2007 Harley Ultra Sidecar

I don't know what caused the cracks but I have a 1997 Harley sidecar and there is no crakes in that area.I wouldn't back off Harley they look like cracks that would only get worse with time.

If you have time would you be kind enough to take a couple pictures of the front lower mount of the sidecar mount and the front section of the sidecar frame and email it to me me.I am mounting a 1997 on my 2007 Ultra.
jhurt0673@charter.net
Thanks You
John Hurt

Hi John
Thanks for your comments-I am glad you don't have Cracks on your 1997 Sidecar- I may post a friends comments who's a development engineer what he thinks but will wait for the dealers/HD comment first.
I am enclosing 3 pics of the lower fitting you asked for- hope its the correct one-if you want higher defination pics let me know as I had to reduce these to get them on the forum.
Paul

Originally written by sidecarbrit on 4/17/2007 7:31 PM

Hi All
I took delivery of Harley 2007 FLHTCU and Ultra Sidecar- all new Kit-about 6 weeks ago- and a few days ago I happened to be looking under the sidecar and around 3 of the 4 seat bolts there are cracks in the Fibreglass. I can post a photo of the cracks.The Dealer has said bring it in and we will Photo it and speak to HD. Has anyone else had this problem?

Thanks

Paul

Hello,
I took delivery of a 2007 TLE (Standard) HD sidecar on January 4, After seeing your pictures just now I went out to the garage with a mirror and examined the underside of my tub where the seat bolts go through. I have no such problem.

Also, I previously owned a 1980 TLE and a 1989 TLE and had both tubs off at various times to do painting. I had no such cracks in either of those tubs. If I had, I would have repaired them myself since I had no warranty on the used sidecar units. I recall very clearly having no such problem.

I presume that the dealer did the installation of the sidecar on your machine. Frankly in my case, I didn't want to spend the money to have the dealer do it so I took delivery in the crate and did the installation myself. I also wouldn't let them wash my car, but that's another issue. LOL.

Your sidecar is fully guaranteed for two years and unlimited miieage the same as all HD motorcycles beginning in 2004. Your problem was probably caused by overzealous tightening of the seat bolts either at the factory at Tomahawk, WI or, more likely, by your dealer. It could also have been caused if the crate was dropped from a height but that's just a wild guess. It's just this sort of thing that the warranty is for. It had to have happened after the unit was painted since it would have failed their Q.C. checks at the factory. We know you didn't do it, for sure!

Were it mine, I'd be going for a new, color-matched body. It's a really easy installation, by the way, only six bolts, not counting the seat bolts in question.

Please tell us what the dealer says. I'll be pulling for you.

Good Luck!

Originally written by BLUEBIKE on 4/18/2007 3:58 AM

I don't know what caused the cracks but I have a 1997 Harley sidecar and there is no crakes in that area.I wouldn't back off Harley they look like cracks that would only get worse with time.

If you have time would you be kind enough to take a couple pictures of the front lower mount of the sidecar mount and the front section of the sidecar frame and email it to me me.I am mounting a 1997 on my 2007 Ultra.
jhurt0673@charter.net
Thanks You
John Hurt

Here are some pictures that I have in my computer. With credit to RD.

I would like to thank you this is what I needed.
I
One other question has nothing to do with the sidecar.Does your Ultra have a ping when the engine gets up to operating temp? Mine at about 2700 Rpm 5th or 6th gear gets very loud I worry about when I get the sidecar on it will be worse.The bike is great other than that.
John

Are you using major brand Premium gas? ARCO and some others (gasohol mixes) will ping under load or in high temp areas.

Lonnie

Hi John
Glad the photos were a help.
When I took delivery of the Bike the salesman said he had bought an 07 as well and at first he regreted it, until he talked to one of the mechanics who told him to keep the revs about 3000 to 3500.
In 5th gear it sounds as if there is a lot of loose cans rattling around inside.
In 6th gear at 60mph and 2200rpm it seems to Chugg along reasonably happy.
I did a fuel check on a run recently and keeping it in 6th as much as possible it returned about 33mpg.
When keeping the revs between 3000 to 3500 it seemed to use a lot more fuel.
Ride safe
Paul

