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[SIX38]

Glad this post helped a few people find their loose brackets

Ride Safe

Scotty

Thanks for the heads up, Scotty. As I posted earlier, I found both my bolts loose('09 SE Ultra) and re torqued them to HD specs (12-20 ft lbs. thats all it gets!), but being the anal person that I admit being, I did not believe that all of these loose bolts were the result of someone not tightening them properly at the factory or the dealer. I took another look at the bracket assembly that holds both the saddlebag mounting pin receptacle and the grab strap screw and the problem is quite obvious. The bracket is fastened to the frame with a single 5/16" bolt (12-20 lbs torque) with the strap attached 2 3/4" away from the center line of the bolt. On the right side of the motorcycle any moderate upwards pull on the passenger strap will turn the bolt counterclockwise and loosen it. On the left side, the saddlebag mount is 2 1/8" away from the centerline of the bolt, and any upward motion of the saddlebag (like hitting a pothole or bump in the road) will loosen that bolt. Try it, you will see what I'm talking about. Boy, THIS IS DANGEROUS!!  Two deadly possibilities, saddlebag falls off bike, your OK but your buddies behind you all get taken out. Another scenario has your passenger who was holding on to the grab strap with a death grip as you power thru the twisties, suddenly is holding air as the bolt falls out and off she goes. I'm not sure if this design is on any other models, but I think this is a serious safety issue on the 2009 FLHTCUSE4. Or am I over reacting?
Tom P. 

[Scotty]

Thanks for the heads up, Scotty. As I posted earlier, I found both my bolts loose('09 SE Ultra) and re torqued them to HD specs (12-20 ft lbs. thats all it gets!), but being the anal person that I admit being, I did not believe that all of these loose bolts were the result of someone not tightening them properly at the factory or the dealer. I took another look at the bracket assembly that holds both the saddlebag mounting pin receptacle and the grab strap screw and the problem is quite obvious. The bracket is fastened to the frame with a single 5/16" bolt (12-20 lbs torque) with the strap attached 2 3/4" away from the center line of the bolt. On the right side of the motorcycle any moderate upwards pull on the passenger strap will turn the bolt counterclockwise and loosen it. On the left side, the saddlebag mount is 2 1/8" away from the centerline of the bolt, and any upward motion of the saddlebag (like hitting a pothole or bump in the road) will loosen that bolt. Try it, you will see what I'm talking about. Boy, THIS IS DANGEROUS!!  Two deadly possibilities, saddlebag falls off bike, your OK but your buddies behind you all get taken out. Another scenario has your passenger who was holding on to the grab strap with a death grip as you power thru the twisties, suddenly is holding air as the bolt falls out and off she goes. I'm not sure if this design is on any other models, but I think this is a serious safety issue on the 2009 FLHTCUSE4. Or am I over reacting?
Tom P.  

Mine have a little extra lock sealant on them now.......
P.S. You have one nice bike. My riding buddy has one just like yours

[SIX38]

Mine have a little extra lock sealant on them now.......
P.S. You have one nice bike. My riding buddy has one just like yours

Thank you Scotty, I'm really happy with it, although I originally wanted your bike but could not find one. Roger the Loctite,I'm with you on that, but I think that bracket need a redesign. As we all know, owning a Harley is a constant product improvement adventure and usually once we get it perfect, we sell it and start all over again.
Tom P.

[tcb62]

My left bag, front bolt came out after the first 200 miles.  I was showing off my new bike, opened the saddlebag lid and found the pin in the bottom of the bag.  Then I checked the seat strap bolt and found it backed out 2/3's of the way   Lock-tie for me.....

[infanterene]

I lost a bolt too. I heard something rattling and thought it was something inside my bag, turned out to be a missing bolt.

[Big-T]

Just fixed mine for less than $5. Put clevis pins in the front holes in place of the quick detach hardware. Now I don't have to worry about them falling off however I still have to worry about some dirtbag busting the latch to get the bag open. T.

[Highjagger]

But how can you loose a bolt , it is allways falling into the saddlebag .
I control them nearly everyday .
And here in germany we do not have the finger screw bolts , we do need a screwdriver to loosen or tighten the bolts .

[sem_bunda]

Now I feel bad for my dealer.  OK, that's over.  I blamed them after they measured my seat to see if it needed replacing, and the next day as we were leaving on a road trip, I noticed my right bag loose and found the bolt missing.  Went to the dealer, they put new bolt in and retorqued left side too.  Thanks for the heads up on this!

I love this board - all kinds of good info.

[Brinks]

Chalk up another loose bolt, during detailing of my '09 SEUC, I checked the bolt and sure enough the ride side was loose, thanks CVOHARLEY for the save!!!

[Scotty]

But how can you loose a bolt , it is allways falling into the saddlebag .
I control them nearly everyday .
And here in germany we do not have the finger screw bolts , we do need a screwdriver to loosen or tighten the bolts .

You need to check the bolt that holds the BRACKET to the bike. If it comes out the bolt is gone.
Of course double check your fastener inside the bag also.

[Big-T]

You need to check the bolt that holds the BRACKET to the bike. If it comes out the bolt is gone.
Of course double check your fastener inside the bag also.

So that being said. I need to move my clevis pin from the front bracket to the rear one. That way it would be impossible for it to fall off. T.

[Highjagger]

You need to check the bolt that holds the BRACKET to the bike. If it comes out the bolt is gone.
Of course double check your fastener inside the bag also.

Aaaah , ups , now i`ve got it , thxs , i will do the bolt-check , ( not the fasteners )