I finally had a nice weekend to pull the california sidecar off the kawasaki and start preparing to mount it to my new sportster mounts. I noticed that my new lower mount for the sportster has the female I bolt stayle fittings while my old friendship1 has the early style ball mounts. Anybody know what I need to order to be able to make the compatable? I left a message with dmc so I'll probaly hear back from them on Monday. On a side note the DMC sportster mount I got is beautiful, real top notch work.
By all means get rid of the marble sized ball connections. Jay has what you need.
I was thinking the same thing Lonnie, those ball fittings don't look to sturdy too me. lol
The ball mounts were made from a material called leadalloy which machines fast but also wears down. The clamps that clamp over the balls will fatigue and break and that is not bad enough some of these clamps were made from one gauge to small of material. California had at least one of there sidecars come off with these mounts before it got out of thier parking lot. If hit just right the balls will fail with very little force. They must be up graded to the 5/8 inch hiem joint. While on the subject of ball type mounts. Motovation also used 5/8 inch ball mounts for a while. Theres are much better but also fail as they used aluminium clamps that turn to powder over time and also should be up graded.
If the sidecar is old enough to have ball type mounts it also would have the frame clamps that go around the frame of the bike, Your mount set of course is new from us, As many people read these posts for many years to come I want to add a few other things to look for. These frame clamps did not have 1/4 inch cross bolts like ours and newer ones do. With out these cross bolts the clamps are known to fail. Also the sidecar will have a torrsion bar suspension. The 5 flat springs should be checked for cracking. Early set ups did not have any thing to keep the springs from coming out should one fail. Latter ones welding rod was welded over the square hole so that the spring if it broke could not fall out. This is important as if the springs fail and can come out. The swing arm can come off. Also depending on how old it is the suspension pivited on either needle bearings or a bronze bushing. The bronze bushings wear fast and once worn the sidecars will not hold an alignment. We stock the bush. And last, if the sidecar has a cast 16 inch wheel. These wheels are known to fail at either end of the 8 cast spokes, check for cracking. The fix is a shorter swing arm and a trailer hub and wheel. You need the shorter swing arm so that the wheel can fit over the end of the swing arm.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
Thanks for all the helpful info Jay. I checked my wheel for cracking the other day and it still looks good. I have a new bushing to go in but I haven't done it yet. I never checked the flat springs though. I have to check that out befor I put my rig back together.
Jay;
Please clarify the statement about the need for the shorter swing arm. I am planning to put a trailer wheel on my car. Different car, but the comment may apply.
Thanks
If the wheel has a deep dish to it like the wheels California sidecar used. The swing arm must be shorter as the wheel over hangs the swing arm. In other words the swing arm must fit inside the wheel. If you were to use a wheel with no in side or little in side off set then you might be able to use the long swing arm. Never tried so I do not know. The swing arm for the automotive type wheel is about 5 inches long center to center.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Thanks, Jay, I understand. Not gonna apply to my situation. Trying to be sure I don't overlook the obvious.
