Loose Stuff

philthymike · Jun 20, 2017

How often do I need to go through and check tightness on all of the various bolts and screws?

I ask because I found one bolt missing and my headlight has gotten wobbly.

The missing bolt is the bottom crankcase bolt on the right side which has the metal hanger for the plastic belly protector. I managed to find a suitable stainless replacement at the local hardware store. Anyone ever lost this bolt before?

Then I have wobbly headlight syndrome. Following my better half one day she said she thought I kept hitting my brights and then she realized it was because my headlight beam is all over the place. I see it too on reflective signs while I'm moving.
How do I go about tightening the headlight up?

I'm going to go through the bike thoroughly and see if I can find anything else loose or missing.

bayotte · Jun 20, 2017

I'm surprised your headlight is loose, given how it mounts to the body. Are you sure it's not just normal shake from the bike moving up and down when you hit bumps? Is the headlight loose if you try to move it around with your hands? To access the fastener you just have to pull the front fairing from the beak. 4 fasteners come off to do this - 2 near the gauge cluster, and 2 hidden up inside the front fender. There's a guide somewhere if you Google it. Headlight is held in place with 2 screws and 2 rubber grommets.

bayotte · Jun 20, 2017

Keep in mind that the headlight on this bike turns with the handle bars, so what your wife saw might be normal for this bike.

bayotte · Jun 20, 2017

In regards to how often you have to tighten bolts, I don't think there's a real answer to that question. I'd say "occasionally". Only thing I ever found to be loose was one of the bolts holding the rear mudguard to the swing arm.

philthymike · Jun 20, 2017

bayotte said:
I'm surprised your headlight is loose, given how it mounts to the body. Are you sure it's not just normal shake from the bike moving up and down when you hit bumps? Is the headlight loose if you try to move it around with your hands? To access the fastener you just have to pull the front fairing from the beak. 4 fasteners come off to do this - 2 near the gauge cluster, and 2 hidden up inside the front fender. There's a guide somewhere if you Google it. Headlight is held in place with 2 screws and 2 rubber grommets.

Awesome, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
No the headlight housing does not feel loose but there's definitely a jiggle internally like the bulb itself is jumping around.
I had the headlight housing on my Suzuki get loose once and this is the same effect like what I see on the HS. At night it's a bit like a strobe light.

As for bolts loosening up I'm surprised it happens at all considering every bolt and screw I've pulled on this bike had thread locker on it. That and I don't ride that hard. Of course I don't know history prior to my buying it. I bought used so it may be the previous owner or owner's favorite bike mechanic wrenching on it and either sloppy or not reapplying thread lock or both.

I've gotten my Suzuki back from the dealership and found loose screws and bolts before on two occasions.

bayotte · Jun 20, 2017

If the bulb is loose then the waterproof seal on the headlight may not be correctly attached. Probably worth a look sooner than later.

monocog007 · Jun 20, 2017

I lost a bolt for the rear fender, one for the centerstand, and a bolt for the belly pan. I try to make sure and use red threadlocker on the ones I reinstall in those places.

appliance821 · Jun 20, 2017

For those that like to wash your bikes, put away the power washer and go over everything with a rag. Yank on stuff on your way through.

Funny thing is I also found the rear fender bolt loose.

philthymike · Jun 21, 2017

So far so good. Not finding anything else loose. I'll tackle the headlight later today.

N4teTheGreat · Jun 21, 2017

When I was working on installing the Hyper Lights I got from Kuksul08 I found a missing bolt on the lower radiator mount as well as a missing spring on the exhaust. I guess carrying speed on all these bumpy roads here in the bay rattled them off...

-- Nathan

Hyp Noob · Jun 21, 2017

Good save Nathan. I've been looking around at nuts and bolts too ... prepping for a 4 day bumpy road ride. So far, looking pretty good.

I did find something I've seen before on other bikes. (dumb!)

The license plate! Not only were there only TWO bolts ... but they were not tight.

But here is something some may miss: Unless all 4 bolts are used that plate can really BUZZZ when at certain RPM's. Just adds to the cacophony in general ...
Sounds Cheap! (can't have that on this bike $$$$

)

I replaced all four bolts, tightened with Blue Loctite, no buzz now.

gatdammit · Jun 22, 2017

I usually find the loose bolts after they've fallen out. Lost one of the center stand bolts (Loctite from factory) and the rear brake reservoir mounting bolt. it's a buzzy bike with so-so suspension. Not that shocking to me.

Loose Stuff

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