Will the later model axle (up to 2008 w/disc brake) with the tapered end to fit into the socket in the HD sc frame, fit into the tapered socket of the '79 to '84 frame(drum brake)? The idea is to be able to convert to the sealed bearings(and disc brake) and get away from the troublesome outside needle bearing (and drum brake) of my 1980 HD sidecar.
George Ryals - 2/25/2010 8:08 AM
Will the later model axle (up to 2008 w/disc brake) with the tapered end to fit into the socket in the HD sc frame, fit into the tapered socket of the '79 to '84 frame(drum brake)? The idea is to be able to convert to the sealed bearings(and disc brake) and get away from the troublesome outside needle bearing (and drum brake) of my 1980 HD sidecar.
I realy don't know whether the taper will fit. There are other issues, however. The frame is quite dfifferent on the post 1997 disc brake HD sidecars. If you want to do a change like this, I would consider making your own mounts for the frame and using your existing axle. You could make a new hub to hold the inner bearing and incorporate a small car disc and caliper.
Due to cost, I would tend to do something like this with automotive parts due to the excessive cost of new HD parts which aren't going to fit anyway.
JMO.
Yeah, I know that the frame is different and not set up with a caliper mount. I can handle that, if the axle will interchange. with the later axle I think I could even use a trailer hub with tapered bearings and a trailer/automotive type tire. Do away with the internal spacers. I may just ask a friend with the knowhow and lathe to turn an axle for me.
The outer needle bearing on the '79 to '84 model (and maybe other years) is the weak point I think. I just can't leave stuff alone.:-))
George Ryals - 2/26/2010 12:52 PM
Yeah, I know that the frame is different and not set up with a caliper mount. I can handle that, if the axle will interchange. with the later axle I think I could even use a trailer hub with tapered bearings and a trailer/automotive type tire. Do away with the internal spacers. I may just ask a friend with the knowhow and lathe to turn an axle for me.
The outer needle bearing on the '79 to '84 model (and maybe other years) is the weak point I think. I just can't leave stuff alone.:-))
I'd sill make an axle and hub. A machinist could turn something like that out in short order.
The needle bearing is fine if lubricated now and then. I haven't seeen an early sidecar modified to a disc but I've heard that it's been done. Frankly, I've owned both and the disc is not superior to the drum brake in operation. Thety are very similar. There's no clear advantage. Get yourself a new set of brake shoes and clean up the drum and it's as good as anything on the road.
i have the old style wheel bearing3/4 inch, picked up a 99 above 3/4 sealed bearing wheel and it worked easy, needed to replace the inner and outer spacers, you could cut down the inner one to save money. The needle bearing style had the dust seal and the spacer went in to it, on the sealed style it sits flush, to go to a disc the caliper needs the bracket to bolt on to, the careful the 08 i believe started the 25mm bearing set up
i cant get the d8&^ disc brake to stop squealing
what i want to do is put a drum brake on to replace the disk... by all reports they are plenty strong enough and last a very long time
to
timo482 - 2/27/2010 8:47 PM
i cant get the d8&^ disc brake to stop squealing
what i want to do is put a drum brake on to replace the disk... by all reports they are plenty strong enough and last a very long time
to
Well my disc brake doesn't particularly squeak but it doesn't work any better than the drum brakes that I formerly owned. I also noticed that the disc is scored somethat already. It's annoyng.
Apparently, it's human nature to want what you don't have and to have what you don't want. If you have a drum brake, you want a disc. If you have a disc brake, you want a drum. If you have a Volkswagen, you want a Cadillac. If you have a Lincoln, you want something less auspicious.
We need to learn to be happy with what God (and the Harley or other dealer) gave us. LOL.
Happy Trails.
that i think is the whole issue with "harley owners" some owners spend more bux on aftermarket parts than the bike..... *sigh*
ive even seen a night train - will all chrome covers - they paid extra to have it all black and then paid to replace them all with the shiny parts that come on the other models...
*sigh*
with sidecars the original issue back when i was looking for my second sidecar in 04 or so [first one was in 80] was that i preferred the drum brake [looks] but wanted the simple toe in adjustment.. then a new in box year old tle turned up at a dealer for 25% off list price so i thought about it for at least ten seconds and got it.
since then the ONLY issue ive had with it is the g*&^n sqealing brake.. its not drilled so it has issues when wet & its really loud if im driving calm. [its so loud a guy who was riding 4 guys ahead of me asked what was wrong] . if i get on the brakes hard it does not squeal. but then i have to ride clear in the back because i can stop twice as fast as any of the softail guys can.. ive seen a deer & stopped dead just in front of the deer and had three bikes go by on each side sliding the rear wheels... so never ride in front.
but the noise - omg
to
timo482 - 2/28/2010 8:42 AM
that i think is the whole issue with "harley owners" some owners spend more bux on aftermarket parts than the bike..... *sigh*
ive even seen a night train - will all chrome covers - they paid extra to have it all black and then paid to replace them all with the shiny parts that come on the other models...
