Holy Lugnuts

[Mykneesbehurtin]

This morning while I was going over the bike before a ride, I discovered that two Lugnuts were missing from the right wheel! So luckily, I have several laying around the garage. They the same thread but had a different outside socket size. I installed them and torqued them to 100 ft lbs, so I figured I had better check the rest.

The two remaining ones on the right side made about 3/8 of a turn before clicking and the 4 on the left wheel went about 1/2 turn before clicking. We rode a little over a 100 miles today, when I checked the lugnuts again, I found that the two I replaced were still set while the other 6 were just about an 1/8 of a turn or less before they were set.

Needless to say, I will be talking to someone at the dealer first thing Monday morning, the bike had about 350 miles on it this morning and I am aware that when replacing aluminum wheels, you need to recheck the torque after 50-100 miles. This is the third trike I have owned and never checked the wheels when first new how many people check the aluminum wheels on your new car or truck.

They either didn't do a complete predelivery check or it could be bad lugnuts, either way it could have been catastrophic had the wheel come off at speed.

 

[14TG]

Wow!!! That could’ve been a real bad outcome!
Yea, brand new…. Sound like the dealer definitely failed on their pre-delivery checklist!
Good thing you caught this!!

 

[N8DC]

Thats strange that they keep loosening .
I have had my wheels off a couple times and I torqued the lugs when re installing but have never checked them since.
I may do that today just to see .

 

[Rogue1]

Yeah that could have been real bad. Every time I check mine I never find them loose. And I'm kind of leery about that so I do check often.

 

[Woody]

any time I have a wheel off I check it after about a hundred miles and if loose I check it again in about a hundred, when I quit finding any movement I just check them when I think about it or something don't fell or look right. Glad you caught it.

 

[14TG]

@Mykneesbehurtin ,

Steve, this may be a wild possibility….
Is it possible that the dealer indeed torqued to spec (100 ft/lb)… (obviously you also did as well)…

Is it possibly that the wheel studs themselves (splined/knurled) that gets “Pressed” into the axle flange was Never properly pressed in from HDMoCo off the assembly line?

I know it sounds crazy… but in time they loosen, … but then the torque spec brings them in “little by little” or not at all …& backing back again out???

The more I think about it, I’m just trying to think of possibilities that would cause this,… Especially after re-tightening & re-torquing.

Definitely requires a trip to the dealer about this.

Please keep us posted!

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

@Mykneesbehurtin ,

Steve, this may be a wild possibility….
Is it possible that the dealer indeed torqued to spec (100 ft/lb)… (obviously you also did as well)…

Is it possibly that the wheel studs themselves (knurled) that gets “Pressed” into the axle flange was Never properly pressed in from HDMoCo off the assembly line?

I know it sounds crazy… but in time they loosen, but the torque spec brings them in “little by little” or not at all & backing back out???

The more I think about it, I’m just trying to think of possibilities that would cause this,… Especially after re-tightening & re-torquing.

Definitely requires a trip to the dealer about this.

Please keep us posted!

This has crossed my mind, but all 8? I will be keeping an eye on them for sure. But it needs to be brought to the dealer's attention and logged for future records. If they do not want to keep this concern on their records, then I will contact customer service thru corporate. I don't really like calling them because it's always the same answer, but it needs to be addressed.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

@Mykneesbehurtin ,

Steve, this may be a wild possibility….
Is it possible that the dealer indeed torqued to spec (100 ft/lb)… (obviously you also did as well)…

Is it possibly that the wheel studs themselves (knurled) that gets “Pressed” into the axle flange was Never properly pressed in from HDMoCo off the assembly line?

I know it sounds crazy… but in time they loosen, but the torque spec brings them in “little by little” or not at all & backing back out???

The more I think about it, I’m just trying to think of possibilities that would cause this,… Especially after re-tightening & re-torquing.

Definitely requires a trip to the dealer about this.

Please keep us posted!

So just for sh&% and giggles, after it set all night with the wheels torqued, I went out and checked them and they were all tight. Only riding it will be another test.

 

[Trampas]

Sorry to hear this, guess the dealer didn't check very well and if they did I would be asking them why they are coming loose, this isn't right and it could have been a disaster if you had'nt caught this, I'm glad you did.

Keep us informed about this please

All for now Trampas

 

[Papa Zook]

You'd be surprised how many trike owners do not regularly check their rear wheel lug nut torque. I believe a contributing factor for this lack of attention is that many trike owners either do not own a decent torque wrench or they get lazy/complacent and just dont want to drag out the torque wrench and go through the process, or just plain forget to do it. We always torque ours to spec using a calibrated torque wrench but there is an alternative that will keep your lug nuts in a safe torque range.

If you do not own one, buy a good quality 1/2 inch drive impact driver and purchase a set of Torque Sticks. These are brilliantly designed impact driver extensions that are engineered with a precise amount of flex that sets the torque to preset ft lbs. It makes the process quick and easy and there is no excuse for not regularly checking the torque.The quality is good and the price is just $33.99.

Amazon.com

 

[ROAD DOG]

Harbor freight has a good set for $60.

 

[Old Road Dog]

I use a paint marker ( orange) to make witness marks.i can tell at a glance. Sorta related...when doing your pre/ post trip always check the front wheel castle nut and make sure that cotter pin is installed.

 

[Papa Zook]

I witness-mark every bolt as it is installed on every trike conversion, and each one receives either a nylock nut or thread locker; I also take a picture of each fastener.

I'm not posting this to impress anyone; it's just too easy to get distracted and miss a hand-tight fastener if I don't follow this procedure religiously. I require the same from my staff.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I just returned from the Harley dealer, I asked to speak general manager and of course, Monday is their day off, so I asked to speak to the next in charge. I learned a long time ago that going in hot gets you nowhere, I told him that I had some concerns about my recent purchase that needed his attention. I started by asking, although the paperwork doesn't reflect it, but there is a setup and prep fee, and he agreed.

I then asked him what is done to a trike after it is removed from the truck before a customer takes possession of it. He said that he wasn't sure since he didn't work in service(hmmm) and of course service is closed on Mondays. So, I showed him the picture of the wheel with the two missing lug nuts and asked him what was missing in this picture. His eyes got wide and said, oh shit two lugnuts, my response was that is a muted response to what I had. I told him I felt as though they sold me a bike that was not prepped properly and unsafe and he agreed.

So, they are coming after it tomorrow and will do a complete inspection on it (supposedly). I told him that this could have been catastrophic had the wheel come off and he completely agreed. He kept apologizing and I told him that he didn't build it or prep it, but he said that what happened was a reflection on all of them. He said the general manager and the service manager would both be in contact with me.

When the service manager contacts me I will ask him what they torqued the wheels at so that I can check them after a hundred miles to make sure there isn't a problem with the lugnuts. Well only time will tell at this point, and he did offer me a $100 gift card. I told him that I wanted to make sure that this was on record in case it this happens again. At least I wasn't hit with, What do you want us to do, then the gloves would have come off.

 

[14TG]

Accountability…. At least he was in agreement!

Keep us posted!!!!