HELLO, GETTING THE 1956 MOCKED UP, SHOULD HAVE REBUILT MOTOT NEXT WEEK.
LOOKING FOR CORRECT SIDECAR TO RESTORE NEXT
CALL
DAN
804-214-8357
MMPUSALLC@AOL.COM
Dhood - 11/7/2010 9:49 AM
HELLO, GETTING THE 1956 MOCKED UP, SHOULD HAVE REBUILT MOTOT NEXT WEEK.
LOOKING FOR CORRECT SIDECAR TO RESTORE NEXT
CALL
DAN
804-214-8357
MMPUSALLC@AOL.COM
You will need the correct 1940's-50's CLE metal sidecar. I don't recall whether an OEM 1956 HD FLH has the built-in ring fittings on the front of the downtubes or not. If it does then the lower front mount will accept the threaded rod with the large threaded mount on the right side directly. Without the rings, you will also need the saddle clamps that are held to the frame with two U-bolts on either side.
The upper front mount was a two piece unit that mounted between the tanks in the center. It was the same from the early Knuckleheads all the way to the end of the Shovelhead era. (1983, or 1984 depending upon whom you ask). It had a stepped bolt with two different threads and a cotter pin hole for a castellated nut. There was also a lock tab to bend over.
I'm assuming that you have the rigid frame since 1958 was the first year of the OEM rear swingarm with hydraulic shocks, called the "Duo-Glide". The rigid frame took a small rear sidecar mount that bolted to holes provided on the frame for that purpose. The early CLE sidecars had large threaded nuts on the front and rear lower mounts that were difficult to install and remove. Later ones (rubber-mounted frames on) had Heim Joints and were much easier to deal with.
The early sidecars had a long arm that went straight back to mate up with the rigid frame. Later on, in the Shovelhead era, they used a mount that adapted the CLE sidecar to a swing arm frame. The mount clamped to the rear of the right side of the swing arm and the sidecar frame would swivel with the swing arm.
Later yet, in the Shovelhead era, the early sidecar was modified with a shorter frame arm that used a mount fitted to the frame behind the oil tank on the passenger footpeg pad.
Assuming that you have the OEM 1956 rigid style frame, the eBay link below shows the sidecar that you will need to have an original rig. The other link shows a set of aftermarket mounts sold under the V-Twin brand in case you can't find them.
Good luck.
EDIT: Oops! too late. It sold for $3,250 with 36 bids! Pretty good for an item that needs a complete restoration. Oh well, there's always another one on eBay......so many sidecars, so little time. LOL 🙂
