harley sidecar

Have you already relocated your rear brake fluid reservoir and replaced the brake pedal? Also the bank angle sensor. My best advice is to wait for the manual it will save you time and headaches. I drive a 05 classic with a 02 tle.

yes I've done everything but just need the starting adjustments

Originally written by jsimon on 7/25/2008 11:23 AM

yes I've done everything but just need the starting adjustments

You need two long straight edges, maybe 2X4 lumber. I use 2 10' 1-1/4 square tubes with 6" high feet that are ten feet long. Setting one along side of the two bike wheels on the right of the bike and the other flat against the sidecar wheel to get a reading on the toe-in. 3/4" toe in is a good starting point. This can be read at the front axle of the bike by checking the difference between the two straight edges at the rear of the bike and at the front of the bike. The front fork should be pointing straight ahead.

The sidecar needs to have the lean factor checked as well. I would start with it vertical. It's best to have a magnetic protractor to determine the lean angle. This can be placed onto the rear disk for a reference point. Then take a ride and see how it handles.

The book has a detailed set of changes to be made if the machine pulls right or left. There is also a nice diagram of the setting of the lean and toe factors.

To make changes to the toe in, it's necessary to lengthen or shorten the rear coupling where it attaches to the motorcycle. The later HD sidecars have double threaded standoffs so that this can be done without removing the rear coupler by unbolting the Heim Joint. In your case, you may have to remove the 3/4" bolt holding the rear mount to permit making a turn or two to lengthen or shorten your coupler.

Changes to the lean angle are made by loosening the four bolts on the front strut of the sidecar frame. When they are loosened, you can pull the bike right or left to change the vertical orientation. Then re-tighten the four bolts.

I'm sure that someone will have a "better" approach. You did ask for a starting point, however. Each machine will tend to be a little different.

I have the exact setup. The last post is how I did mine and it worked well. I have a question for you. Does your hack have the speakers in it and if so did you hook it up? All I get is white noise. I don't have the wiring diagrams for the car or the bike.

Originally written by Strega44 on 8/25/2008 11:39 AM

I have the exact setup. The last post is how I did mine and it worked well. I have a question for you. Does your hack have the speakers in it and if so did you hook it up? All I get is white noise. I don't have the wiring diagrams for the car or the bike.

Hi,

No I don't have the speakers or the radio console. I specifically didn't want the Ultra sidecar because of the extra cost for the radios. The Ultra does have a nicer seat and also handholds. Other than that I'm pleased with the standard TLE. 90% of my riding will be alone and the Wife doesn't like to listen when she rides. Also, the radio console takes up leg room in the sidecar. Additionally, they wanted another $2,000 for the Ultra model.

The problem that you are having with your radios is the difference in years between the hack and the bike. Nothing will work. I don't have the answer to that and neither does the dealer.

Thanks for the info.

109 you are right about the radio taking up alot of leg room. I had not sat in it before. Mine is used from this site and had the radio in it. I went down in the garage to try to figure out the radio wiring in the car as it was all stuffed in a cavity in the bike. A previous owner must have switched the car radio for a newer model. After looking at it for a while and tracing the bike speaker harness it was nothing more than plug and play. Got the radio and intercom working. Now the question is who cares? No one likes the hack but me. Maybe i'll get a dog. I bet they love em'.
Thanks

Originally written by Strega44 on 8/26/2008 6:53 PM

109 you are right about the radio taking up alot of leg room. I had not sat in it before. Mine is used from this site and had the radio in it. I went down in the garage to try to figure out the radio wiring in the car as it was all stuffed in a cavity in the bike. A previous owner must have switched the car radio for a newer model. After looking at it for a while and tracing the bike speaker harness it was nothing more than plug and play. Got the radio and intercom working. Now the question is who cares? No one likes the hack but me. Maybe i'll get a dog. I bet they love em'.
Thanks

It's good that you got it working. Harley seems to change connectors and radio suppliers every few years. For example, they changed to a different radio on the Ultras in 2006. I think it was Harmon-Kardon. From what I hear, there were lots of problems with those radios. HD replaced lots of them on warranty. Although the sound quality was supposed to be better than the ealier radios, I probably couldn't tell the difference.

If the console bothers you, it can be removed and put on the shelf.

I will just let it stay for now. The s/o who could not stand the spyder I had on my last ultra likes the harley rig and has not yet complained about the space it takes up. I believe its the plush seat she likes along with the bouncy ride. If not theres always the dog.