I bought 2 @ 3/4x16 Rod End Heim joints... and 4 @ 3/4x16 Clevis... It's outrageous cost to have my struts tapped for a 3/4x16... both right and left hand threads... Can I use 5/8 heim joints instead or should I stick with the 3/4?
Also... the bottom 2 mounts with the rod/eye ends... I assume these need to be in the same plane and not placed at an angle at all... is this correct or does it matter?
Does less lead on the sidecar wheel equal better handling and less tire wear?
It's a 1977 CB750A Hondamatic 'HARDTAILED' and I'm attaching a 560 Jawa/Velorex
If anyone has pics they can point me to I appreciate it...
Thanks
Not that I am qualified to help but,
What exactly are you working on?
Which car and what bike?
Well, custom custom custom haha... meaning what did I get myself into??? Nah, its a 1977 CB750A the Hondamatic. However, I put a hardtail on it and I'm now attaching a 560 Jawa/Velorex. I'm wondering if using a 5/8 heim rather than the 3/4 would be sufficient... I may just ask my cousin to weld nuts on the end of the struts but I was wanting to thread the tubing. This is in addition to the previous mentioned questions...
Thanks fastjoe for chiming in and any input you might have.
This might help, I doubt you could exceed the shear o a 5/8th's bolt:
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts/SAE_bolt_strength.html
You have been PM'd, not sure if the PM thing is working however. If you haven't got a lengthy PM from me, let me know what your email is and I will send it there. I have answers....
Start here:
http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp
The Sidecar Manual By Hal Kendall has the answers on lead in section 2.3 Alignment. It's a good read.
He says it better than I can.
Check these out, ran across these after we built my struts and mounts.
I've never held one or used one, but they look like they could have potential. Anything like this, made or bought should be plug welded as well as welded in.
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Weld-Bungs,1538.html?baseNo=91002967#tabcontent
Eric,
5/8" Heim Joints are quite sufficient and more affordable. Why are you using these on the upper struts?
They are used at the lower mounts and there is no advantage in using them instead of the clevis and eye or eye to eye connections for the struts.
The only reason the heims are used at all is to compensate for a small misalignment of the mounts and to ease connecting. As long as they are free and not in a bind they are self aligning.
Hannigan and others use eye to eye connections with much heavier sidecars than the 560 Jawa. For it the later Velorex 562-700 mounts are sufficient.
Less wheel lead will make easier steering at low speeds and less tire scrubbing in the turns. More lead will enhance high speed handling and less tendency to dip it's nose into the sand under hard stopping or downshifting in a left turn or downhill.
(Check under the nose of many URALS and you will find roadrash from lack of wheel lead.
Here's some shots of a CB750. Your rear upper mount position would differ with the hard tail.
Lonnie
