Hello all, I have come to all of you for some help and knowledge. I recently found a deal and bought a 1996 tle ultra sidecar from someone who split it from the bike. He gave me what i believe to be all the mounting hardware and from what i can tell all the wiring harnesses. I didnt have a bike to put it on until last friday when i found a really good deal on an 1998 Harley Ultra Classic. From what i can see and what i know about the frames an all the two seem to be compatible. But the harley sidecar manual looks as though i cant mate the two. Does anyone know if the two will mate properly? and also does anyone know what the parts kits numbers i need to mount the sidecar. I have always loved the look and idea of a sidecar. my wife and father both think im crazy but i think my 2 year old son will love riding in it once he gets older. I have been riding two wheelers for about 25 years now.
Keorange57 - 1/27/2012 6:30 PM
Hello all, I have come to all of you for some help and knowledge. I recently found a deal and bought a 1996 tle ultra sidecar from someone who split it from the bike. He gave me what i believe to be all the mounting hardware and from what i can tell all the wiring harnesses. I didnt have a bike to put it on until last friday when i found a really good deal on an 1998 Harley Ultra Classic. From what i can see and what i know about the frames an all the two seem to be compatible. But the harley sidecar manual looks as though i cant mate the two. Does anyone know if the two will mate properly? and also does anyone know what the parts kits numbers i need to mount the sidecar. I have always loved the look and idea of a sidecar. my wife and father both think im crazy but i think my 2 year old son will love riding in it once he gets older. I have been riding two wheelers for about 25 years now.
=================================================
Adding a 1996 TLE to a 1998 Ultra would not be difficult since that is only a two year difference. If I recall correctly, the rear mount will be secured with three bolts on a 1996 mount. That should mate to the bike as well since the rear mount didn't change to two bolts until 2003 or 2004. The other two mounts, upper and lower front should fit right on.
The brake lever on the 1998 should clear the sidecar frame but you will need to get the brake kit for a sidecar. It has a different cover for the master cylinder that permits a remote reservoir. The remote reservoir is mounted just above the voltage regulator on the plate there with two bolts.
The stock brake line on your Ultra is bent forwrd about an inch so that a Tee can be inserted in front of the brake switch. This provides brakes to the sidecar.
The oil pressure sending unit needs to be moved downwards on a 90 degree elbow to clear the lower front mount.
Strictly speakng, you might need to change the clutch cable since the sidecar configuration was designed to move the cable under the crankcase to miss the mounts and sidecar frame. The sidecar clutch cable is 6" longer. You might be able to avoid this since it might miss everything anyway. I'm not sure since I always installed the longer cable from the kit. In any case, changing the cable is a miserable job. It's necessary to remove most of the exhaust system on the right side and sometimes the left side as well depending upon whether you can get all of the joints apart......Been there and done that.
Hmmmm....what am I forgetting? Oh yeah, the sidecar stop/turn/tail cable patches into the tail light cable on the bike under the seat. It's possible that the sidecar cable will work as is. If the connectors are different, you will need some different connectors to modify the sidecar cable.
Once that is connected and the brake bled, you should be OK but you also need to remove the right turn signal bulb from the bike and rely on the one in the sidecar, otherwise the resistance of the additional bulb will cause the right turn signal to blink double speed. Yes, really, LOL.
Most of this information is in the Harley sidecar manual, by the way. There are part numbers for each matchup and I'm sure that a 1996 TLE to 1998 Ultra would be OK.
The lowers could either be removed or, if you could find the special one for the right side for a sidecar on an Ultra, you would be set. There is also a steering damper (Same unit as VW Beetle) but you would also need the plate that bolts to the lower triple tree from HD.
One last issue would be the gearing of the bike. If it has a 25 tooth motor sprocket and a 36 tooth clutch basket, you would probably be geared too high for a stock 88" motor pulling a sidecar. (3.15:1) Many who run HD rigs will get the earlier Evo gearing: 24/37 and change to lower gearing. (3.37:1). That's an easy conversion if you have the parts. Otherwise you will not be seeing fifth gear much around town and hills might be a little tough.
Good luck.
GNM
2 year olds love sidecars, at least my grandson does.
I have to check all the parts I have. From what I can tell it seems I have everything except the master cylinder remote resevoir and brake line t fitting and i think i need oil pressure sending unit 90 deg. elbow. also, does anyone know if there is a bank agle sensor i need to adjust or change ? Also, does anyone have part numbers for the vw steering steering stabalizer? i have one with the kit but not sure how good it is.
VW damper- NAPA 113425021 Harley gets $125. for the same thing.
Ok, ive checked the part numbers and looked at the NAPA steering damper. This one seems to have a offset arm at one end. The damper that was on the old sidecar i bought has a straight arm. However the shaft is bent. Im wondering if this is the wrong part that was put on by the old owner or if this is the style that should be on the car and bike. I dont know which one is the correct one. one is part number 113425021 and other is 113425021J
http://air-cooled-vw-parts-search.mamotorworkstv.com/search?p=R&srid=S6-6&lbc=mamotorworks&w=113425021&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mamotorworkstv.com%2fvw%2fproduct%2fsteering-damper-354333&rk=1&uid=99107117&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=TvSJ3vkw-oZg9qwN&method=and&isort=score&site=site%3avw&view=list
vs this
http://air-cooled-vw-parts-search.mamotorworkstv.com/search?p=R&srid=S6-6&lbc=mamotorworks&w=113425021j&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mamotorworkstv.com%2fvw%2fproduct%2fsteering-damper-355146&rk=1&uid=99107117&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=7CBsO2joQc82K:ij&method=and&isort=score&site=site%3avw&view=list
Helllo Kristofer,
my dad always said I would be a bummer in a car, but got hooked on riding solo and sidecar as soon we made a few turns.
The kids love it. and dogs go crazy for to hop in.
And the driver himself...means propably You too. Gets adicted.
Riding a rig is an uncureable illness.
From one moment to the other you are at the fresh air and earned a 3rd dimention at riding....And the bodybuilding for free.
Read the manuals in the download section, practice, enjoy and wellcome to your new life section.
Sven
So... anyone know which part number is the right steering damper???
Keorange57 - 3/10/2012 2:23 PM
So... anyone know which part number is the right steering damper???
The correct part number for the Harley-Davidson steering damper for a TLE sidecar is 87141-83. They are more than $120 the last time that I checked.
If you want the same part for less than $30, you can go to a VW aftermarket store or on the internet and buy a steering damper for a 1960's VW Bug.
The reason that your steering damper was straight and got bent was that it was some other part. The correct damper has a right angle fitting on the front fork end. the other end is like a shock absorber.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
