I'm curious about what the benefit of a wide tire is. Traction? anything else?
Originally written by djcconcours on 9/24/2007 11:11 PM
I'm curious about what the benefit of a wide tire is. Traction? anything else?
Honestly, I really don't know, at least for a sidecar. The issue wih motorcycle tires in particular is that they have very little rubber on them to start with. With the contact patch on a tire fitted to a sidecar, it would appear that there wouldn't be all that much more rubber on the ground.
A little wider tire is nice on a solo bike but some of the chopper builders are now up to 330mm which is really a form of madness. It's almost impossible to make a turn on a solo with that much rubber on the rear.
I don't think there's a lot of benefit to a wider tire on a sidecar. It would be much better to get a custom wheel that would fit a car tire and then you would get a lot of extra mileage due to the extra rubber.
JMHO.
I've seen and heard about the use of a car tire. What your saying makes sense. I would think the more rubber contact to the road would reduce fuel mileage. Thanks for the reply. By the way, how do I put a pic of my rig under my username for this forum?
Originally written by djcconcours on 9/25/2007 6:39 PM
I've seen and heard about the use of a car tire. What your saying makes sense. I would think the more rubber contact to the road would reduce fuel mileage. Thanks for the reply. By the way, how do I put a pic of my rig under my username for this forum?
Click on settings at the top of the page. There is a link for adding photo. It has to be a certain size. Mine is 100 X 90 pixels.
the biggest thing is durability - radial tires have MUCH better durability.
i changed to a radial car tire
bias ply bike tires can wear out in 5000k or less.
to
My sidecar has only done 2600 miles and the tire is more than half worn!
Does anyone know why Harley went to DOT 4 brake fluid the old DOT 5 Silicon was so much better and the 07's don't have ABS.
Paul
Originally written by sidecarbrit on 9/26/2007 10:07 PM
My sidecar has only done 2600 miles and the tire is more than half worn!
Does anyone know why Harley went to DOT 4 brake fluid the old DOT 5 Silicon was so much better and the 07's don't have ABS.
Paul
A regular Harley Dunlop on a Harley sidecar will usually go about 6,000 miles. That's pretty poor, if you ask me.
I'd bet they ruined a lot of paint at the factory after that change was made. Didn't they have ABS on the 2007 Police models....I believe they may have. Perhaps the DOT 4 works better with ABS. Other than that I don't know.
I have a little over 9,000 miles on my bike tires which are still the original tires from purchase. The rear tire is bald and worn flat. I think about 4000 of the 9000 have been with the sidecar. I have not noticed much wear on the sidecar tire or the front tire. I guess you would really have to watch your set up also.
As for the brake fluid, I wish I knew.
On my 06 Ultra 4th is a bit noisier than all the others. I run AMSOIL in my bike and it's much smoother and quieter. What brand oil did you use? If you want I will send you my website for the AMSOIL. It's my little side business. There are also filters available. I put NGK plugs in with the AMSOIL air filter and have been quite impressed.www.lubedealer.com/danzoils is the website. I had an 04 Classic but I was taken out on the I-5 in San Diego. After the rebuild of the bike it was never the same. In fact San Diego HD sent me out the door with a dry tansmission. no oil or anything. Talking about loud gears. 3rd was the worst.
Originally written by djcconcours on 9/27/2007 8:26 PM
On my 06 Ultra 4th is a bit noisier than all the others. I run AMSOIL in my bike and it's much smoother and quieter. What brand oil did you use? If you want I will send you my website for the AMSOIL. It's my little side business. There are also filters available. I put NGK plugs in with the AMSOIL air filter and have been quite impressed.www.lubedealer.com/danzoils is the website. I had an 04 Classic but I was taken out on the I-5 in San Diego. After the rebuild of the bike it was never the same. In fact San Diego HD sent me out the door with a dry tansmission. no oil or anything. Talking about loud gears. 3rd was the worst.
I've been using Mobil-1 car oil for more than ten years in my former 1994 Goldwing 1500 and now my 2004 Ultra 88" bike. I'm sure that Amsoil is good stuff but I won't pay shipping to buy oil. If it were available in stores in Northern California, I'm sure I'd try it, although it's pretty expensive as I understand.
Take a spin thrrogh your Owners Manual sometime and also the Service Manual regarding oil weights. Harley recommends 20-50 up to 80 deg. F., straight 50 above that and when it's really hot, straight 60 wt.
When I first got my machine, it had low oil pressure. I mean like 0-1 psi showing at hot idle. It would get up to 20 psi on the road. The engine was also noisy around the valve gear.
