Ranger Texas Sidecar

I've never heard of a shock problem with any of the Softtail conversions we've done. They don't have the suspension range of a swingarm frame but we've had no negative feedback with any marque sidecars mounted and aligned correctly.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Thanks for the reply. Maybe I am not setting it up correct. I am having no problem setting it up to track straight and it rides great. No pull ,no shake. Track's straight and true. Have had it up to 85mph plus and could take my hands off, it is that good. But after say 500 miles it is all out again. The first time I just chocked it up to shocks going bad causing the bike to bottom out and set lower. Replaced them and 2000 miles and 3 readjustments shocks are toast again.. I cant get a lot of info it seems from Texas Sidecar. Like I said nice folks but after 8 months of no return calls are E-Mails with advice I just took it off and riding without it. So to ride with a sidecar I feel I either need to get another brand or get a bagger Harley... If I am the only one having this problem on a softail ,,,,it may be just me... I really like the idea of having sidecar... Thanks for any advice here....

I wish you where closer. I would just take it to you and let you set it up for me... At this point I am lost on what to do..

I would be glad to help you with this. I have attached instructions on basic set up. If you give me a call I will see what we can do for you.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
www.dmcsidecars.com

Thanks JG.. That was really nice of you. I will go thru them and see what happens. Hope I get more than 500 miles before I have to re due it.Thanks Again.

harleymystique - 9/3/2013 1:06 PM
... I am having no problem setting it up to track straight and it rides great. No pull ,no shake. Track's straight and true... But after say 500 miles it is all out again....

Mystique, we have 2 Rangers, and my Sportster rig is likely mounted similar to your Softail. I can't help much tho, as the only time one of our rigs got out of alignment was when Jena's bottom front mount high-centered an old pipe in a grassy area. Otherwise they have both held alignment without issue.

I'm thinking any movement is likely in one or more of the multiple round clamps rotating or slipping during use. Maybe try marking each joint with alignment marks on masking tape so any movement is readily apparent. Good luck and I sure hope you get it figured out.

Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox

 

Thank you. I will try that. I am beginning to think it is me not the car. I am going to give it another shot next week and put it back on. Thanks again for the advice and help. Randy

I second Lee's comments and advice. We're about to install our fourth Ranger on a Heritage Softail, having already mated them with an Electra Classic, a Yamaha V-Star 1300 and a Road Glide (mine) with no alignment issues. The Yamaha unfortunately was wrecked a couple weeks ago after going off road and end-over-end seven times (thankfully, the driver was okay with minor injuries); when it was delivered back to our shop we were amazed to find out that none of the clamp mounts appeared to have slipped. The struts, frame and body, however, were all mangled.

Anyway, as Lee suggested, you need to reef on all the mounting hardware once the alignment is set to ensure that the mounts don't slip afterwards. We use a paintball marker to draw an "X" across all the junctions of inner and outer frame tubes as a long lasting quick reference alignment check. All mounting hardware should be periodically checked regardless.

You could also contact Bob Wark at the WarkShop in Marietta, OH, 740-374-4250, 7 days a week. He handles and mounts Texas sidecars. I recently took my 08 Suzuki Bandit and 2010 Ranger with me to N Ky on vacation and took them to the Wark Shop. Bob built a subframe for me there and mounted/aligned the chair. He's been doing this for years also so it might be worth your while to give him a call. I've had this rig up to 90+ on the interstate and it seems pretty stable (but I don't think I'd want to take my hands off the bars though). =8-O> BTW, this is my 2nd Ranger. The other was a 2001 on a 2001 Valkyrie. Jay provided the subframe and I mounted and aligned it myself. The only initial problem I had with it was the spring rate on the sidecar shock wasn't heavy enough to begin with, but that was taken care of by BD.

Harleymystique,
This may sounds a bit silly, and I would imagine this is the first thing of which you thought. When I first attached my DMC sidecar, I had the same problem. It was aligned for a time but didn't stay that way. I thought we (my friend and I) had tightened everything plenty. When I talked to Jay G. about it, he suggested we didn't have the bolts tight enough. Well, he was right. We tightened it so tight I was afraid those grade 8 bolts might snap off. I never had another problem.

Jay S.
Okie from Muskogee

Everyone thanks for the advice.... After reading your coments and advice i am sure it is me.. I plan to attempt it again... Buffalohead {J S.} thanks could be right.Also JDM [ Jay G} thanks for taking the time to send those instructions and advice.. Thanks everyone....Out to the garage i go ;;; AGAIN.

Be sure to let us know how it all turns out, be interested in knowing what the outcome is.

I want to thank everyone on the advice. I gave up on trying to get the Texas Sidecar hooked up the Harley Softail. Just bought a used Harley bagger for it. The Texas Sidecar folks where great. They sent me a CD and it hooked up like a dream. I made one bracket to go with the brackets I had for the Softail and it is all good. Thanks Again Everyone

You might want to check the torque on all of your bolts. Dave doesn't give any torque specs, but those bolts can take 110 ft. Lbs. I torqued mine to 90 and added green Loctite as an added measure. Green Loctite is a wicking compound that locks the threads after torquing the nuts.