2009 Tri Glide rear frame mystery

[Panjs]

Hello Gentlemen,

Bought my first trike, a Tri Glide a couple months ago and am slowly getting 40 years of 2 wheeled reactions out of my head. It's taking time but its feeling more normal each ride.

This is my first post and I'm hoping somebody can shed some light on my mystery:

The rear frame assembly has two cross members they run side to side right under the trunk. Each cross member has a steel bar resting in it that is approximately 17" x 1" x 1.5" and weigh about 10 lbs. per bar.

The bars are drilled and tapped 5/16 UNC a couple inches from each end. One of them was in the trunk when I bought the bike, the other is rattling around loose in the rear cross member. The dealership knows nothing about these bars, H-D customer service knows or tells little about them other than the rear frame assembly is a non serviceable part and can't/won't provide me any info about it or related attaching parts. The second Harley rep mentioned a Ballast Bar but no details.

Has anybody else come across these parts?

[Fearless]

These bars are what is termed stiffener bars or at least that is what I have been told. They are in the shop manual and are needed to strengthen the cross members. You must remember 09' these were assembled by Lehman in their facility. I asked the same question when I found them also. As a matter of fact the previous owner removed the trailer hitch and never secured them back on they were just sitting there no bolts. Another member of the forum alerted me to secure them before they fell out. We love our 09' trike old Shiney. Grandson named it. Enjoy ride safely Fred

[trikermutha]

they slide into the tubes under the trunk you mentioned then the bolts are screwed into the bars once reinserted back into the tubes.

They can be a PIA to get realigned to get the bolts back in.

There most likely was a hitch on the trike at one time.

[mirider]

On my 14', there is only a bar on the back frame member. I was told by my dealer it is there to add weight to the trike to meet some requirement but can't recall what he said that was......It is clearly shown in the attached pic.

[Panjs]

Thanks guys, appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge.

I bought cap screws and have Loctite. The rattling is soon to stop

Jim

[Gorilla]

welcome aboard

[Panjs]

Loctite and torque wrench solved that problem.

The rear bar was sitting on top of the mufflers when I went under! Still annoyed that H-D wouldn't provide any info.

[Jack Klarich]

Welcome

No big surprise from HD

Chevy used this same ballast system in the late 606 on some pickups

It never worked good

We took them off

Most of the trucks came from the South and Texas cattle country

Ride safe and enjoy ur trike

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado.