Have a 2002 Harley Ultra with a 2006 Harley sidecar. I have everything to mount it but was wondering once mounted and set up properly if I take the sidecar off to use it as a two wheeler then reinstall it will the alignment still be the same as before I took it off or will the alignment have to be reset? I am guessing it should stay the same but would like others input. All so how will it handle as a two wheeler do to the way the rear tires wears with the sidecar versus as a two wheeler?
Thanks!
Once mounted and aligned the positioning will remain the same when remounted unless changes have been made in the adjustments.
Quite a few use flat tread auto tires on their solo bikes. There may be a slight difference in handling in the turns but nothing drastic under normal riding conditions.
Big differences will occur if you have had trail reductions performed though.
Lonnie
Thanks Lonnie that is pretty much what I thought but I want to check with the experts. Lonnie what do you use as a straight edge to set the toe? I checked into some aluminum 4 inch channel but at $160 as you have to buy a 20 foot stick is not in the budget. Was thinking about 4 concert blocks and string. Only other problem is I do not have a real good flat floor. My garage floor is cracked and not real level.
i have the same question about the floor - mine is not real level either
A relatively level surface is all that is needed. I use two 10' lengths of 1"x1" square tubing for my straight edges. Some have used 8' flourescent tubes, angle iron, lasers, string, most anything that is straight enough to use for a standard.
There is no "One size fits all" as far as toe-in and lean-out numbers are concerned. I usually start with between 1/4" & 3/4" of toe-in and 1 or more degrees of lean-out with single wides. Wide track rigs and doublewides may need more toe-in.
Alignment is always a compromise anyway since there is such a variation of loadings and roads travelled. The initial settings are almost always needing some tweaking for the best tire mileage and neutral steering.
Lonnie
Lonnie,
In the HD sidecar manual they say to start with lean in (towards the sidecar) and if need be change to lean out. You and some others I talk to say lean out (away from the sidecar). I will start at lean out and if it pulls left and right turns require high steering effort I will lean it in.
Thanks
Jeff
ahh......... i seed the source of the confusion here....
hd sidecars have a rigid wheel - if you read the hd manual you will see that the idea is that when the bike is loaded it will lean more left the heavier it is... so they say to start with 1 deg of lean in so that loaded its nearly vertical - and to start with the sidecar wheel vertical - and it will be leaned in 1 deg when the bike is loaded.
dont mix the directions from hd sidecars to non hd sidecars.....
and a hd sidecar on a rigid frame hd bike should start out zero lean and zero lean on the sidecar and then tweak from there
to
From the way I read the HD manual you go 1 degree lean in and when the bike is loaded with rider the bike should be at 0 degree or setting straight up. Yes I understand a HD sidecar is rigided only 3 point mounting and totally different from all or at least most other sidecars.
After reading Sidecar 2003 by Hal Kendal I am intimidated by a sidecar. I have been working on motorcycles for 42 plus years mostly but not only Harley s and have no problem building a motor or transmission. I even have a small engine machine shop in my basement. Working on bikes is how I made my living for most of the past 25 years. I have build not only for my self but others many a antique Harley some out of parts. Here is a picture of my 1946U 74 I built out of parts starting with nothing but two wheel hubs and a gasket kit. LOL I no longer have it but when I did it was in 14 shows won 22 awards and was my daily rider for many a year.
I had a shop for 13 years and the only reason I closed it was not being able to find reliable good help as well as I was a single parent of 3 girls. When I had my shop I always had at least one motor I was building and as many as 14 at one time.
Thanks
Jeff
When everything else fails; follow the instructions. In this case your Harley Manual. When done road test the rig and tweak the lean for neutral steering. I'm betting you end up with 1 degree or more positive lean when it stops pulling right and heads straight down the average crowned road.
L.
In removing the TLE sidecar from your Ultra, it may be necessary to loosen and roll the crossbar free from the upper front mount. Unless you mark the position of the crossbar, you might change the lean adjustment. I use a dot of whiteout or a piece of tape on the crossbar before loosening it so that I can put if back in the same position when reattiching the sidecar.
The toe-in will stay the same if you don't move the lower mounts.
