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

[dadztoy]

Hey Bob,

So in the last set of photos, I see the parallel adjustment plates, the down force adjustment, and the lean stop bracket... I assume there are torsion arms somewhere in the suspension but I haven't seen them yet - just asking...

I must say, you are much more patient with Tow Pac than I would have been regarding the issues you have been having... It would seem like Tow Pac is dropping the ball these days in terms of customer service... Just an observation on my part from this conversation and others like it...

My kit is off the bike right now as I have been riding solo on 2 wheels for a time... As soon as the wife starts riding with me again I'll put it back on and I have a trip scheduled for next year down The Blue Ridge Parkway with my daughter and I'll have it on for that as well...

I'll keep watching for additional posts from you - anxious to see the finished product on your Harley...

Les

[HarleyBob]

The big gear is 7/16" wide and the small gear on the motor is 1/4" wide.

Tow-Pac is telling me to shim the motor to move the small gear 1/8" further down on the bottom picture.

That would make it catch the large gear half way and hang over 1/8" catching nothing.

That would give me less than 1/8" clearance from motor to tire.

I say less than 1/8" because right now the motor is pushing up agents the tire, after torque the lug nuts to 75' lbs

I lost the two business card clearance I thought I had after torquing the lugs.

If I hit a bump or put weight on the tire and it bulges out then it would take up that little 1/8" clearance.

What about a flat or bearing failure or picking up something on the road at 70 MPH? That would rip the motor off it's little mount!

Pure BS coming from Tow-Pac!

Yesterday he told me to call him at my convenience and he would tell me how to shim it or fix it!

I told him I would call this morning and he said fine!

Well I've been calling his cell every half hour all morning with no answer! It's 1:15 P.M. still nothing!

[HarleyBob]

The only thing I think would work is 1/4" wheel spacers and 1/4" longer wheel studs!

That would give me 1/4" clearance. It would move the tire out 1/4" and there is plenty of room for the finders.

I also could leave everything like it is and get a full gear bite on the small gear.

Cost after shipping would be about $40.00 for their screw up!

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...rsistYmm=false

[HarleyBob]

More adjustment pictures!

[Sidecarbill]

I don't know if thats a proven setup or not, but that sure looks like a power window motor. If thats what it is, that little shaft that sticks out beyond the small gear should be supported. Shimming will make it worse. But I think I would shim it out and try it, might just fail on the first try.

[dadztoy]

Seems to me like Tow Pac dropped the ball on the reverse feature with the 15" tires... It would probably be OK with the 12" tires...

Bob, I still do not see any torsion axles - does your kit have them or are they using a different form of suspension on your kit???

[HarleyBob]

Seems to me like Tow Pac dropped the ball on the reverse feature with the 15" tires... It would probably be OK with the 12" tires...

Bob, I still do not see any torsion axles - does your kit have them or are they using a different form of suspension on your kit???

I have the same question. All day I have been try n to contact Tow Pac the guy told me yesterday to call him today.

I just called the office and the lady told me everyone is off today.

She told me it has independent suspension! I got it all in pieces so can't jump up and down on it to check it!

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[HarleyBob]

I pulled the grade 8 bolts out of the sprocket. My ink pen is pointing to where I may be able to put some half moon, homemade flat washers or shims to mover the sprocket and shim the motor and still get more clearance. But it still seams like Wheel Spacers and longer studs are the answer!

[HarleyBob]

I may just go this way!

[GRR]

The only thing I think would work is 1/4" wheel spacers and 1/4" longer wheel studs!

That would give me 1/4" clearance. It would move the tire out 1/4" and there is plenty of room for the finders.

I also could leave everything like it is and get a full gear bite on the small gear.

Cost after shipping would be about $40.00 for their screw up!

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...rsistYmm=false

It makes more sense to shim the wheel out to gain the clearance as long as your fenders will still work. But you shouldn't have to be re-engineering a kit when you paid good money to buy a kit that is supposed to be ready to install.

[HarleyBob]

I fount the wheel spacers here in town. Couldn't find the Studs yet I need

1/2-20 x 2" to 2 1/4",

wheel spacers are 5/16" and fit ! I'd like more thread!

[HarleyBob]

Anyway back at the ranch! I will attach the spaces centered on the hub with a drop or two of glue, to keep the wheel in balance til I can get the tire on.

What happen with Tow-Pac? Well they are very friendly and do their best to help.

The reverse was offered on the 10" wheels only and no where on their site does it say other wise.

So I would think someone said,

"Why don't we offer the reverse with the bigger 15" package, I don't see why it wouldn't work!"

