hydraglide
150+ Posts
Guess it was just a matter of time after researching this issue.
Had my 21' Tri Glide in for 25K service the other day and the Master Tech at my local HD Dealership brought me into the shop and demonstrated (by shaking the back end side to side) a squeak and clunking noise. It was driving him nuts (which I appreciate)... and upon hunting it down he found it to be the Pan Hard Rod assembly.
I've heard the squeak really only when getting on or off my trike and it didn't concern me, but the clunking noise was quite evident as well. He said the joints were really rusty as well... which is really weird, since only this summer did I hit rainy riding of any significance (truth, a lot of rain, but rust within 6 months? ...Really?).
Seems to be a weak spot in Tri Glide design (part manufacturing, essentially). I was familiar with this issue since I follow this forum regularly and told my tech there are alternatives to having to be stuck using the factory heim joints. Since this will be submitted as a warranty claim, the dealership had to order a new Pan Hard Rod assembly (typical MC... you have to purchase the entire assembly when two 12$ parts will do.
The plan is to have the labor covered under warranty and install these replacement heim joints and locking nuts by QS Components in place of the factory crap. https://www.qscomponents.com/search?q= 4005755906
As I've researched, two RH thread heim joints are what is needed, correct me if I'm mistaken.
Any of my fellow Tri Glider's out there have any user feedback on these heim joints? (Like... are how they are performing/lasting, etc?).
I plan on also replacing the axle bearing retaining plates with DK's beefy replacements, because without even looking, and with the Pan Hard Rod so sloppy, I have to believe that this slop has put undue stress on the stock wheel bearing plates to the point I'm willing to bet a buck they're warped to some degree.
Seems to me that having the Pan Hard Assembly going bad isn't a matter of IF, but WHEN.
Had my 21' Tri Glide in for 25K service the other day and the Master Tech at my local HD Dealership brought me into the shop and demonstrated (by shaking the back end side to side) a squeak and clunking noise. It was driving him nuts (which I appreciate)... and upon hunting it down he found it to be the Pan Hard Rod assembly.
I've heard the squeak really only when getting on or off my trike and it didn't concern me, but the clunking noise was quite evident as well. He said the joints were really rusty as well... which is really weird, since only this summer did I hit rainy riding of any significance (truth, a lot of rain, but rust within 6 months? ...Really?).
Seems to be a weak spot in Tri Glide design (part manufacturing, essentially). I was familiar with this issue since I follow this forum regularly and told my tech there are alternatives to having to be stuck using the factory heim joints. Since this will be submitted as a warranty claim, the dealership had to order a new Pan Hard Rod assembly (typical MC... you have to purchase the entire assembly when two 12$ parts will do.
The plan is to have the labor covered under warranty and install these replacement heim joints and locking nuts by QS Components in place of the factory crap. https://www.qscomponents.com/search?q= 4005755906
As I've researched, two RH thread heim joints are what is needed, correct me if I'm mistaken.
Any of my fellow Tri Glider's out there have any user feedback on these heim joints? (Like... are how they are performing/lasting, etc?).
I plan on also replacing the axle bearing retaining plates with DK's beefy replacements, because without even looking, and with the Pan Hard Rod so sloppy, I have to believe that this slop has put undue stress on the stock wheel bearing plates to the point I'm willing to bet a buck they're warped to some degree.
Seems to me that having the Pan Hard Assembly going bad isn't a matter of IF, but WHEN.
