M8 Softail rear suspension recall

[SJC69]

This is doing the rounds on various pages and Forums so I will post the details and a solution here.

This is the letter generally posted but has little detail as to what the issue is.




This is the information on H-D. COM




This only affects M8 Softails with remote hydraulic rear shock absorber adjustments.

It is the Torx head screw that holds the remote shock absorber hydraulic adjuster in place under the seat on Deluxe & Heritages and below the side panel of other models fitted with a remote adjuster.
How do I know it is that screw, it lists the Part Number in the recall!


Unfortunately Customers & H-D dealers have known these break just under the head since the M8 Softail was released, the under the seat ones seem to have the issues, the screw breaks and the adjuster falls down onto the rear mudguard and damages it! (See below picture, this is not my picture but one of many on the US H-D forums)



Is your bike affected? Easy go to H-D.com and under recalls enter your VIN!

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/tools/service-recalls.html


One solution, you replace the Torx Pan Head screw with a quality High Tensile one 1/4-20 x 1 with a washer and for belt and braces fit a lock nut!

Part# 942 Torx Pan Head 1/4 - 20 x 3/4





High Tensile alternative 1/4 -20 x 1" with high tensile washer & lock nut

 

[SJC69]

I'll put an update here, it appears from the Recall document that H-D are going to replace the screw with a larger diameter 5/16 rather than a 1/4. This is a threaded hole, there may be sufficient material to basically re-thread the hole, if not I suspect it will be a drill out and if necessary drill the remote adjuster for clearance, so a nut & bolt, either way it will not be a straight screw replacement!

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V591-3911.PDF

 

[watchman]

Nice one interesting to know how long they have been aware of it before acting

 

[SJC69]

Pictures from the US H-D Forums of the recall work.

Just to clear up any mystery, today I had my '19 Heritage in the dealership for a tire change and as soon as I came in, they flagged my bike for the recall. They did the recall while I had it in there for the tire change. The recall kit consists of a 5/16-18 bolt and a 5/16-18 lock nut. The installation calls for drilling out both the through hole in the mount and the threaded hole in the shock adjuster and installing the bolt and nut. See the pictures of the installation below..