Without trying it first. The reason I'm saying this is when I called with my problem of the motor hitting the tire, they were baffled and had to go in the back and bolt one up. Then they came up with the idea of shimming the motor and having the little gear only catching half way on the big gear, without a true test to see if it would work, again they said

"That should work!" Well before I pulled the big sprocket off I check it to see how true it was, well it had a little wobble, that's making matters worse! When I talk to the factory they said half of a gear is OK. So I said "Man that's only

1/8" of an inch of gear meshing!" He said " It's low speed and 'should' be OK" I said "But we're looking at over 1200 lbs of weight it has to deal with, plus only 1/8" of clearance between motor and tire, The rubber tire will flex and easily take up that little 1/8".

I don't want to take a chance of the motor or other parts coming through my fiberglass finder at 70 M.P.H.and screwing up my $750.00 paint job! He said "The motor would 'Just' rub on the tire."

I'm still looking for the studs to finish the job and get this kit on the bike, I'm off for a week and can't and won't wait for Tow-Pac to come up with a better idea, to fix their screw up!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the lead weights on the inside of the rim are only a hair away from the motor's shaft, as it would spin by the motor at neck breaking speed as you go down the highway ! what would happen if they would collide? Weights fly off or motor damage!

I can't help but wonder??? Am I the first to get the reverse on the bigger kit???

[HarleyBob]

Spacer gave me the clearance I was looking for. Also I still have a Full gear mesh!

Days off start next Wednesday, so I will have time to get things together!

Lets hope it gets easier!

***After more examination I will have a good 1/2" of thread make-up on the 5 lug nuts without getting longer studs! Will that work for a wheel that is not a drive wheel, that just follows along taking some of the weight?***

Today I have a music Gig to do, may get back to it this Sunday.



When the problem is fixed it looks so easy! Hindsight is 20/20!!!

[baba67]

I am somewhat confused on the reverse drive setup.

Please excuse me for a poss. "Dummie Question", But does this reverse drive stay engaged on the ring gear while traveling at normal or worse, highway speeds?

I can't imagine that little gear or motor spinning constantly.

Sorry for a stupid question if I missed something.

[HarleyBob]

It's engaged and disengaged by a spring lever operated by your foot 'heel'. Up engaged Down disengaged. Then it's turned on and off by a switch at the left finder!

See the two springs and part of the long rod! It's facing up in the picture. Should be horizontal.

In picture two you can see the round rubber foot control opposite the motor on the front, it's in the engaged, locked position. As you can see It locks is position. You could screw up and leave it engaged, no safety warnings to let you know if you forgot it engaged!

[dadztoy]

Bob,

Does Tow Pac indicate at what speed the bike backs up and what the duty cycle is on the motor??? Wonder if there is an over current or thermal cut out within the motor itself??? Is there a switch up on the handle bars you push after you step on the little rubber thingy???

Les

[HarleyBob]

Les

I'm not sure about the duty cycle or over current or thermal cut out within the motor .

It's operated by a switch that lights up when turned on, attached to the left finder next

to the reverse Heel lever. It backs up very slow, 20 ft. per minute, also can't

handle more than a 3 degree incline or a passenger when in reverse mode.

You find this out after you get the kit not before. Everything so far about This

experience has been vague and a joke. But it is not funny at all to me! I've

been working hard to get it to work. I have a lot of Money involved. I

almost call the credit card company that I used to purchase this kit and tell

them I want to return it. That was before I figured out the reverse problem.

Now I have the parts being painted, I call the painter to cancel the job but he

had purchased the paint and started sanding the finders. I did leave a nasty

message on Tow-Pac's cell telling him to call me ASAP because I was going to

call the F%$#ing credit card company. That was last Friday when they left me

hanging all day waiting for them to call! They got a chewing out due Monday if

they will talk to me! I still have to put the kit together and Test and Adjust

everything. As you can see everything so far has been a Big headache! After

my kit is together and tested I will give a Review for Tow-Pac not before. If

thing don't get better I will blast them all over the Net with a You-Tube video

and use google! For their sake I better be satisfied with the end result!

[HarleyBob]

So far!

They did send the two missing spacers they left out , so now I can finish the "Receiver

Hitch" installation. That's the part that stays with the Motorcycle! Now all I have to do

is torque the bolts after using Red Loctite on them. I'm not getting that from Tow-Pac

It's my idea as these parts will not be removed every time I go two wheels!

I like to do things better than right, as you can tell by my post on this job!

I was expecting expert advise from the factory!

That didn't happen! You are on your own with this kit!

I hope these post will help others, If you go Tow-Pac you will know what to expect.

Also I hope to work out all the bugs so the next guy will have an easier go at it!

The basic kit and fender design looks real Good to me. Too bad Tow-Pac can't hold on to the

Ball!

[HarleyBob]

This is off topic but check it out! Oh I'm Bob Josey

https://www.triketalk.com/forum/thre...these-War-Vets

[Sidecarbill]

Your experiences with this kit are better than any review you'll ever read. Real world experience start to finish. I've kicked around the idea of putting something like this on my Kawasaki. It definitely won't be a tow pac. That reverse sounds useless for that gradient and no passenger.