Progressive Touring Link Service Life?

[ScottFree]

Four years and about 34,000 miles ago, I installed a Progressive "Touring Link" driveline stabilizer on my '04 Road King. I noticed an improvement in the bike's stability and handling. Last year I began to notice the bike didn't seem quite as steady, and today, while replacing the back tire, we discovered both of the Heim joints on the link were worn out. The balls in the joints are properly secured to the mountings, but the sockets are loose on them. No scratches, galling, corrosion or other signs of problems; the balls are just loose in the sockets.

Anybody else have this happen? I've put over 100K and over 20 years on the standard Harley stabilizers, so I'm pretty surprised these wore out so quickly (especially since they're bigger). Is there more stress on the rear link? Some of the photos on Progressive's website seem to show a layer of plastic between the balls and sockets; I don't see any such plastic on mine. So maybe the link was defective? Of course, it's three years past its one-year warranty...

I assume Progressive sells a replacement part separately, and I won't have to buy a whole new assembly of link and mounts. Or maybe I'll be looking for a link in an industrial supply catalog...

[PoorUB]

I would imagine runing on the underside of the motorcycle and getting spray from the front wheel has something to do with it. Always getting road grit off the front tire, or water when riding in the wet.

I would just look up a pair at McMaster-Carr.

[Pirsch Fire Wagon]

I've had a similar setup for about 15 years. Spray them with Lube and check torque every 10k - Never a problem. About 65,000 miles on the one I have.

[klammer76]

Four years and about 34,000 miles ago, I installed a Progressive "Touring Link" driveline stabilizer on my '04 Road King. I noticed an improvement in the bike's stability and handling. Last year I began to notice the bike didn't seem quite as steady, and today, while replacing the back tire, we discovered both of the Heim joints on the link were worn out. The balls in the joints are properly secured to the mountings, but the sockets are loose on them. No scratches, galling, corrosion or other signs of problems; the balls are just loose in the sockets.

Anybody else have this happen? I've put over 100K and over 20 years on the standard Harley stabilizers, so I'm pretty surprised these wore out so quickly (especially since they're bigger). Is there more stress on the rear link? Some of the photos on Progressive's website seem to show a layer of plastic between the balls and sockets; I don't see any such plastic on mine. So maybe the link was defective? Of course, it's three years past its one-year warranty...

I assume Progressive sells a replacement part separately, and I won't have to buy a whole new assembly of link and mounts. Or maybe I'll be looking for a link in an industrial supply catalog...

I have replaced the heim ball end on my Ridestr8 (basically the same as progressive) once. It was rusted and loose making a noise that drove me nuts. I got the end from McMaster Carr.

There was a discussion on the other site about using no rubber bushed ball ends on the factory stabilizers and that it made for better handling but the hiems wear faster and are a service item if used. I assume this would apply to the rear stabilizers as well? IIRC, Max was the OP on that thread over there.

[ScottFree]

I looked at McMaster-Carr's website, then did a face-palm and realized that Priority Products, a similar fastener-and-doodad vendor, is two and a half miles away in downtown St Charles, just around the corner from the brewery. Stopped by (Priority Products, not the brewery), got the joints, and twenty minutes later it was all back together. At $43 for the two joints, it's cheap enough that I'll probably just make a habit of changing them every couple years.

[Hendogg]

Just got a new hiem joint from Progressive , slapped it in and went on my way
It's a wear item