What is your opinion on raked bearing cups for my H-D FX rig? I think they could be junk, like the 'slugs' for extending front tubes in the '60s and '70s [they may have been ok as long as they ended inbetween the trees]. Thanks for any true answers. Would esp. like to hear from any H-D owners that have tryed/using them.
Originally written by silvergoldsmith on 7/28/2009 10:46 AM
What is your opinion on raked bearing cups for my H-D FX rig? I think they could be junk, like the 'slugs' for extending front tubes in the '60s and '70s [they may have been ok as long as they ended inbetween the trees]. Thanks for any true answers. Would esp. like to hear from any H-D owners that have tryed/using them.
I guess someone should put in a response. I don't think that raked fork head cups would improve the handling on a sidecar. They would increase the rake and not reduce the trail which is what you would want to do to ease the steering on your rig.
The link below from Liberty Sidecars has a very good explanation with a diagram showing why you should probably use modified trees if you want to improve the ease of steering on your sidecar. It shows that modified trees can reduce trail which eases steering in a sidecar situation.
While they are great for sidecars, you need to think about whether you will be wanting to use the machine again as a solo. In that case, modified trees are not going to give optimum steering.
Harley has long had notes in their manuals warning about use fo modofoed trees on a solo bike. doubtless this is for reasons of liability and of course, they don't sell modified trees for sidecar use when there is possibility of solo use at some point.
Harley-Davidson had mofified trees that were adjustable as of the first Hydra-Glide with tube forks. (1949) They permitted the owner to move the fork legs forward and retain the standard forkhead bearings. I never saw any of those for the spring forked models (up to 1948) When the sidecar was removed, they could be moved back by loosening four bolts. Unfortnately, those aren't available for the modern bikes.
I recall that when I was a kid in Chicago delivering blueprints on a Harley Panhead rig with a large commercial box, all of the bikes were fitted with adjustable trees since they were sidecar rigs built at the factory. IIRC, they steered nicely.
Just recently, Harley-Davidson came out with modified trees for the new HD trike that they build with Lehman parts. I don't know what they would cost but they wouldn't be cheap. Liberty has modified trees that are built from Billet Aluminum. The Harley ones would probably be steel.
The present HD setup with stock trees and a steering damper is a compromise that permits solo use of the bike for those who are ambivalent on sidecars. LOL.
Hope this helps.
http://www.libertysidecars.com/product2.htm
Thank you very much. I appreciate you time and effort. At this point I will live with what I have.
