Why do they have to make it so flippin' hard? - Harley Forum

BlueBob · #1 03-30-2009, 07:41 PM

One of those plates for military decals... you figure it would be a simple purchase and procedure, right?

So I went to the stealership and purchase a simple metal plate w/ a tab w/ a whole in it at one end. The sticker on the plate reads, "Best fit is on upper mounting bolt for front brake caliper. Re-tighten to 28-38 ft-lbs*." This gets me REALLY excited as I now have an immediate excuse to go buy my first torque wrench. I settled on the Craftsman Microtork(tm) and skipped my happy @$$ all the way to Sears. I picked up the one I had settled on (25-250 ft-lb), a new set of 12-point inch sockets, and a good 10 piece accessory set.

So I get home all excited, break out my torque wrench and read the instruction manual. It was about this time that I realize I had, in all my excitement, grabbed the 25-250 in-pound wrench by accident. So I wander back over to Sears the next day to trade in. The nice guy tells me that the 25-250 ft-lb microtork is a POS, and I should go for the 25-150 ft-lb wrench... unless I want the $400 electric one. Purchase complete, I head home.

Now why I didn't try the sockets before I go back to Sears, we may never know... but I didn't. But who WOULDN'T expect the inch sockets to work on an AMERICAN legend, right? No dice. Oh, fiddle-sticks! Back to Sears I go. Wouldn't you know, the 12-point mm sockets are kinda hard to come by. So I mix and match to make up a set and head back home.

I had the torque wrench in my truck already, so I don't have to go back into my condo. I just hop out of my truck and grab the sockets, make sure I'm usin' the right size and go to town taking off that caliper mount bolt. Get it out, proceed to sliding the sticker plate onto the bolt and... uh... it doesn't fit on the bolt. As soon as I stopped crying, I double check it. Sure enough, it doesn't fit past the threads on the bolt.

So... crap. I guess now I gotta go back to Sears and buy a drill and a vice clamp so I can make the hole bigger.** Sorry to vent. Just a little noobie frustration.

Thanks for listening.

* That sound right?
** That's what SHE said!

Buzz Kanter · #2 03-30-2009, 08:01 PM

Sounds like a darned good reason to expand the tool chest "but homey, I have to do it right..."

Good luck and consider it either a) a learning experience, b) a funny story to tell years from now, c) an excuse to add to your tool box...your choice.

unclepsycho · #3 03-30-2009, 08:02 PM

Your on the right track.... never give up! Buying tools makes me drool....

tommyglide · #4 03-30-2009, 08:24 PM

Real life is always waaaay better than fiction, eh?

BlueBob · #5 03-30-2009, 08:44 PM

Good advice, Buzz! Everything except calling the fiance "homey." Not sure she'd be down with that.

Any ideas as to where else I can put the decals without screwing up the bike?

botzman · #6 03-31-2009, 07:52 AM

BlueBob,

I have one mounted on the leftside rear footpeg mount (DYNA) and another on the forward kickstand bolt (FLHX).

If I remember correct you have a dyna. Botz

shovelmike · #7 03-31-2009, 09:18 AM

You're probably right, BlueBob, she might not like that "homey" stuff! lol

I'm incredibly blessed, my wife has never had a problem with me buying tools.
She's been encouraging me to get a second rolling tool chest in the garage, I probably will when I figure out how to make room for it.

Spade5 · #8 03-31-2009, 09:33 AM

BlueBob I only thought things like that happened to me. I have finally learned that no matter what tools I own I always have to go buy something else. Then there are at least two trips to Home Depot or where ever because something doesn't fit. No matter what I buy, I cannot make it in one trip.

When I was a kid in the 50's trying to learn how to wrench some, a mechanic told me I needed a left handed monkey wrench. Looking back, I think he may have been right.

sgtcowboyusmc · #9 03-31-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzz Kanter

Sounds like a darned good reason to expand the tool chest "but homey, I have to do it right..."

Good luck and consider it either a) a learning experience, b) a funny story to tell years from now, c) an excuse to add to your tool box...your choice.

Buzz, outstanding list but you forgot d) ALL THE ABOVE!

Haulen Ass · #10 03-31-2009, 11:57 AM

It's the simple little things that end up being the major projects.