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[cahdbiker]

Just a  note regarding my rear brake caliper mounting bolts. I pulled the rear caliper off my 09 SEUC today, because I wanted to get a good look at the rear brake pads all  the way around. ( the rear ones on my Heritage seem to wear quicker on the bottom edge ). After I pulled the rear caliper (you have to remove the ABS cable from the brake  line and also remove the ABS cable and brake line from a small plastic tie down a few inches farther up the swingarm) I decided to mark the bolt heads with a marker pen and I put tape on the caliper and put a mark on the tape that lined up with the mark on the caliper bolt. I was surprised at how easy it was to loosen the two caliper mounting bolts. I had a 12" ratchet on them, but they came off pretty darn easy. This has happened to me before when I removed something for the first time that  is why I marked the bolt heads and the caliper. The pads looked fine at the bottom edge so I wiggled the caliper back on the disc and mounted the caliper bolts.( I have about 8700 miles and they appear to be 1/2 used up) The service manuel sayes 43-48 ft lbs. on page 1-34. When I retorqued the bolts I set my torque wrench to 46 ft lbs, and it went a little bit more then 1/8 of a turn farther then the mark on the caliper when it clicked.( of course I checked the front ones which are supposed to be 28-38 ft lbs according to 09 service manuel page 1-36 they were fine ) I have found a lot of bolts etc.when removed for the first time are just barely tight enough. Just something I wanted to pass on when to anybody who is doing an inspection of their bike.Ride safe. CAHDBIKER

[Kern]

I noticed the same when I was doing some stuff last weekend. Scary.

[grc]

Want to know what's even scarier?  That stuff (critical fasteners) is supposed to be checked by the dealer during prep, and it's also part of the 1000 mile $400 service.  So not only is Harley flat on their butt with regard to fastener torque during assembly, the dealers who justify $400 for an oil change by mentioning all that stuff on the checklist but don't actually do the checks are basically risking your neck while robbing you blind.

I think I've mentioned this a few times in the past, but even though it hasn't been necessary for many years now to go over your new car or truck with a torque wrench, it is still a very good idea to do so with a Harley.  I checked all the critical fasteners, and many of the others as well, shortly after purchasing my SEEG, and found many items that weren't even close to being right.  I rechecked the critical fasteners again at the 5k and 10k service intervals, and those items I had found loose initially were still OK.  In other words, this wasn't from vibration, it was from improper assembly, period.


Jerry