My left headlight adjuster knob fell off today...

[VirginiaJim]

  !   I was going down I85 south in VA this morning to meet up with my wife in La Crosse.  I looked down and saw the adjuster knoby was gone.  I was coming up on the last rest area just past the Waldorf exit and decided to stop and see if it got caught up in anything..  Stopped, looked, and felt around.....nothing, nada.. .  Ok, isn't the end of the world.  Came up to speed (about 80) and felt something hit my left boot.  I know what it was, I just know... .  Looked back and didn't see anything.  I can just imagine it's still bouncing around in Brunswick county somewhere as I write this.  I85 should be condemned.  It's probably the worse road in the state as far as potholes and bumpiness goes.

Anyway, as I'm getting ready to head home after nearly killing myself trimming trees in the heat, I crank the bike and get 'Low Transponder battery'!    and  !  And I can't get the  message off my screen!   Brian!!!!  I got to look at it for 2.5 hours!

Anyway, the knob falling off was a common occurrence on the classic bikes and Kwak upgraded them with a screw, I think.  Does anyone remember if the newer knobs will fit on the 08 adjuster shafts?

[gPink]

Doesn't the two finger salute you use to clear the low gas warning work for this?

[maxtog]

Doesn't the two finger salute you use to clear the low gas warning work for this?

It should.  It will clear any message on the screen, as far as I am aware.

[VirginiaJim]

I couldn't get it to work, unfortunately (even without gloved fingers).  I even tried a one finger salute.....no dice.

On a good note, I did find the part number kit that upgrades the new knob and the TSB from Kwak that explains what to do to fix it.  Dealers are supposed to fix it without charge but it doesn't cost that much and I don't want to leave the bike as they're an hour away.  I'll post the details in a bit.

[Conrad]

You never had the knob recall done? When I was riding over the my dealer to have this recall done, one of my knobs fell off on the way. 

[VirginiaJim]

It's not a recall.  It's a TSB.  If yer knob falls off it's not a safety issue as such or of high concern.....at least to them.  It's only done on an as needed basis...


Off topic note:  I was able to get my grimy hands on the all (I think) the TSB and recall notices for our bikes.  I'll be posting them (PDF files) in the C14 FAQ/Wiki type area in the next few days.  It's all stuff we've seen before (probably not the documentation) if you've been on our forum long enough but there's some that haven't. 

There may be others but they're all I could find...

[MAN OF BLUES]

Jim, trust me on this one, you don't have to bring the bike in to get the knob ordered.
Call the dealer you wish to use (Ultimate comes to mind...) and tell them your v.i.n., and ask them to get the knobs in, so you can come in when they arrive. I think Ultimate can get them in 2 days.

then arrange a time for the swap of the remaining, and install of the missing. (5 minutes), and enjoy lunch up in Richmond....
They can see online that you did not have the retrofit done yet, so they will know you have it coming... all for free.

My dealer here asked me when I had my TPS units replaced last fall if I wanted the knobs done, I told him "nah, when they fall of, I'll get them", he said no problem, the replacement carries on for the life of original owner, or the life of any transferred warranty....

[stevewfl]

Hate this happened to you, and might be time for a FOB battery refresh

[PH14]

Replace your battery. 

[B.D.F.]

As far as the headlight adjusting knob fix.... you might not want to do that yourself. The cable drive nipple (easy boys!) has to be tapped with a fairly small tap to accept the screw (easy!) that comes (easy!!) with the new knob (easy!!!). Of course you will need the correct <metric> tap, but if you happen to break the tap off or drive it in (easy) with too much of an angle, the cable will have to be replaced. It is absolutely something that can be done 'in the backyard' but you should be aware there is a bit of risk involved.

By the way, your knobs lasted a lot longer than mine- I lost one of mine the day I bought the bike. I only discovered it because the headlights were pointing at the ground in front of the bike, just like everyone elses' C-14, and I could only adjust one on the side of the road with a flashlight. So I just swapped knobs until the new knob came in (yeah, I am not saying 'easy boys' anymore in this post). After that the originals stuck to the bike until the service bulletin and the new type knobs with the screw and plug.

Brian

I couldn't get it to work, unfortunately (even without gloved fingers).  I even tried a one finger salute.....no dice.

On a good note, I did find the part number kit that upgrades the new knob and the TSB from Kwak that explains what to do to fix it.  Dealers are supposed to fix it without charge but it doesn't cost that much and I don't want to leave the bike as they're an hour away.  I'll post the details in a bit.

[Son of Pappy]

So, to summarize what Brian said, "the nipple knob screw comes without an easy metric tap" and "it's easy boys!"

[VirginiaJim]

I'm thinking that since I can create and delete threads and have stayed in at least one Holiday Inn Express, I should be able to handle this, but I'll give the dealer a shot to see what they do.

[martin_14]

you're going to shoot the dealer? 

[gPink]

you're going to shoot the dealer? 

[sherob]

Your going to give the dealer a shot of what?  I just read another thread about scotch... must be highland scotch. 

[gPink]

I've heard too much Scotch will make your knob fall off.

[sherob]

I've heard too much Scotch will make your knob fall off.

Indeed... 

[VirginiaJim]

sigh....

[gPink]

sigh....

Yeah I know, but what'cha gonna do?

[VirginiaJim]

Not much...