NHTSA Complaint #10166758 — 2005 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF

WHILE ME AND MY WIFE WAS RIDING OUR FATBOYS (HER 2005 & MINE 2004) WE WERE ON OUR FIRST DAY OF A 8 DAY ROAD TRIP TRAVELING ON ROUTE 84 WEST NEAR CARMEL NY, SHE DEVELOPED A PROBLEM. ALL 5 OF HER CHROME PULLEY BOLTS SHEARED OFF HARLEY DAVIDSON P/N 94773-00A. GOT MY BOYS TO TRAILER HER HOME. NEXT DAY BOUGHT NEW HD WHEEL AND PARTS TO BUT THE BIKE ON THE ROAD. BEFORE BRING THE PARTS TO MY DEALER I WANTED TO SEE IF THE ORIGINAL FACTORY BOLTS FIT THE SAME AS THE CHROME (94773-00A) DID. I CLEAN THE YELLOW LOCKTIGHT OFF OF THE ORIGINAL BOLT AND WITHOUT THE PULLEY IN PLACE I HAND-TIGHTEN THE BOLT . DID THE SAME WITH THE 94773-00A BOLT. THEY FIT DIFFERENT. THE ORIGINAL BOLTS FIT WITH A SLIGHT MOVEMENT WHEN MOVING THE BOLT LEFT TO RIGHT. THE 94773-00A BOLT HAD A MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE MOVEMENT. SHOWED MY DEALERSHIP AND I AM WAITING FOR A REPLY FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON. IF YOU PERFORM THIS TEST ON YOUR WHEEL MAKE SURE THE BOLT AND THE THREADS IN THE WHEEL ARE TOTALLY FREE OF LOCKTIGHT. BEFORE I INSTALLED THE 94773-00A BOLTS I PURCHASED THE SOFTAIL SERVICE MANUAL AND A NEW TORQUE WRENCH AND RED 262 LOCKTIGHT, I FOLLOWED EVERY STEP IN THE HD MANUAL. *NM