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Old 11-22-2009, 06:56 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Check your fasteners!

I had my bike in last week (warranty work) and today I was doing a little maintenance work (adjust/clean/lube head stock bearings) at home. I had heard a little ratcheting noise last week and poked around and found that my rear brake caliper bolts were really loose. Wierd, but I figured, stuff happens and took the opportunity to service my brakes.
Today during my headstock service, I discovered that the speedo cable was also hanging on by a thread, and one seat bolt is missing! The other seat bolt was just about to fall out as well.
I'm pretty sure it was my dealership but can't prove it, so won't really make any trouble for them (I'm going to mention it in passing to the Manager). Normally, I wouldn't see this as a big deal, but they were really loose! Like they were just started -threaded on like someone was going to tighten them down later - and forgot.

This stuff doesn't happen often, but apparently it does happen. So check your fasteners - especially after every service.

Last edited by Skidplate865 : 11-22-2009 at 07:02 PM.
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Old 11-22-2009, 07:16 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skidplate865 View Post
So check your fasteners - especially after every service.
Especially this one:

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Old 11-22-2009, 07:47 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skidplate865 View Post
This stuff doesn't happen often, but apparently it does happen. So check your fasteners - especially after every service.

Well Skippi,

all the more reason to invest in tools and a manual and do it yourself. It is really hard to trust that anyone else (dealer) does it right.
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Old 11-22-2009, 08:09 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Yes, it is always a good practice to nut and bolt your vehicle, but I bet few of us actually do. I feel quite confident in the factory assembly and you can see paint marks on the fasteners which have been secured. Skidplate's experience seems to back up the old saying; "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." This seems to be sloppy workmanship by the dealer.
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Old 11-22-2009, 09:53 PM   #5 (permalink)
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I'd at least ask the dealer to replace the missing seat bolt, while you're mentioning the liability to which he exposes himself by not tightening the brake caliper bolts.

It's not a bad idea to check the fasteners after you do your own service too. I try to tighten all fasteners in a specific component or area as soon as possible during re-assembly, lest I forget to get back to them a few minutes later. If that's not feasible, I leave them so loose that it's impossible to not see that they need tightening.

Giving any service, your own or others', a quick review is a good idea too, especially when it involves critical components such as brake caliper bolts and suspension fasteners.
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Old 11-22-2009, 10:55 PM   #6 (permalink)
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check on delivery too

When I picked up my bike from the dealership new, no problems for about 10 miles on the way home - - and then it started shutting down. To make a long and irritating story short, one of the carb bolts was coming out, creating an enormous air leak. I didn't discover that myself, too distressed to do a good diagnostic on a bike brand new to me, had to be towed back to the dealership. I assume this was loose upon delivery to the dealership from the factory.
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