Do you ever ride other than on the track?
Lonnie
I have owned a 2007 Ultra with an Ultra sidecar for one month. Is the front end shimmy normal or should I do something to fix it? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
hdman - 5/23/2010 5:20 PM
I have owned a 2007 Ultra with an Ultra sidecar for one month. Is the front end shimmy normal or should I do something to fix it? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.
You have it from 15 - 35 MPH? On braking? Do you have raked trees? You might want a steering damper.
If it is all stock Harley and nothing has been changed or take off it comes with a steering damper.
Thank you for your replies. Yes it has the steering dampener just like the red circled area. Is there an adjustment I can make?
Thank you for your replies. Yes it has the steering dampener just like the red circled area. Is there an adjustment I can make?
Hack'n - 5/8/2010 6:14 PM
Do you ever ride other than on the track?
Lonnie
Two wheels yes. Sidecar, no. Wouldn't have space for more than one sidecar in the garage.
hdman - 5/23/2010 8:17 PM
Thank you for your replies. Yes it has the steering dampener just like the red circled area. Is there an adjustment I can make?
Not aware of any adjustment to the stock damper. Did you buy it from a dealer or a private sale? Want to let you know I am new to sidecars and have not even mounted mine yet. I have many friends that have sidecars. Something is not right hope someone here will be more help then I am. If it was a solo I would be more help as I have been riding and working oh Harley s for about 40 years but just learning about sidecars.
Thanks for the reply. I bought the bike from a dealer 300 miles from my village. My riding buddy has one also but I haven't asked him about the shimmy. I will ask him and then take mine to the dealer he uses for all of his service needs. Thanks for the help. I,too, have been riding for 40 years but am not a mechanic. Some things I can do but all of the technical stuff I leave to the pros.
With the damper unhooked see if it provides some resistance right away or if there is a dead spot in it.
You may need a new damper.
Check tire pressure and maybe play with it a little especially the front tire.
Also make sure your steering head bearings are in good shape and tight. Are the swingarm bushings in good shape with no play? Wheel bearings?
Thanks for the reply. The bike has only 8k miles on it. Are these things problematic at this mileage? I have no other experience with sidecars so I am not sure what to expect handling wise. Thank you.
hdman - 5/24/2010 9:05 PM
Thanks for the reply. The bike has only 8k miles on it. Are these things problematic at this mileage? I have no other experience with sidecars so I am not sure what to expect handling wise. Thank you.
No this is not normally a problem. I have a friend that has a 88 Harley that he bought new with OVER 200K on it and for the last 100K had a BIG Watsonian Cambridge on it. The Watsonian Cambridge is MUCH bigger and heaver then a HD side car. We just replaced the swing arm bushing after 200K. He is getting ready to ride it from Georgia to Alaska with his son in the sidecar.
Now sometimes the preload on the neck bearings need to be adjusted. If you lived near me I would check it for you. Like I said been not only riding Harley s for 40 but been working on them for that long as well. I have a small engine machine shop in my basement.
Thanks again. I will have the dealer check the preload on the neck bearings and post the findings.Randy.
