Well tomorrow I will be mounting my sidecar after doing some custom making of the original mounts that weren't exactly made for a Sportster Harley (copied the originals only made them for my frame width). Enough with that and to the point of the post. I now need to worry about the windshield. The one that came with it is really clouded from either being cleaned to much or some other rubbing pitting action. Can I just use a head light restorer kit (I bought one from walmart $22 but haven't opened it just yet in case someone else advices something different). It is a simple windshield and if I knew more about plastics I could likely cut out a new one. It is just a flat piece with 2 bends-one for each side. If I new how to get the bends in or polish it enough to see through again I would be set. It needs to be the current size as the top convertible cover attaches to it (I think). I haven't worried about it much as I wanted to get the mounts done first.
Next question is the lighting for the car. I bought a five prong trailer hitch kit. The car came with a five prong but I am replacing it along with the lights. It had a fog light on the front that was corroding and a tail light and blinker light. I bought each and a 55 watt fog light. Is there anything special for hooking the lights up on the Harley. Do I just splice into the wires on the bike for the running lights, brake, and blinker or is there something special that should be done. Also do I run the 55 watt fog light of the tail light or how to I get power to that. I don't want to burn out the circuit on the bike with it and I am going to wire in a fuse for that light. If I can't hook to the tail light where do I hook it to. If I hook to the front headlight on the bike it will either work on high or low. Or do I put a diode in and just hook off both lights? Am I just over thinking this. I would like the lights on the bike if possible. Front light isn't a must but I would like it both for extra vision for me and oncoming traffic. It is a Hitchhiker sidecar. Thanks for the help.
You could put in a relay to switch the car light and use one of many wires to switch it so it will run all the time when the bike is running, battery wire to 30 light wire to 87 and 85 tot he switch wire and 86 to ground, no load on any circuit and the light will run all the time with the bike ing on.
I can't speak for the headlight restorer but I have had good luck with Novus Plastic Polish. You can get it in three forms depending on condition of the windshield.
You could easily make a new windshield out of 1/8" Polycarbonate sheet from a plastics store. Polishing them isn't going to be satisfactory.
I would strongly advise to avoid cutting any wires on your Harley wiring loom. The TLE sidecar patches inbetween the taillight wires at a connector. If you get one male and one female connector from the Harley dealer and make a cable to go inbetween to take power from that cable, you will be much better off. Then it's easier to connect, disconnect, etc.
JMO.
Iwas thinking this is a Velorex 700 sidecar.
If so, the windshield is easy to to look at, difficult to make. Lots of stuff attaches to these shields besides the top and tonneau.
Lonnie
I used the headlight cover restoration kit on both my shields after the guy who shrink wrapped it got some of the adhesive from the wrap on them It worked great and the kit was used by my brother to cleanup the covers over the lights on their motorhome. I use plexus for the day to day cleaning. I used Megairs cleaner polish on an old fairing that is on the bagger and it works great also. Agree with Lonnie if it is a Velorex 700 shield the lip at the top is critical to the tonneau and inclement weather cover retention scheme. Max
For your sidecar fog light I would go through a fuse box and use relays to separate it from the bike's wiring. For normal running & signal & brake lights you might use a isolator wiring kit to connect into the bike's electrical system. That way if something shorts out in the sidecar wiring it will not effect the bike.
For connecting & splicing into wires I like using Posi-Lock ( http://www.posi-lock.com/dealer.cfm )
For fuse panels I have purchased from Eastern Beaver, ( http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/Fuseboxes/fuseboxes.html ) and their Power Center 8 fuse panel. They have smaller fuse panels and also sell the Posi-Lock connectors. Very fast service. Or you can go down to your local auto parts store, but the ones from Eastern Beaver look very professional and work well.
I think I figured out the wiring on the bike now. I put a spade plug in with a fuse holder for the fog light. I just need to put the wiring and new lights on the sidecar and do the windshield. Mounting that beast sure was a pain the first go around starting from scratch. I followed one of the videos here and did 1/2 inch toe in and 3/4 inch lean out. I will adjust after doing a test run. It was nice to finally be able to sit in the car. Funny thing is that my dog jumped in with me without me asking her. I think she knows I bought it originally for her. I just bought a part of Doggles for her. I invited her back in once I got out and she jumped over the bike and into the side car and then stayed in the car the rest of the time working on it. I just need to make a tether for her now. So I am on the home stretch. I just need to get the bike to its 20K checkup sometime now. Thanks again everyone for the help.
Drop off the hack before taking the bike in for the 20K service unless you want to pay extra. Most dealers will gouge you if they can't roll it up onto a single bike lift and some won't let it in the shop at all unless it will fit on the lift. A sidehack won't fit on a trike lift either.
These days most dealer "Technicians" won't bend over, or reach between, to service a bike.
Lonnie
Ya, I can't haul it on my trailer hooked up either and the nearest dealer is 130 miles one way to me so I was going to take it off. Plus I expected them to not like the sidecar on it to work on. Thanks for the advise though because if I was closer to a dealer that wasn't a major drive I may have forgotten to unhook. Looks like it is warm enough to do a test run tonight. I won't have the lights on the car working but th bike still works so I should be set.
I polish all my plastics with pledge furniture polish,..$3.99 wax/scratch-fix in a can,..brings most back easily and shines well, good luck, crawf.