I learned about the Latus-Baisley oil pressure relief spring from the internet. I installed one at 1,000 miles. While I was in there, I also replaced the inner cam needle bearings with Torrington B-148's and changed to adjustable pushrods so I wouldn't have to remove the cylinder head covers in the future to replace the cam chain tensioners. I have all of the tools for changing bearings, tensioners and cams. I bought those and the three manuals (Service, Electrical and Parts) instead of an extended warranty. LOL.
The Service Manual tells you to cut the stock pushrods out with a pair of bolt cutters. I did that and it was really fun. Ha.
So now, with 15w-50 oil, I get 6-8 psi at hot idle and 35 psi on the road. The engine is now much quieter.
As far as oil goes, frankly I really can't tell the difference between them. The main thing is that the engine needs to have some oil of some sort or other to keep from tieing up. Most Harley riders are OCD with regard to oil, anyway.
gnm
Sounds like you really know your bike. One day I will be brave enough to take on jobs like that. I'll check out the manual. My bike usually runs up just above 32 on the gage when on the road. I would say about 6-8 during idle.
Returning from a ride the sending unit stopped sending and I freaked. It's scary not seeing any oil pressure on the gage. The 33 dollar part cost 122 to have it installed. The bike is still under warranty and they wouldn't honor it. They said the part had been struck and then they couldn't even produce the "struck" part for me to see. This was my latest fiasco with HD. I'm certain this will be my last HD. I do love the ride and the bike but the business side is not worth it.
Originally written by djcconcours on 9/28/2007 2:16 PM
Sounds like you really know your bike. One day I will be brave enough to take on jobs like that. I'll check out the manual. My bike usually runs up just above 32 on the gage when on the road. I would say about 6-8 during idle.
Returning from a ride the sending unit stopped sending and I freaked. It's scary not seeing any oil pressure on the gage. The 33 dollar part cost 122 to have it installed. The bike is still under warranty and they wouldn't honor it. They said the part had been struck and then they couldn't even produce the "struck" part for me to see. This was my latest fiasco with HD. I'm certain this will be my last HD. I do love the ride and the bike but the business side is not worth it.
Well, you need to send the old part to Harley-Davidson and tell them of your displeasure. I'm not mad at the dealer because I seldom go there. If I need a part anymore, I buy it on the internet.
If your bike is still in warrantee, I would have paid with a credit card and then put the matter into dispute. The credit card company will charge them back and hold the charges until they negotiate.
You need another dealer.
Well the sidecar body has been replaced and it looks good- so fingers crossed.
They attended to a few other matters- mainly rusty parts.
I left the list of instructions previously posted on how to set the sidecar up so it would handle neutral in a straight line and it seems a lot better- Thanks GNM.
I suppose if Harleys production this year is about 330,000 and the difference in cost of Silicon brake fluid is about a dollar a hit, then thats $330,000 more profit to HD.....Just conjecture.
I asked them to check the engine surge on deceleration - they tested it and -No problem found- it still surges- they did update ECM.
So getting there.
Paul
Originally written by sidecarbrit on 9/29/2007 6:35 PM
Well the sidecar body has been replaced and it looks good- so fingers crossed.
They attended to a few other matters- mainly rusty parts.I left the list of instructions previously posted on how to set the sidecar up so it would handle neutral in a straight line and it seems a lot better- Thanks GNM.
I suppose if Harleys production this year is about 330,000 and the difference in cost of Silicon brake fluid is about a dollar a hit, then thats $330,000 more profit to HD.....Just conjecture.
I asked them to check the engine surge on deceleration - they tested it and -No problem found- it still surges- they did update ECM.
So getting there.
Paul
Hi,
No I honestly do't think it has much to do with the cost of DOT 5 versus DOT 4. If there were the issue, Harley would never have used DOT 5.
I believe it has to do with the ABS. Perhaps there is a specification on the ABS module that calls out for DOT 4. Harley doesn't make the modules...they don't make instruments like tachmoeters and speedometers, either,. those are all vendor items.
I would bet that the ABS module and system is spec'd for DOT 4. Thay may be locked in to the change. Even though the ABS isn't currently on all models, it would be extremely difficult to have some models with DOT 5 and some with DOT 4. In fact, it could be a manufacturing nightmare if there were a mixup.
I'm not one that critizes HD for saving money here and there. I certainly have no complaints with my 2004 bike and wew TLE. They simply outdid themselves on the two items. I've had no trouble with either the bike or the car.
As to your surge, I'm not sure what configuration you have on air cleaner and mufflers or cam. My bike hasn't had any indication of a surge. I have left it completely stock. Frankly, I'm terrified that if and when I start changing things, especially with the sidecar on, I will have tuning difficulties, something I don't look forward to.
Happy Trails.
My Bike has the stock setup- so thats why I am surprised at the surging- I presume I have a different engine to yours.?
I enclose pics of the Tonneau cover- not the best of Fits anyone else have this problem.
Paul
