Curious about old rust issue ...

[Firefox]

A couple years ago my new RKC developed a rust spot on the frame directly in front of the front jug where the frame is gussetted together. There is a weep hole there about a quarter inch in diameter. The rust popped out there and continued to eat away the metal/paint until it was about the size of a quarter. I noticed this same rust on a lot of touring frames but then again, a lot of frames did not have it. I figured HD figured out the problem and fixed it, but a few weeks ago I was looking at a new '05 on the showroom floor that had no miles on it and sure enough, there was the rust spot ... I ran my finger over it and a piece of paint flaked off the size of a dime. I was wondering how many are experiencing this. On mine, the dealer kept painting it til I just gave up on it. There was an incidence reported on this site that one dealer gave a guy a new frame when this occurred but my dealer told me Harley has since decided it was only cosmetic and was in a position that could not be readily seen. BS ... I could see it plainly. Anyway, just curious.

[hdmarsh77]

I have it on my '04 RK. My dealer touched it up but it came back. On mine it's not really that bad so I'm not worried...yet. Hope there's a cure soon.

[newultraclassic]

Originally Posted by Firefox

A couple years ago my new RKC developed a rust spot on the frame directly in front of the front jug where the frame is gussetted together. There is a weep hole there about a quarter inch in diameter. The rust popped out there and continued to eat away the metal/paint until it was about the size of a quarter. I noticed this same rust on a lot of touring frames but then again, a lot of frames did not have it. I figured HD figured out the problem and fixed it, but a few weeks ago I was looking at a new '05 on the showroom floor that had no miles on it and sure enough, there was the rust spot ... I ran my finger over it and a piece of paint flaked off the size of a dime. I was wondering how many are experiencing this. On mine, the dealer kept painting it til I just gave up on it. There was an incidence reported on this site that one dealer gave a guy a new frame when this occurred but my dealer told me Harley has since decided it was only cosmetic and was in a position that could not be readily seen. BS ... I could see it plainly. Anyway, just curious.

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I haven't noticed this much on Harleys but it's very common on the older four-cylinder Goldwings. Some of them get so bad that the sidestands will fold up and the subframe has to be replaced.

[Firefox]

I have noticed it a lot on HD touring bikes, it bugged me so I got to looking at the bikes in the parking lots, I bet I have seen this at least on 50 or more bikes.