Good morning. I was there when the seller took the car off a 88 Ultra Glide Classic so I know what part # it is as shown on the dealer print out. Per the dealer it is the same as the req. 04 part #. When the bar is mounted to the top mount on my bike and pulled back towards the car frame it misses lineing up by about 15 deg. to far in front of the car frame. Boy, talk about your run on sentence! That's way more than I would like to tension it with. I have actually mounted the car to the bike with everything but the top bar hooked up. Sidecar level, toe in, lean out are all correct for start up. Just the top bar is out of position.
I have been working on and riding sidecar rigs for over 30 years and I have never seen a mount that was made to flex the way I'm hearing a Harley flexes that top bar. That must be some very special steel tubeing. I did notice the extra layer of tubeing that makes up the bike end of the top bar so I guess they knew what they were doing.
Have any of you had trouble with the rear mount twisting on the car frame end affecting level? I wonder if adding a rear upper mount would help. All my other rigs have had 4 point mounts.
My copy of the service man. is the 99 to 06 HD sidecar book and I have the dealer printouts for the 88 tle, both parts dia. and #s list. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
I cant see how on my setup that the top bar is made to flex..That would constantly be changing the lean angle of bike to car...
Mine is solid and has a big bolt and washer thru the connection, so how could this bar actually flex?
When i hit a good bump with the cars wheel, it sure seems solid to me...
The rear lower mount has the 2 clamps and 2 set screws...Once tight, I cant see how it could move...
Do you need any photos of the hook up on mine?
My car is an 88 TLE as well..
if so, email me @ onahog@yahoo.ca
well take a GOOD HARD LOOK at the bottom two mounts
greased ball joints
and the old ones for the rigid frame bikes had a more complex ball joint - like the old rebuildable ball joints on old cars - the ball fit in a socket on the bike with a nut that went over it - basically worked like two trailer ball hitches to keep that lower joint flexible.
the ball joints are so the frame can flex to the bike frame
the top brace DOES flex - it is very strong so it keeps the bike up but when you hit a pothole it springs all over. my rt lower fairing has a inc long wear spot where the bar rubs on it. and yes all the bolts are tight and locktighted. also note that on the older bikes the brace was attached wtih a spring and cone and nut so that as the top brace flexes it wont work the bolt loose.
find a properly set up hd sidecar and stand beside the bike and grab the handle bars and pull and push as hard as you can - should get about three inches of motion side to side
my top brace has to be worked around a bit to get the hole over the pin and the bolt installed then i work it to be right and tighten all the bolts
as for the rear brace the clamps suck - grm on this site sells a steel block with bolts that is the clear deal to fix that issue.
to
midntstr - 9/28/2011 2:36 PM
I have the sidecar manual and it provides very little year specific info. Thanks for the reply.
Are you referring to the Harley sidecar maintenance and installation manual? (99485-(year). I have several of them for various years and they show all part numbers for various year machines to various year sidecars. The ones I have are more than sufficient. You aren't talking about the Sidecar Owner's Manual are you?
I looked at your other postings and I'm not sure what year TLE you are working with. The rubber mount sidecars with Heim (ball) joints will fit any rubber mount frame from 82 (First FLT rubber mounted, five speed ). It's odd that you are having trouble with the upper mount. Could it be that you have some early parts like that cross mount? The rubber mount cross bar is quite difference from the four speed model.
How about some pictures so we can see what you are dealing with?
timo482 - 9/29/2011 6:18 PM
well take a GOOD HARD LOOK at the bottom two mounts
greased ball joints
and the old ones for the rigid frame bikes had a more complex ball joint - like the old rebuildable ball joints on old cars - the ball fit in a socket on the bike with a nut that went over it - basically worked like two trailer ball hitches to keep that lower joint flexible.
the ball joints are so the frame can flex to the bike frame
the top brace DOES flex - it is very strong so it keeps the bike up but when you hit a pothole it springs all over. my rt lower fairing has a inc long wear spot where the bar rubs on it. and yes all the bolts are tight and locktighted. also note that on the older bikes the brace was attached wtih a spring and cone and nut so that as the top brace flexes it wont work the bolt loose.
find a properly set up hd sidecar and stand beside the bike and grab the handle bars and pull and push as hard as you can - should get about three inches of motion side to side
my top brace has to be worked around a bit to get the hole over the pin and the bolt installed then i work it to be right and tighten all the bolts
as for the rear brace the clamps suck - grm on this site sells a steel block with bolts that is the clear deal to fix that issue.
to
Good information you provide here.
LOL. Thanks for the plug on that heavy duty rear mount cap. I sold a few of those over the last year. I think you got one. I was looking at my blanks sitting in a stack and I'm going to make another lot of them this winter. I make them 10 at a time. I don't like to advertise here since I'm not a paying advertiser. If I make some more, I'll put them on eBay and late you folks kn ow discreetly. Sad to say, there's not much of a market for them but they sure work better than those U-bolts.
I recently traded my sidecar rig off and now have a new Harley Dyna Street Bob. I plan on getting another sidecar rig this winter but I haven't figured out which Tug to use. I love Harleys and, who knows, I may get another one but I'm open to other brands. (Don't tell my wife I'm looking...LOL)
P.S. Apparently the quote function isn't working here. I have the codes correct but the quote won't operate properly.
GMN..Pm me please...I would like to get a block from you for my rig..
Thx..Hb
onahog - 10/1/2011 6:47 AM
GMN..Pm me please...I would like to get a block from you for my rig..
Thx..Hb
Hello. PM sent. 🙂
I have an 04 Excess Traditional and have the places distribution for the period out. The places distribution is for all checking out styles. It explains the greater location has the tapered supervisor on it and corresponding crack on the sidecar bar. The sidecar bar slides in and out by serving to ease the clamps where it is connected to the design of the sidecar under the boat. This is how the leanout is improved on the period. The less expensive location is very near to the oil filtering system.
