My Tow-Pac 14" InstaTrike Install on Ultra Classic Harley

[Marc H]

I think many companies including some of the more known brands use U bolts to fasten the attaching plates to the bike.The difference being as you have pointed out is they attach to the frame where this one uses the crash bars.Perodic hardware checks and proper install are important to prevent damage to even the frame area on those machines.Attachment points and methods are tuff with outrigger kits and i don't think I have seen the perfect one yet.

[dadztoy]

Like I said in previous posts - they are all compromises so you have to choose which one you want based upon your own criteria...

Les

[HarleyBob]

OK Lets Get Back On Subject!

{My Tow-Pac 14" InstaTrike Install on Ultra Classic Harley}

My Tow-Pac 14" InstaTrike Install on Ultra Classic Harley

Rainy and nasty today. So I headed to town to get the last few things I will need when the painter calls me to bring my bike to his place for the final install!

First the back frame cover is held on by double side tape no bolts or screws.



So I got some at the auto parts store.



If the tape should fail and it should not, then this trailer ball will keep it on the bike.

[HarleyBob]

Denis, the painter asked me to get some of this adhesive loom. It has one side that will stick to the underside of the fenders to hold the wires for the tail lights! I have some other stickers that has a side that sticks and you put a tie wrap in. I will use those as well. He told me this is the best. I got 6 ft. at the Harley Shop. The part that is red is the tape you remove to expose the glue side. After cleaning the place you want to stick it to with rubbing alcohol, you just push it in place.

[HarleyBob]

THE FINAL INSTALL!

I just got a call from Denis, parts are ready so I'm heading over there in the morning and we will install them! There are two fender "T"bars not shone in this picture, That bolt to the inside of the fenders and go through the big holes and bolt to the frame.

Finally!

I will take pictures and post them here!

[bknsaddle]

Wow! That looks GREAT!

[HarleyBob]

THE FINAL INSTALL!

I just got a call from Denis, parts are ready so I'm heading over there in the morning and we will install them! There are two fender "T"bars not shone in this picture, That bolt to the inside of the fenders and go through the big holes and bolt to the frame.

Finally!

I will take pictures and post them here!

Weather looks good so it's a GO for 9 A.M. in the morning!

[dadztoy]

Looks great Bob - can't wait to see the finished product... FWIW, I drilled and tapped in 4 places with 6/32 BHMS for my frame cover... I like the ability to have it removable for various reasons... Wire loom is a good idea... I used Panduit cable tie mounts to secure my wiring... Very aggressive mounts and haven't had one come off yet... Too cold to ride here now and getting colder next week... Looks like it's going to be a while before I get back on the bike...

Les

[HarleyBob]

Well the weather was not Good!!! We got one fender on, bags off, will have to pull tire next to wire up tail light!



Left tail light wired now working on right!

[HarleyBob]

Completed! It took Three hours non stop to get it all together.

I road 10 miles in the Cold Rain to get this job finished and 10 miles back to my house. I just got a big bowl of warm Homemade soup in me and just glad it is Finished and She's home! These pictures were taken at the painter just before I left for home! It's going to turn to Ice in a day so had to get this finished today!



















When the weather gets better, I'll do some test riding!

[Gone2Three]

That sure turned out nice Bob enjoy your newly triked ride! Stay warm and be safe

[dadztoy]

Looks fantastic Bob - truly a machine to be proud of... Now - - - ride brother ride!!!

Les

[GRR]

Looks great!!

[jim bob]

Great thread, even better looking bike. Cannt wait to hear how it rides. thanks for letting me eves drop. Happy new year.

[HarleyBob]

Looks fantastic Bob - truly a machine to be proud of... Now - - - ride brother ride!!!

Les

Les

Thanks for all your help

[HarleyBob]

Les

Thanks for all your help, It took about 7 weeks.

I first thought "Oh should take about 2, 3 tops! LOL!

I'm still waiting to hear from Tow-Pac on my refund!

Then I will do some test riding and do a summery of this experience for others

considering on getting a Tow-Pac out rigger trike!

[dadztoy]

Your welcome Bob, but I didn't do much - you did all the work - just some words of encouragement from myself and the others...

