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Removing tub for installation?
Quote from Valkrider on February 4, 2017, 3:23 pmGot my Valkyrie subframe installed (whoo, glad that's over, quite an experince) Never having done this I need to ask if it's necessary or worthwhile to remove the Escort's tub from its frame to get it attached to the bike? I'll be working alone and I can imagine that removing and handling the detached tub solo might be awkward. If it saves enough grief and time later I'll wrestle it off. Thanks
Got my Valkyrie subframe installed (whoo, glad that's over, quite an experince) Never having done this I need to ask if it's necessary or worthwhile to remove the Escort's tub from its frame to get it attached to the bike? I'll be working alone and I can imagine that removing and handling the detached tub solo might be awkward. If it saves enough grief and time later I'll wrestle it off. Thanks
Quote from Hack__n on February 4, 2017, 5:45 pmWe've done it both ways.
Tub off works a bit easier since nothing cramps your access and aligning is a bit easier.
Lonnie NWSC,
Ret'd.
We've done it both ways.
Tub off works a bit easier since nothing cramps your access and aligning is a bit easier.
Lonnie NWSC,
Ret'd.
Quote from jaydmc on February 6, 2017, 10:30 amWe prefer the body off however as we are also building the sidecars they are already off. If working a body that is already on, we leave it on.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
We prefer the body off however as we are also building the sidecars they are already off. If working a body that is already on, we leave it on.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
http://www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Quote from Jeff_Online on February 10, 2017, 7:16 amAs an amateur who's done it only with the advice of the worthies above- take it off, unless it's too much of a pain with wiring or something. Trust me, you see stuff you wouldn't even look for. I re-aligned it two or three times for things that I would have easily seen were wrong if the frame was visible. Things I didn't know to look for, but stick out like a sore thumb when you can see them. "Why is it...?" Leads to, "D'oh!" You can avoid that with a good look. Get someone to help for a few minutes to put it someplace safe, and unscratched. I'm redoing some suspension things, and decided I need to pull the tub so I will be reattaching and realigning it with the tub off, even though it's a huge pain with the wiring. The previous guy redid all the wiring and ran it so that the tub won't separate without re-wiring again. Sigh. Oh well, I'm an electrician, it's just extra work, but this time- it just might be all QD connections. 🙂
As an amateur who's done it only with the advice of the worthies above- take it off, unless it's too much of a pain with wiring or something. Trust me, you see stuff you wouldn't even look for. I re-aligned it two or three times for things that I would have easily seen were wrong if the frame was visible. Things I didn't know to look for, but stick out like a sore thumb when you can see them. "Why is it...?" Leads to, "D'oh!" You can avoid that with a good look. Get someone to help for a few minutes to put it someplace safe, and unscratched. I'm redoing some suspension things, and decided I need to pull the tub so I will be reattaching and realigning it with the tub off, even though it's a huge pain with the wiring. The previous guy redid all the wiring and ran it so that the tub won't separate without re-wiring again. Sigh. Oh well, I'm an electrician, it's just extra work, but this time- it just might be all QD connections. 🙂
Quote from AceinSav on February 10, 2017, 7:44 amthat's how I did mine per advise of those more in the know than I
I had a dolly of sorts that I just slid the body onto so I could move it around
I also used 2 different type of trailer plugs, a flat four and a square 6 wire to make removing the car from the frame quick and easy
I also installed my one way check valve for the gas line from the aux tank in the same area as the plugs
that's how I did mine per advise of those more in the know than I
I had a dolly of sorts that I just slid the body onto so I could move it around
I also used 2 different type of trailer plugs, a flat four and a square 6 wire to make removing the car from the frame quick and easy
I also installed my one way check valve for the gas line from the aux tank in the same area as the plugs
Quote from jaydmc on February 10, 2017, 9:58 amIn the case of the sidecars we build we put a wiring plug in the side of the body you have to up plug. Then we have another plug on the right side of the body for the wiring going to the fender lighting and electric trim making it no big deal to remove the body of the sidecar.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
www.dmcsidecars.com
In the case of the sidecars we build we put a wiring plug in the side of the body you have to up plug. Then we have another plug on the right side of the body for the wiring going to the fender lighting and electric trim making it no big deal to remove the body of the sidecar.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
http://www.dmcsidecars.com
Quote from Valkrider on February 10, 2017, 10:36 amI did opt to remove the tub. Lots more room to work. Had to cut lots of wire ties and remove the motor on top of the tilt control. Got the bike and frame side by side ready to start attaching. Something I didn't notice until I removed the tub was that my Escort frame has three eye bolt attachment points for the upper struts. One near the front and two about 8 inches apart toward the back. Not sure if one of them was added on by a PO or if it came like that. Anyone have advice about where to adjust the tilt control before leveling the frame? Midpoint? Motor is detached but looks like I can turn it by hand
I did opt to remove the tub. Lots more room to work. Had to cut lots of wire ties and remove the motor on top of the tilt control. Got the bike and frame side by side ready to start attaching. Something I didn't notice until I removed the tub was that my Escort frame has three eye bolt attachment points for the upper struts. One near the front and two about 8 inches apart toward the back. Not sure if one of them was added on by a PO or if it came like that. Anyone have advice about where to adjust the tilt control before leveling the frame? Midpoint? Motor is detached but looks like I can turn it by hand
Quote from jaydmc on February 10, 2017, 11:03 amThe Escort frame does come with three pick up points as do most of ours. The reason for this has to due with getting the best angle for the upper rear strut due to needing to clear things like saddle bags and rear passenger floor boards.
As you will seldom need to use the electric trim to lower the sidecar, usually we start with it all the way down or very slightly up. We are usually setting the rig up with the bikes suspension compressed to where it is with the rider on it and the sidecar empty.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
The Escort frame does come with three pick up points as do most of ours. The reason for this has to due with getting the best angle for the upper rear strut due to needing to clear things like saddle bags and rear passenger floor boards.
As you will seldom need to use the electric trim to lower the sidecar, usually we start with it all the way down or very slightly up. We are usually setting the rig up with the bikes suspension compressed to where it is with the rider on it and the sidecar empty.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
http://www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Quote from AceinSav on February 10, 2017, 11:09 amI was told all the way down, I found I needed to lower it all the way down then raise it up about 1/2 inch. the reason is we have some roads around here with major crown in both directions and I do have to lower it past level in some cases. example Hwy 17 I travel about 12 miles each way every day, it is a divided 4 lane, when traveling south the left lane leans sharp left and the right lane leans sharp right, it is actually pointed in the center of the 2 lanes and will roll you either left or right depending on the lane your in. we have a lot of roads the have strange crown design around here
I was told all the way down, I found I needed to lower it all the way down then raise it up about 1/2 inch. the reason is we have some roads around here with major crown in both directions and I do have to lower it past level in some cases. example Hwy 17 I travel about 12 miles each way every day, it is a divided 4 lane, when traveling south the left lane leans sharp left and the right lane leans sharp right, it is actually pointed in the center of the 2 lanes and will roll you either left or right depending on the lane your in. we have a lot of roads the have strange crown design around here
Quote from Valkrider on February 10, 2017, 2:34 pmThanks Jay and Ace, I'll run it mostly down. I do have my bikes springs compressed. I'm using 3 sixty pound bags of sand in the saddle 🙂
Thanks Jay and Ace, I'll run it mostly down. I do have my bikes springs compressed. I'm using 3 sixty pound bags of sand in the saddle 🙂