Check Front Axle Nut Torque
Mike RoenDescription
Next on Harley’s service checklist is checking for proper front axle nut torque. The front or rear axles should not loosen for any reason on their own. In fact, this is really just to inspect the work of the last person or mechanic that touched this area of the motorcycle. It could even have been you.
If an axle nut was not correctly torqued, it could be a major safety issue. This axle requires that you have a 19mm allen bit. To torque, or check axle nut torque, use a 6mm allen to loosen the pinch bolt in the right side lower slider. Then, use the 19mm allen with your foot pounds torque wrench and tighten the axle 59 to 79 foot pounds.
Mike recommends going right up to 79 foot pounds. Re-tighten the pinch bolt and the inspection is complete.
All right, next up they want you to check the front axle, nut torque spec. This motorcycle doesn't have a front nut. It's got the axles, one long piece bolt and the other end threads into the fork slider. So, here's what you're going to want to put on your list, a big old 19 millimeter Allen. That's pretty big. Why are we doing this? Well, basically what we're doing is we're double-checking everybody's work. Somebody had to assemble this motorcycle. You might've bought this motorcycle used. You don't know what's happened. So, I mean, it's a safety thing, not a bad idea. And it's really simple to do. First thing we're gonna do, six millimeter Allen. Another metric. We're going to just de-torque the front pinch bolt here. Just take pressure off the axle itself. I got the big Mambo, a torque wrench here and it's still falls in the guidelines. They're saying 55 to 79 foot-pounds of torque. I'm just going to put a max spec. You know, you might not have this big torque wrench. I've got a little reducer here. Goes from half inch to three eighths so you can use your three eighths torque wrench if you have to. Let's go ahead and check it. Actually, it moved. So putting it at max spec, it torqued a little more. And then of course, now we've gotta go back and torque the pinch bolt there. 21 to 25 foot-pounds, manual says. Go ahead and torque that. Anyway, that's kind of stuff you're going to be doing when you change the front tire anyway. So, it's not a bad idea getting familiar with your motorcycle. Okay, let's get onto the next item.
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