Bolts/Parts falling off

This sounds kind of comical but I've had a rash of parts/bolts fall off my bike. I don't know if it's because it sat so much. I bought my 2004 VFR last April and it only had 3,900 miles on it. It looks great and it runs great. However, every time I've taken her out a part or bolt has fallen off. I've had my license plate light housing fall off. I've had one of the bolts that hold the passenger foot peg bracket fall off. I've had one of my license plate bolts fall off that hold the actual plate. It's really frustrating. The light housing was like $70 bucks to replace. Have any of you guys experienced anything like this? I'm wondering if it's because the V4 engine can create so much vibration?

 

Did it sit next to a Harley for too long?otstir:

 

um loctite? I have yet to loose any parts, noteven the ones I added after and none have any thread locker on them. My suggestion, retourque all fastners and any that you cant make stay with suggested torque specs then thread lock. Use the right tools for this job, torque wrenches are a must, dont trust your grip to be right or even close and never bounce the wrench to get it on target.

 

Sounds like somebody with a limp wrist has been working on that bike. Go over all the fasteners you can see and check em before you lose anything else man!!!!!!! And I like blue loctite for structural things, but I don't use it on the fairing bolts/well nuts, they can seize up all by themselves!

 

I have only lost one faring bolt in the 100,000 miles that I have put on my 6th gen. I tend to agree with Metallican here. I don't use lock tight but I would not disagree that it may be a good place to start.

 

Nocalboy maybe?

 

I agree 110%

 

Limp wristed mechanix, funny shit, is that politically correct???

Kidding aside, I have lost zero bolts, fasteners, fixings on my viffer (high-mileage) unit.

Ex 500, I have lost, a 10mm front fender bolt, an allen head bolt that held the chain guard on, (wheel rubbed chain guard) lost a bolt that holds left hand control, and a motor mount nut. I do periodic checks on the Kawi, but my honda sleeps with me.


Maybe your bike was sitting next to an HD like above poster sed?

 

Here is a guess, and only a guess mind you but perhaps the previous owner had installed some Givi luggage side racks and top racks and sold them separately. The reason I say this is that on my 2000 VFR I just purchased the Givi top case rack and when I installed it the kit it requires that some brackets be installed between the frame and the passenger foot peg brackets. Though I'm not one hundred percent sure, I believe that there is a support bracket that runs between the bags and might have attached to the light brackets for added support. If so, then maybe the previous owner might have removed the rack system and forgot to tighten the bolts when he put the bike back together. Or perhaps the PO had removed the light bracket and foot rest brackets at some point and re-installed them before he sold the bike.

Would definitely be a good idea to check the rest of the bolts to make sure nothing else is loose. I have lost a bolt off my license before because there was no lock washer on the plate from holder. Now I always use a lock washer whenever I install the plate. Just my 2 cents.

 

Thanks for the quick responses guys. Yea I thought about using some locktite on my bolts. I'm glad to hear this isn't a common problem. I think I'll end up doing that this spring since there's no riding in the winter time here in Alaska :frown: