Hi all, I'm relatively new on the block here but have been following the forum for some time now. This is truly a great forum!
I've had my 900 LT for a year now (just about to turn 8k miles) and have profited greatly from all the collective wisdom...I have the various posters herein to thank for recommendations on lowers, crashbar, horns, and tires...THANKS!
I have a problem and would like to tap the collective wisdom of the group once again. I've been noticing little oil (at least I thought oil) spots in my garage. I wasn't sure it was my bike, until I looked underneath and found the middle grease nipple gone from the rocker arm which is typically home to three grease nipples. The middle grease nipple fits to the tie rod, all parts of the rear suspension (i.e., see p417 of the service manual). For those of you that don't have a manual, it's a silver casting behind the engine that connects to the frame at the front, what's called a tie rod in the middle and the spring to the rear. I haven't taken a good look at it yet with plenty of light, but from what I can see, it looks like I've hit something as it looks like a small part of the casting at the back of the nipple hole is gone. I may have done it when I was two-up on the bike, but I honestly can't remember.
The orientation of these fittings doesn't appear to be well thought out as it would seem to make the 900s prone to having the nipples knocked off (yea, I know, another bad mental image!
).
I've got another nipple to replace it and am hopeful I can get out any remaining nipple and have enough threads left.
Has anyone else seen this on their 900s? Am I crazy for thinking this is a questionable design?