What size wrenches do you need for the front and rear connections on 08 TLE? Having hard time fitting large cresent wrench in small spaces and need larger cresent or correct wrench to tighten things up after adjustments. Thanks Bobby
B-roadglide - 1/21/2010 6:18 PM
What size wrenches do you need for the front and rear connections on 08 TLE? Having hard time fitting large cresent wrench in small spaces and need larger cresent or correct wrench to tighten things up after adjustments. Thanks Bobby
Hi Bobby,
I saw your post and went downstairs with my flashlight and caliper and took some measurements. I never thought about it before but here is what I found.
There is a large hex on the end of each frame section at each mount. Those measure 1.825 which is just under 1-7/8. I don't remember if that one is a nut, but I don't think so. I think it's fixed to the frame tube. In which case, no wrench is needed. You can reach that with a large cresent wrench in any case,
The small jam nut is an odd measurement. It's 1.090. That's just under 1-1/8 and that's the size I use on it. I can't explain why the measurements are a little under on the two larger ones. Go figure. LOL.
The standoff which is gold in color on the front mount and black in color on the rear mount is 1.250 or 1-1/4". Those are the ones you turn to move the sidecar frame in or out.
The large bolts that hold the Heim joints in are 3/4 diameter with 1-1/8" heads but you need not remove those to make adjustments on any TLE sidecar fitted with standoff couplers after 2002.
Good luck. 🙂
A lot of the oddball hardware sizing on the newer Harleys (and others) is due to the use of SAE and metric fasteners. You need both wrench sizes to work on them anymore.
Was,was the only metrics were used on brakes, carbs and ignition stuff.
The larger sidecar fastener needs are approaching Whitworth sizing so that may be next since there seems to be a need to change fastener design every so often to satisfy the tooling folks bottom lines.
Lonnie
Do you think these jam nuts are metric by any chance?
B-roadglide - 1/23/2010 1:30 PM
Do you think these jam nuts are metric by any chance?
PM sent.
gnm109 - 1/23/2010 5:54 PM
B-roadglide - 1/23/2010 1:30 PM
Do you think these jam nuts are metric by any chance?
PM sent.
They could be, I have an old crane wrench that's 1 13/16" that was a little tight, went to snap-on tools website, could not find a metric wrench of any kind in the approximate size. So I bought a crowsfoot wrench 1 7/8" $39.00 see: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=2271&PartNo=FC60A&group_id=270&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
bluehdmc - 1/24/2010 6:56 AM
gnm109 - 1/23/2010 5:54 PM
B-roadglide - 1/23/2010 1:30 PM
Do you think these jam nuts are metric by any chance?
PM sent.
They could be, I have an old crane wrench that's 1 13/16" that was a little tight, went to snap-on tools website, could not find a metric wrench of any kind in the approximate size. So I bought a crowsfoot wrench 1 7/8" $39.00 see: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=2271&PartNo=FC60A&group_id=270&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Yes, it's possible that the small jam nut and the large hex head at the frame tubes are some sort of metric although they don't seem to be exact even metric numbers. The center standoff measures 1-1/4 so that could be SAE, although some metric might fit it.
I have some open end Bonney wrenches with short handles that seem to fit all three of them but I mostly use Cresents. While I have lots of good combination wrenches in both SAE and metric, I also have a nice set of cresents. I've got a 6", 8", 12", 14", 16" and a 24". You can never have enough cresents. Mine are Made in US, except for the 24 incher that says "Made in China on both sides in 1" high letters. I love those things. LOL.
Wasn't Cresent the original brand name? IIRC, I have some of those and also some Craftsman.
The good part of all of this is that once you get your sidecar set up properly, it's seldom necessary to loosen those nuts. You should check them for tightness now and then, but generally you won't have to work with them very much unless you remove the sidecar.
Happy Trails to all! 🙂
