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Liberty sidecar warning

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(@jaydmc)
Posts: 1795
Topic starter
 

Liberty made a great sidecar that we seldom have in our shop. Not long ago we had one in as the upper rear mount had torn a hole in the bikes frame. On FL type bikes Liberty used factory Harley mounts for all but the upper rear as Harley never had an upper rear. So what they did was weld a mount on. The bike in question all the way around the plate next to the weld had torn out. Easy fix however now we were aware of the problem. We had another Liberty in for a fender replacement as it had hit something. As it was here, we inspected the same fitting and found it was starting to crack out as well. It is a lot less expensive to fix before a total failure.Β  So if you have a Liberty on an FL type frame it would be wise to inspect the area around the weld.

Jay G
DMC sidecars
Monday - Thursday 6-4:30 GMT-8
15616 Carbonado South Prairie RD
Buckley WA 98321
www.dmcsidecars.com
https://www.facebook.com/dmcsidecars
866-638-1793

 
Posted : September 13, 2022 11:26 am
(@ned)
Posts: 485
 

Hey, @jaydmc ,Β  I'm not a Harley guy as you know but just curious -- what diameter is the tubing on that rear frame where those welds failed?Β  Pretty beefy or pretty wimpy?

Have owned 5 rigs but Rig #2 is my current one!

 
Posted : September 13, 2022 12:22 pm
(@jaydmc)
Posts: 1795
Topic starter
 

It is on the Harley frame where two tubes come together. About 1 inch diameter. Not really a failure of the tubing nor the weld. More a failure of the welding technique.Β  Had a little bit of weld been ran 90 degrees from the main weld in 3 or 4 places to break up the line of stress more than likely there would not be failures.

Jay G
DMC sidecars
Monday - Thursday 6-4:30 GMT-8
15616 Carbonado South Prairie RD
Buckley WA 98321
www.dmcsidecars.com
https://www.facebook.com/dmcsidecars
866-638-1793

 
Posted : September 13, 2022 12:34 pm