New 2017 Tri-Glide Bolts loose

[DK Custom Products]

We had occasion last week to be doing some work on a 2017 Tri-Glide.

It was a few months old, with 2000 miles on it.

It had the Dealership 1000 mile service done to it...where they're supposed to change the fluids and check all critical fasteners.

We needed to remove the bottom bolts for the engine guard. They were ONLY Hand tight. Not good.

When we got under the trike, the bottom shock bolt on the right side was only hand tight. Bad pattern developing! :icon_errrr:

Then when we went to the left shock...the bottom shock bolt was backed out almost 1 full inch!!!

Not good at all.

Factory did not put it together right.

Dealer Prep did not catch it.

1000 mile service did not catch it.

I don't know if this is a 1 in 100, 1 in 1000 or 1 in 100,000 thing.

But it is a good reminder to not trust our lives with just anyone doing work on our bikes.

Do it yourself, or if you have someone else do it, make sure you trust them with your life, or go behind them and check their work.

Kevin

 

[rhino 2]

You would have to wonder if they even did the Fluids change.....:Shrug:

 

[Trampas]

I don't think I would be going back to that dealer for sure, on the 1,000 mile check up aren't they supposed to check all bolts, can't believe they missed all of that, sorry to say that dealer is a bad one and his mechanics are high school kids that don't know squat.

I have to agree with rhino on the fluids, very sad to see.

All for now Trampas

 

[Capt.Bob]

Kevin, Was that ever a SPOOKY set of findings! What is also spooky is that checking the engine guard bolt tightness is not on the 1k checklist for my 2017 TGU. I will be checking mine in the morning. Your findings are the primary reason that I do every bit of maintenance that I am capable of. On my 1000 mile check, the only thing I had my local Harley dealer do was check the torque of the oil pan bolts which I am thinking is a new item for the M8 engines and the torque of the rear pivot shaft bolts on the rear fork that I did not have a tool for or easy access to the bolts that needed checking that were on the 1k checklist.

In the past, I have been more trusting of dealership work but as I have developed increased skill and tenacity to do my own work, I have become more assured that things are being done correctly and right to the factory published specifications. As an added benefit, I am also saving a significant amount of money on my maintenance, having fun in the process and getting to know my trike much better.

I can say when I installed the DK Custom Lift Kit that the shock bolts were plenty tight or I am just getting weaker in my old age<grin>.

Update: Checked the 2017 lower Engine Guard bolts with a torque wrench and a T45 Torx today (06-13-17) and they were within spec at 15-20 foot-pounds (not a lot of torque but more than finger tight). Hopefully, what Kevin found was more like 1/100,000?

 

[Sunman]

That is exactly why I do all of my own maintenance and repair on my bikes. The only time any of my bikes have ever seen a shop is for warranty work or on a couple of occasions when I didn't have the special tools required to do the job and it was cheaper to let the dealer do the work than buy the tools for a one time job. I just don't trust other people to do the work.

Sunman

 

[Bill G]

That is exactly why I do all of my own maintenance and repair on my bikes. The only time any of my bikes have ever seen a shop is for warranty work or on a couple of occasions when I didn't have the special tools required to do the job and it was cheaper to let the dealer do the work than buy the tools for a one time job. I just don't trust other people to do the work.

Sunman

You and me both. I don't trust anyone else's work in general and I double check everything on my trike new that I can top to bottom. I do all the work on my trike if possible just like you unless I have no other choice or need a special tool I can not get. I don't trust dealers at all they leave bolts loose and 90% of the time you will get your bike back scratched. Anymore I just buy the special tool to keep it away from the Dealer cheaper in the long run.

Ride Safe My Friend,

Bill G

 

[mirider]

Ditto on the self-maintenance if at all possible. Last year on another bike I owned, it came back from a minor dealer fix with a cross threaded gas tank mounting bolt. Don't trust dealers at all.......