Hi GNM
Glad your 07 Tub is OK- Its usually me who draws the short straw- I am handy to have around so you don't get the problems.
The dealer has now replied to me- he has forwarded the Photos to HD for them to approve a new Body -so fingers crossed, that I don't have to go into negotiation mode- so its looking hopeful.
Your comments about how it possibly could have happened- another clue- it was stuck in the factory for the whole strike period.....
As you are aware there is a 3 month order period for a sidecar, but that doesn't stop me using it in the mean time.
Thanks for your comments.
Paul

HI,Lonnie I use a major brand as long as it is availble.This ping has been a battle I have a very good dealer in Reno NV. Don't have anything bad to say about them.This is my second 07 Ultra the first one I put 10k miles on it took abore scope checked the cylinders the rear one was scared like you can't believe so I tradded it in on another one and now I have installed a Cobra fuel prosessor on it and stopped the ping by about 99% and the power is better.The dealer wanted $800.00 to repair the problem.I have been a auto mechanic 40 years and when you have that much noise it hurts something.I love the bike so I guess I'll pay the price for what I like the same as anyone does.
John

Originally written by sidecarbrit on 4/18/2007 5:57 PM

Hi GNM
Glad your 07 Tub is OK- Its usually me who draws the short straw- I am handy to have around so you don't get the problems.
The dealer has now replied to me- he has forwarded the Photos to HD for them to approve a new Body -so fingers crossed, that I don't have to go into negotiation mode- so its looking hopeful.
Your comments about how it possibly could have happened- another clue- it was stuck in the factory for the whole strike period.....
As you are aware there is a 3 month order period for a sidecar, but that doesn't stop me using it in the mean time.
Thanks for your comments.
Paul

Hi Paul,

I think your problem is very clearly a warrantable issue. I would think that the factory would want to have your original tub back for analysis to prevent this from happening in the future to someone else. I believe they will authorize a new one for you and, as I said, it's an easy changeover, probably not more than an hour and you can use the other one in the meantime.

Yeah, anything that is special ordered will take time. I ordered my sidecar on October 13, 2006 and it arrived on January 4, 2007, almost 90 days.

I'm sorry that you are having this problem but I'm certain that they will warrant it for you.

Keep us posted!

Originally written by BLUEBIKE on 4/18/2007 2:55 PM

I would like to thank you this is what I needed.

One other question has nothing to do with the sidecar.Does your Ultra have a ping when the engine gets up to operating temp? Mine at about 2700 Rpm 5th or 6th gear gets very loud I worry about when I get the sidecar on it will be worse.The bike is great other than that.
John

Pinging is not uncommon in the 2007 Harleys, even the solo ones. They are set far too lean. The answer is found in doing some sort of custom fuel map. This could be accomplished with the SERT from Harley, PCIII USB from Dynojet or some other similar unit.

It's even possible that when the fuel map is corrected, your mileage could improve. It will definitely help with the pinging, however.

In my case, I have a 2004 Ultra that is still 88 cu. in and it's never shown any inclination to ping.

Good luck.

You are right the 2007 is the first year that has a ping.The 96 engine is just way to lean.If it didn't make me so mad I'd have to laugh that they can build something like that and not be resposible to repair the issue.You know the dealer didn't build it but he is the one that has to look you in the face and say Harley has no fix for this.
This is my thought on this right or wrong who knows I think that if they can't sort this concern out the the air cooled vtwin will be on it's way out because of the epa laws.Myself for one would not have bought a 07 knowing what I know today but have no desire to ride any other make out.I guess I just want to vent about seems like a good place. LOL
John

Hi John
So if I get the sidecar fixed the next thing I am going to have a problem with is the rear Cylinder scoring up-Great.
When I checked the handbook for the grade of fuel to use it said 91 octane and here in Florida you have 89 or 93 octane- so I am using 93 octane- what thoughts have you on that?
Paul

Paul you just said something that I didn't know that is that you have higher octane fuel our highest here in Nevada is 91 and low of 87.
The dealer here tells me that if they install a race tunner change the pipes and air cleaner that will inable them to do a custom program to inhance the performace.That is fine but why should we as the customer pay over a $1k to have our bikes to preform properly.Harley tells me that it is not doing damage to the engine to have this pinging.This comes from Harley Davidson Motor Company not my local dealer.
I am no engineer or ace mechanic so there could be a answer out that I don't know about.Please don't take it that I think I know everything I don't.One last coment I can remember one time I changed the pipes and air cleaner and had a ping I think this was about 1993 The dealer told me get it in right away and let us rejet it your going to burn a hole in a piston. What is true and what's not?Paul I do have trust that Haley will stand behind the product.
Thanks John