Sure that helps. Now he needs a new air box...Haaa

 

 

 

The feedback from you guys was spot on! I took it to the service department of Savannah, GA HD yesterday. They ended up hooking an air impact driver and hammering/spinning the bolt in reverse at high speed. It was probably the mechanical action that allowed the bolt to come free (after only 5-10 seconds with the impact wrench), but the friction from the bolt fighting being stuck inside the threaded insert of the element also caused the temperature to raise dramatically, allowing the blue loctite applied at the factory to melt. I was shocked at how hot the threaded brass insert the element got during the process; it was too hot to hold my finger on.

They said that they've seen it happen a few times before due to the loctite that the factory buts on the bolt. They ended up grabbing another filter laying around from a stage one air cleaner swap, running my air cleaner bolt on a wire wheel to make sure any remaining blue loctite was off the threads, and then launching me down the road without doing any warranty paperwork. They couldn't have been more helpful / professional in the process.

So, I'm back in business and no longer getting my *** kicked by one tiny bolt. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Glad it worked out now dump that air box Made them change mine as part of the deal before I rode off on it.

 

Don't f with it, let them do it........

 

I know many hate the new AC. I think they look good. I also like the reflectors on the forks.

 

for future reference the answer is always 'use a bigger hammer'
and yeah , swap that cleaner and cover . the SE one is pretty nice .

 

Thanks for this, the same has happened to me. I installed a SE air cleaner and found that when I put my original (beautiful) chrome cover back on it was spinning and loose. After trying to tighten an extra couple of threads I figured it must have broke the bush inside. I dont want to trash the chrome cover but picked up a 2nd hand one for $50 in case. I will try the above. Best from New Zealand.

 

I also like and prefer the stock air box cover. I’ve had mine off many times. Never a problem. I see no reason for loctite on that screw. I’ve learned not to trust every torque spec for every fastener. Simple easy hand tight does it, and it will never come loose.