bolt & spacer.

Went back to the dealer got both and lock-tighted them in.

If I find them loose again (I check a lot more now!) I will replace them with drilled bolts and safety wire them together. Then they won't fall out again!!

I'll bet you'll find them loose again, the front head gets hot enough to break down the blue loc-tite.

 

[rhino 2]

I have a 2010 TriGlide I bought last Nov from private seller above Atlanta. Trike had been serviced at same Harley dealer she purchased it from. In the tour pack there was a parts bag with her name on it and inside the bag was the 1/2" spacer. I found this after getting it home (Virginia). On a ride I noticed more noise from the front of the bike. I found (like others) there was only ONE bolt & spacer holding the stabilizer to the engine. The threads I could see in the head were deformed. I went to my dealer, got a bolt ($1.00) and put it in and torqued both to the spec. About 600 miles later (wait for it) I noticed more noise from the front of the bike. This time the other one was missing, bolt & spacer.

Went back to the dealer got both and lock-tighted them in.

If I find them loose again (I check a lot more now!) I will replace them with drilled bolts and safety wire them together. Then they won't fall out again!!

Had them loosen on my 11 T/G at 17 thousand miles, Caught them just in time unscrewed them by hand and added a little lock tight and tighten them back up.., Now i carry a 9/16 box wrench in my trunk.

 

[Bigbill]

Where are these bolts we speak of?

 

[rhino 2]

Where are these bolts we speak of?

Just above the front exhaust pipe top of the head, two 9/16 bolts , At least on my 11 T/G 103..
As a side note with all this talk about them i just checked mine and its only been 6/7 hundred miles since i tighten them and one was lose again.....
More lock tight i guess....

 

[eagle1]

the 1/2" spacer on the rt. side is to make the bracket fit flush. tighten the lt. bolt & you'll see the 1/2" space between the bracket & head. you might heat the bolt head up after the bike is (HOT) with a MAP gas torch. it gets hotter than propane.

 

[eagle1]

the rt. head casting isn't long enough so that bothsides stabalizer, fit flush with the bracket. poor design i agree!!