*sigh*
with sidecars the original issue back when i was looking for my second sidecar in 04 or so [first one was in 80] was that i preferred the drum brake [looks] but wanted the simple toe in adjustment.. then a new in box year old tle turned up at a dealer for 25% off list price so i thought about it for at least ten seconds and got it.
since then the ONLY issue ive had with it is the g*&^n sqealing brake.. its not drilled so it has issues when wet & its really loud if im driving calm. [its so loud a guy who was riding 4 guys ahead of me asked what was wrong] . if i get on the brakes hard it does not squeal. but then i have to ride clear in the back because i can stop twice as fast as any of the softail guys can.. ive seen a deer & stopped dead just in front of the deer and had three bikes go by on each side sliding the rear wheels... so never ride in front.
but the noise - omg
to
The problem with squeaks on the HD TLE discs is the overly harsh brake pads. Unfortunately, there's no aftermarket for them. They are just too hard and they have sintered metal in the mix. Something less agressive is needed. I wonder if the pads could be replaced with something else cut down from car pads and perhaps bonded in an oven?
Kevlar or similar pads would be OK. I've not seen any replacements for the HD sidecar pads other than HD brand.
Is your disc still in good shape? When I get around to it, I'm going to have to clean my disc up on my lathe. I won't cut it but rather just scour it to get the light scores out.
The problem with removing it is that it's a lot of work. The fender has to come off and then you hope you can get the bolts on the disc to release before you strip out the heads. Harley likes to torque those things until they are extremely tight and they also have Loctite on the threads. Nice.
my disk so far is not terrible..
ive looked high and low for better pads - nothing
i suspect that the caliper is actually produced for something else - if i could find out what it might yield another source of pads
whenever im at swap meets i keep my eye out for sidecar drum brake parts - so far nothing
there are companies that will drill a rotor... that might eliminate 90% of the problems
to
timo482 - 2/28/2010 9:45 AM
my disk so far is not terrible..
ive looked high and low for better pads - nothing
i suspect that the caliper is actually produced for something else - if i could find out what it might yield another source of pads
whenever im at swap meets i keep my eye out for sidecar drum brake parts - so far nothing
there are companies that will drill a rotor... that might eliminate 90% of the problems
to
The rotor could be drilled using a rotary table. I won't bother. I tink if I just clean it up and smooth the pads it should be OK.
timo482 - 2/28/2010 9:45 AM
my disk so far is not terrible..
ive looked high and low for better pads - nothing
i suspect that the caliper is actually produced for something else - if i could find out what it might yield another source of pads
whenever im at swap meets i keep my eye out for sidecar drum brake parts - so far nothing
there are companies that will drill a rotor... that might eliminate 90% of the problems
to
The rotor could be drilled using a rotary table. I won't bother. I think if I just clean it up and smooth the pads it should be OK.
Have you guys with the squealing brakes tried the anti-squeal compound stuff? I have used it on auto disk brakes but not HD sidecar brakes. It may be worth a try. You can get it in any auto parts store. The stuff I have is in a squeeze bottle and is is similar to silicone sealer and is blue (Ford). You put it on the back of the pad. I think it works by damping the vibrations of the pad.
George Ryals - 2/28/2010 11:20 AM
Have you guys with the squealing brakes tried the anti-squeal compound stuff? I have used it on auto disk brakes but not HD sidecar brakes. It may be worth a try. You can get it in any auto parts store. The stuff I have is in a squeeze bottle and is is similar to silicone sealer and is blue (Ford). You put it on the back of the pad. I think it works by damping the vibrations of the pad.
No, I haven't tried it. There are no vibrations since my disc sqquealed a bit since new. TIMO's is probably somewhat louder than mine from what he says. The pads are still quite thick and the disc is not warped. The pad compound is metallic and quite rough. I think that's the issue.
Thanks.
I've scored the pads (at an angle) with a die grinder and cutoff wheel and that seemed to work OK.
The groove makes them self cleaning.
Lonnie
