I have had this squeak in the front of my bike and have finally figured ( i think) that it is coming from the Heim joint connections of the sidecar to the bike. The squeak comes when downshifting or letting off the throttle. I have never had any experience with this type of connection and wonder if they possibly require lubrication or need to be torqued tighter or is squeaking a normal thing?
If i am correct, what you in the usa call a heim joint is what we in the uk call a rose joint which is a spherical bearing on a rod end, if so it is designed to move whilst giving acurate location & requires lubrication. what is its function on your rig? i can't see anyone using such a fitting to atatch a sidecar to a bike. if it's a normal fitting that squeaks then it's loose
It is a fitting that attaches the sidecar to the bike and is designed to move somewhat. The sidecar is a Liberty and I gather the hookup is probably theirs also. I can't see anywhere to lubricate this except to use some grease on the bolt and re-attach.. The rest is sealed.
Harley uses Heim joints for lower front and rear attachments and have done so since the 1980's. They have a grease fitting in the joint but in actual practice, all they need is an occasional drop of oil. I've never heard one squeak, at least on a Harley.
What sort of bike is it? How about some pictures of the joints?
Here in the US these connectors are referred to as "heim" joints or rod ends. I believe Heim is a proper noun for the originator of this style of connector, like "Dzus fasteners" (also from the aircraft industry).
Several sidecar mfg'rs. use these since they are high strength with a certain amount of tolerance for misalignment and they allow for lean-out correction without having to loosen the lower attachment bolts.
Clevis and eye, or eye to eye, connections are more critical, needing to be installed flat to flat. They are less expensive but somewhat harder to align.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
If they just squeek, lubricate them. If they rattle or clunk, replace them.
Lonnie
its me again, i think we have a terminology problem i have a Harley to Harley rig & lower front & back fitting are what i would call ball joints which allow adjustment & then are clamped or tightened by a locknut which reduces the socket & holds the ball in place.
Originally written by Hank41 on 10/18/2008 2:21 PM
its me again, i think we have a terminology problem i have a Harley to Harley rig & lower front & back fitting are what i would call ball joints which allow adjustment & then are clamped or tightened by a locknut which reduces the socket & holds the ball in place.
If we are talking about a pre-Evo HD sidecar, those had ball joints that were held in with a large threaded nut.
If you have a post-1984 Evolution style sidecar for a frame with a rubber-mounted engine then you will have the Heim joints. Those are a fitted unit with a hole for a bolt. On a Harley, the bolt is 3/4" in diameter. Here's a picture of a Heim joint.
Robert,
The ball joints you are referring to are/were used from the earliest Harley (and other) sidecars and on Harleys until the early 1980's. 1984 and newer cars use the Heim/rod-end style.
Here's a 1924 Harley sidecar front lower mount with ball & nut.
Lonnie
what an educational place this is, your absolutly right i run a 1983 FLH so mine are ball joints. so my advice grease em
Ever have something drive you crazy? Thats where I am going with this Squeak!!!. Every time I downshift, cut back the throttle, or upshift I get this squeak. I pulled apart the heim joints and there are no lubrication points so I just sprayed the whole thing with WD 40 and greased the bolt then put it back together. No improvement.
I can't seem to figure exactly where or what is causing it. The cables have no squeak. I tightened all the fittings and I still have a squeak.
Scrinch,
Have you thought about calling Pete Larsen at Liberty to see if he had any ideas on this? (208)568-6030
He's a pretty sharp cookie.
Lonnie
Originally written by scrinch on 10/19/2008 4:34 PM
Ever have something drive you crazy? Thats where I am going with this Squeak!!!. Every time I downshift, cut back the throttle, or upshift I get this squeak. I pulled apart the heim joints and there are no lubrication points so I just sprayed the whole thing with WD 40 and greased the bolt then put it back together. No improvement.
I can't seem to figure exactly where or what is causing it. The cables have no squeak. I tightened all the fittings and I still have a squeak.
Louder mufflers???
:0)
I did wear a fleece war band for the cold yesterday and that seemed to help.
I have contacted Liberty via e-mail with another question and got no reply, so thank you for the phone contact info.
POSSIBLY, SPRAY GREASE would do a LOT better than WD40! works great for me in situations where oil's not practical or won't stay. Just my 2 cents. TTFN..... Old Tom aka papasmurf in NH
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