Looking forward to hearing of your riding experience with the 14" tires... Wondering how you set the down force or preload on those??? With my 12" tires, the Tow Pac guys told me to grab a 12" tire and turn it... I should just be able to break it loose from the ground doing that if it's adjusted properly... That procedure might be difficult with the 14" tires due to their size and mass and ground footprint...

Cold here this morning - about 24 degrees right now - no riding today!! Have to take my daughter and her husband to the airport a bit later as they journey home... The granddaughter is here for another day or so and then she departs as well, and another Christmas (and year) has passed...

I just noticed that it looks like you have a bra on the front of your bike... I use one when I'm on trips but usually don't have it on when I'm riding at home... The bra helps protect the front of my Wing when she's sitting in the back of the truck up high and being transported that way... I also use a vinyl windshield cover that my bride sewed up for me to protect the windshield as well... Every little bit helps ya know... Here's a pic of the bike with Tow Pac attached in the back of the truck...



Will be heading west this coming summer to ride amongst the Giant Sequoia's and visit Napa Valley (if there is anything left of it by the time the fires stop)... Also traveling up north again this year to ride in an old club event called "The Amazing Challenge"...

Ya'll stay warm - Spring will be here before ya know it!!

Les

[HarleyBob]

The down force or preload, has never been adjusted by me.

Factory told me it was set for my bike before shipment!

But who knows if this happen???

I thing the cart's tires are taking a lot of the weight!

With this set up with "The 14" tires." To get weight off the tire you have to jack it

way up. about 1 1/2' to get the tires up off the ground.

Now with it on the ground, no jack, I put a torque wrench on the lugs and torque them to 75' lbs. and the tire does not budge!

Here is a picture of the fender braces. They are 1/2" flat bar.

The finders do not budge when pushed on. Yet to give it a 75 M.P.H. test.

So much for the super clean bike, need to be washed again, I did knock a lot of yesterdays grime off of it with a hose. Still rainy and cold here.



****OK I can slide the tire on the Cart. I pull on the rim with my hand in one of the slots on the rim and pull back on the rim kneeling at the back of the cart and the tire slides. Not hard but at the same time not real easy to slide! ****

[dadztoy]

Well, if you really have to give a good tug with both hands with gloves on, that's what they told me it should be... I do know when my bike is on the center stand, my wheels are off the ground just a bit, and the left one (viewed from rear) is higher off the ground than the right... I attribute this to the bike being a bit crooked on the centerstand as viewed from the back...

With the bike on the ground in riding position, the measurement of the frame at the corners in the rear is about 11" off the floor to the top of the frame on both sides, and both sides are within 1/16" or less... Same for tire parallelism - less than 1/16" out on either side... The cart seems to hold good alignment if I first tighten the receiver stinger bolt, then tighten the left side lean stop nut and then the right side lean stop nut, in that order... I periodically run a 1/2-20 die up and down the bolts to clean up the threads a bit... I damaged the left one a bit when the nut cross threaded during a removal of the cart a while back, but I got it cleaned up enough to be functional again... I assume the bolts are just pressed in but I don't have a shop press (yet!!) and I would have to remove the sub frame to press out the old bolt and insert the new one... So for now, all is good...

Just dropped the kids at the Chattanooga Airport and the temp is up to 40 degrees with sunny skies, but still a bit cold for these old bones...

Les

[HarleyBob]

Les

My set up is not like yours. I don't have a center stand but I have a motorcycle jack.

When I jack it up the Cart wheels will not lift off the ground, due to the motorcycle front tire coming up first. Seems the weight of the cart causes this to happen! However it does take some weight off the cart wheels but will not lift them.

The rule-of-thumb Tow-Pac give for proper down pressure is as vague as their manual! too many variables.

But this is how I got the wheels to turn. I grab the slot in the mag one handed from the back and jerk on the wheel and it turns. I wouldn't say it's real hard but not real easy ether. I put my weight into it and I weigh 200#

Now if I was 230 it would turn easier or 150 it would be harder. So what does this tell me???? Who knows?

So far I like the ride with no issues at all.

***If you had too much down pressure what would happen?

***If you had too little what would happen?



Slots in mags. But not the same floor. It's at my shop!

****OK I can turn it with my hands on the tires, but it's Very Hard.

Looks like I will have to arm wrestle the guy at Tow Pac to get a better idea if it's set right! Also see if his floor is smooth or rough! LOL!