Hard pan rod

[Road couch rider]

Hi all. I am new to the forum. My bike is a 2021 Tri Glide. I have had heated grips ,stealth rack, rear bumper power coated black, rear fender bras, hd Fuse handlebars, legends lift and shocks, and just recently a stage one kit installed by Kevin Edgmon of Road Skulls in Denver Co.(this guy is awesome). I have 2100 miles on it and it is in the shop for it's 3rd hardpan rod. I just wanted to warn everyone that HD has crap heim joints and engineers eliminated a silicone washer on the tri glide. It has been in the shop since Dec. 21 2022. Maybe 3rd is a charm but I don't think so. Thanks.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Todd, :welcome: to Trike Talk and your first post

The factory joints are junk for sure

 

[rhino 2]

Hi all. I am new to the forum. My bike is a 2021 Tri Glide. I have had heated grips ,stealth rack, rear fender bras, hd raze? handlebars, legends lift and shocks, and just recently a stage one kit installed by Kevin Edgmon of Road Skulls in Denver Co.(this guy is awesome). I have 2100 miles on it and it is in the shop for it's 3rd hardpan rod. I just wanted to warn everyone that HD has crap heim joints and engineers eliminated a silicone washer on the tri glide. It has been in the shop since Dec. 21 2022. Maybe 3rd is a charm but I don't think so. Thanks.

Todd….Welcome to Trike Talk…..

 

[Road couch rider]

Road couch rider

Thanks. I am actually a little disappointed with Harley. You would think for the price of the new machines they would put good quality components on it. My wife and I could barely ride the trike 90 miles without stopping due to back soreness. I felt like I needed upgrade everything to make it a true touring machine...... $12k in upgrading later and we can go a little farther! Lol!! What the heck it's still fun.

 

[mrdej51]

i just bought a 2014 how do i know if the joint is bad ? is there a way to tell when you drive or is it something you have to lift the trike for?

 

[Jack Klarich]

i just bought a 2014 how do i know if the joint is bad ? is there a way to tell when you drive or is it something you have to lift the trike for?

If you have knocking noise in the back you can bet the joints are going bad

You can lay on your back under the rear of your trike, grab the panhard rod and try to move it laterally, if it moves and or clunks there is your problem

Check the mounting bolts @ the ends to be sure they are tight

 

[JTJersey]

At the risk of sounding stupid, which really isn't a risk on my part I'm actually pretty good at it, what's a panhard rod?

 

[Jack Klarich]

At the risk of sounding stupid, which really isn't a risk on my part I'm actually pretty good at it, what's a panhard rod?

JT, look at this diagram #9 is the panhard rod

It helps keep the rear frame section parallel and keep from tweeking and flexing

As the rod end joints wear they get sloppy and noisy

Jeeps have used them on their front ends to keep the front ends from flexing, so the wheels would track straight, we called them track rods back then

 

[davekp]

Actually, the correct term is panhard bar. It locates the rear axle laterally relative to the frame. The stock car guys call them track bars.

 

[Jack Klarich]

A Panhard rod (also called Panhard bar, track bar, or track rod)

 

[Dan SC]

I have 2100 miles on it and it is in the shop for it's 3rd hardpan rod.

Sounds like there are other issues here, what does the motor company say?

Thanks. I am actually a little disappointed with Harley. You would think for the price of the new machines they would put good quality components on it.

This may be the most worn out statement on the internet.

engineers eliminated a silicone washer on the tri glide.

Can you be a little more specific?

 

[mrdej51]

i just installed coil over shocks on my trike. when i drive over the lane reflectors on the road i hear a knock on the primary side. i adjusted the coils up and down but i still hear it. it sounds like shock is bottoming out. i still have 1"1/4 of adjustment to lower coil. could hardpan bar be the sound i hear? 23000 miles on 2014 i just bought, legends shock and lift came with trike just not installed.

 

[mrdej51]

just checked my hard pan rod and its bad. thanks guys i would not have thought of that. thought it had a bad shock, there new but came with bike and no reseat

 

[Road couch rider]

Road couch rider

Hi all. I am new to the forum. My bike is a 2021 Tri Glide. I have had heated grips ,stealth rack, rear fender bras, hd raze? handlebars, legends lift and shocks, and just recently a stage one kit installed by Kevin Edgmon of Road Skulls in Denver Co.(this guy is awesome). I have 2100 miles on it and it is in the shop for it's 3rd hardpan rod. I just wanted to warn everyone that HD has crap heim joints and engineers eliminated a silicone washer on the tri glide. It has been in the shop since Dec. 21 2022. Maybe 3rd is a charm but I don't think so. Thanks.

I pushed on my tour pack sideways and heard it clunking around back there. The second time I just felt the action on it( you can reach it)it felt pretty loose for only about 800 miles. The dealer agreed that it was already failing when they checked it while the trike was in for the recall. I tried to get them to let me have a failed rod so I could find higher quality heims but the rod and ends are one assembly. They said they had to send them back to MoCo. The assembly from Harley is like $500 installed here in Western Colorado. I think it's a high price to pay for every 1000- miles.

 

[Road couch rider]

Road couch rider

Thanks Jack, hard pan rod is what they called it at the dealer after I called it a torsion bar. They corrected my dumbass.

 

[Road couch rider]

Road couch rider

BTW. If you have a machine still under warranty like mine is you should start a paper documentation. I don't know how far it will get me only time will tell but the dealer (service advisor) says if it happens again he (service advisor) will take care of it. I have seen 3 service advisors come and go in about 10 years. Thanks.

 

[Koolbreeze]

I pushed on my tour pack sideways and heard it clunking around back there. The second time I just felt the action on it( you can reach it)it felt pretty loose for only about 800 miles. The dealer agreed that it was already failing when they checked it while the trike was in for the recall. I tried to get them to let me have a failed rod so I could find higher quality heims but the rod and ends are one assembly. They said they had to send them back to MoCo. The assembly from Harley is like $500 installed here in Western Colorado. I think it's a high price to pay for every 1000- miles.

What I find interesting is the HD parts catalog does not list the Heim joints separately, you can only buy the complete assembly for $220.00.

I am sure the Heim joints are just standard ones and should be able to be replaced without doing the whole assembly.

As mine is out of warranty and if the Panhard goes bad, I will be sourcing new Heims and replacing them for about $45 - $50 instead of the whole assembly.

 

[rhino 2]

BTW. If you have a machine still under warranty like mine is you should start a paper documentation. I don't know how far it will get me only time will tell but the dealer (service advisor) says if it happens again he (service advisor) will take care of it. I have seen 3 service advisors come and go in about 10 years. Thanks.

Your Vin# is in the Harley main computer.....So It doesn't matter if that service advisor is still at that dealer ...Any dealer will replace it under warranty..No matter how many times it has to be replaced, That said its still a pain in the ass having to bring it in and wait to have it fixed..Been there with a 2017 Tri-Glide with the oil transfer and having to bring it in every 800 miles........

 

[Road couch rider]

Road couch rider

I wanted to have the hard pan rod ready to go when they went bad again. I wanted to avoid having the bike apart while I cross referenced and located the correct replacement heims. They are definitely available as I have read on other forums. Thanks.

 

[Road couch rider]

Your Vin# is in the Harley main computer.....So It doesn't matter if that service advisor is still at that dealer ...Any dealer will replace it under warranty..No matter how many times it has to be replaced, That said its still a pain in the ass having to bring it in and wait to have it fixed..Been there with a 2017 Tri-Glide with the oil transfer and having to bring it in every 800 miles........

I can't believe HD would replace the hard pan rod after the bike is out of warranty. That happens in April 2023 so I probably won't be able to get enough miles on it to wear out the next one. I am itching to get out already as I got the stage 1 upgrade just before snow hit and only got to ride 30-35 miles. I can't wait for spring!

 

[Jack Klarich]

I can't believe HD would replace the hard pan rod after the bike is out of warranty. That happens in April 2023 so I probably won't be able to get enough miles on it to wear out the next one. I am itching to get out already as I got the stage 1 upgrade just before snow hit and only got to ride 30-35 miles. I can't wait for spring!

Have that converstion with your dealer, find out what the warranty period is, get it in writting

HD knows this is a high wear item, that said get it in writting

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

This gives me an idea, as soon as I get my bike back. I will check my panhard rod and if it has no slop, I will remove it and build a jig. That way I can rebuild it when it does go bad, along with all my buddies.

 

[Rogue1]

Can anyone give me the size of the heim joints needed?

 

[Koolbreeze]

Can anyone give me the size of the heim joints needed?

Both are right hand thread from what I gather.

QSC XMR-8, 1/2 X 1/2-20 Chromoly Teflon Kevlar Male RH Rod End

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CF6AOAI/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A1FIHJ9IC5BOYX&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CF6AURU/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A1FIHJ9IC5BOYX&psc=1

 

[Rogue1]

Thanks Kool

 

[Road couch rider]

So I just got my tike back yesterday. The service manager had multiple discussions with the MoCo about the heim joint ssue. He said that 2020 trikes had a nylon washer on both ends of the rod. In 2021 and later models the engineers decided to eliminate those washers. I can't figure out how a nylon washer would keep the heims from wearing out but I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed! He says he thinks all 2021 and later trikes will have that issue. He also was willing to bet that 2024 will be sporting 2 ”extra" nylon washers. Apparently the MoCo was not aware of the problem until my machine? I am skeptical about having no more problems but I will find out.

 

[Koolbreeze]

So I just got my tike back yesterday. The service manager had multiple discussions with the MoCo about the heim joint ssue. He said that 2020 trikes had a nylon washer on both ends of the rod. In 2021 and later models the engineers decided to eliminate those washers. I can't figure out how a nylon washer would keep the heims from wearing out but I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed! He says he thinks all 2021 and later trikes will have that issue. He also was willing to bet that 2024 will be sporting 2 ”extra" nylon washers. Apparently the MoCo was not aware of the problem until my machine? I am skeptical about having no more problems but I will find out.

Do you know if the MOCO authorized the dealer to put the 2 nylon washers on your Panhard rod?

Yep sure enough, there is a difference to the mounting hardware between the 2020 and 2021. Mine is a 2019 so it still has the washers. Going to have to check it anyhow for wear.

 

[Old Road Dog]

So I just got my tike back yesterday. The service manager had multiple discussions with the MoCo about the heim joint ssue. He said that 2020 trikes had a nylon washer on both ends of the rod. In 2021 and later models the engineers decided to eliminate those washers. I can't figure out how a nylon washer would keep the heims from wearing out but I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed! He says he thinks all 2021 and later trikes will have that issue. He also was willing to bet that 2024 will be sporting 2 ”extra" nylon washers. Apparently the MoCo was not aware of the problem until my machine? I am skeptical about having no more problems but I will find out.

OK enough of this bullshit. The joints HD are using are dog crap ok? I wont stand for having what little intelligence I have being insulted by some kid ( thats right)at a dealership. Nylon washer or no- they are not the cause one way or the other.

 

[Olddog]

Bottom line, will replacing the factory heim joints fix the problem?

 

[Jack Klarich]

Bottom line, will replacing the factory heim joints fix the problem?

Yes, but it is a high wear item