It's a Harley. Stuff is suppose to fall off!!

 

I did all that. Said bolt is not painted or chrome and I'm pretty sure that its from the under belly of the sporty. I grabbed a flashlight and looked around for where it might belong.

I appreciate the comment also instead of the if you cannot fix it you shouldn't be riding comments.

 

JW,
That is funny!

 

After thirty years, my Shovelhead has finally stopped doing that. That was her way of telling me she wanted a new one.

I have the bolt drawers at Ace Hardware memorized.

 

Back in 'the day', everyone who rode a motorcycle, did their own work. Dealers were too distant, and all too often you had to do the work on the side of the road. Then, there were the weeks or months waiting for parts to be delivered, IF you could locate them. Don't forget, we didn't have the internet or cell phones back then, and many times we had to find a friend who actually HAD a phone because not all of us did. You spent quite a bit of time, simply trying to locate parts. Most times, if you couldn't improvise, you didn't ride.

During that time, it was considered that if you didn't know how to work on your bike, you had no business bein on one. It was truly beyond embarrassing for anyone to sit and wait for somebody to come along who knew how to figure out what the problem was.

Since the MOCO increased the profit margin by raising the reliability of their bikes, offering high income franchises, began marketing the 'Harley Lifestyle' and recruiting people with disposable funds as customers, it is no longer necessary to be mechanically inclined to keep a Harley on the road.

So, now we are subjecting our 'brotherhood' to the social indignations of using our Harleys as a status symbol. "If you can't afford a Harley, you shouldn't even own one!", or the never ending lust to have the best looking show bike is more important than knowing how it works. Many of the people who do their own work are now considered to be the less fortunate ones.

Human ideology is a funny thing, aint it?

 

Maybe I will but not until this afternoon. I was kinda more referin to the calling the dealer part of your post. Let us see how that goes, "I found a nut under my bike (bikes do have a lot of nuts), what should I do?". You should know what to do if ya find a nut under your bike WITHOUT asking the dealer. I ain't sayin ya need to be a mechanic, man, just that ya need to use your head.

 

Yep, I got those "Shovelhead bolt drawers at Ace Hdwr" down pat, too. In fact, I can call her at work, tell her what I need, and prob'ly which frigging drawer it is in.
Psst, THEY won't tell you up front, but they are panhead bolts, too.



BBrad: I'd have just put the dammt thing, back on. But then, like Crok, isn't my first rodeo.

I know you're new to it. But take it from an Ol' Geez. There are SOME nuts and bolts on that critter, that when they come loose, or 'fall off', are just at the point of IMPORTANCE, that it can kick your azz every which way but loose. JMFUO, but I like to KNOW which ones those are, and keep an eye on 'em, A LOT.

In a fashion, sorta like flying an airplane, very unforgiving/deadly when they 'quit'/fall apart. I'm NOT telling you to park it, QWITE the opposite. Get your hands and your head in the 'game'.

We came of age, when the basic rule was, "If you didn't know, you didn't go" That's just the way it was. You wrenched or walked. Walkin' sux.

Don't think any offense was meant, above. But, then, I've gotten divorced, so I know dammt well, I was wrong, once.

At the end of the day, no matter what WE say,
It's: Your scoot. Your $$. Your azz. Your call.

 

Hope you find it, chances are, if it came off the scoot, you might not see clean threads where it was (would be nice eh?) as it gradually backed off, **** prolly got on the threads. and just becuase it was found under your bike, doesn't mean it didn't come from higher. Keep looking, you will find it!
I'd also invest in a service manual, a bottle of blue, and a bottle of red locktite. (red if you want it to stay on, blue if it's something you plan on taking off again)

 

I remenber back in my days my friends would put oil under somebody bike every where we rode. He keep buying oil and fill it up till blow. Good old days. It's better to know about your bike and not just adding stuff to it.

 

I can't believe everyone is getting this wrong. Its a Sportster so the correct answer is:
Tell your ol man to fix it!



My apologies to all the other Sportster owners and women out there.