Horn mount as well for about four years now and no troubles.
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Horn mount as well for about four years now and no troubles.
...Barry
Ride Hard - Ride Fast - I'll catch up sooner or later
2018 TriGlide • DK 14" lifts and shocks, tank lift, deflector wings, Mighty Mite Love Jugs
From what I have read ... the pre 14 frame mounts are very simple and effective ... It's the 14 and above frame mounts that are challenging ... If I think there is too much vibration ... I'll upgrade it. With the E-series and the tune ... FBG don't shake as much as she used to ... getting old I guess ...Originally Posted by Fearless
I also have a horn mount but I also have a frame mount lying on the work bench to get installed. Not sure why I'm putting it off though but I am. horn mount works fine but I think I will try to get a little less vibration on the fan motors soon.Fred
Mighty Mite install
Okay ... so I decided to do the install the Mighty Mites, even though it was cloudy and might rain. The weather guessers said no, but, those guys I trust less than politicians.
Okay ... so you get a nice package of "info" that says read all this before you proceed" or words to that effect. So I did ... twenty years of actual military service and prior to that being a military dependent have trained me to follow orders ... doesn't mean I actually will follow the instructions ... LOL.
Removed the horn and the wires from the clip. Removed the rubber mount. The instructions said to use heat to loosen the red locktite. I didn't need to ... I just put a vise grip on the rubber near the bracket and it loosened right up. There was a ton of red locktite on the threads ... maybe why it came off so easy ... too much?
As is my norm whenever I remove something with red locktite on it and sometimes blue locktite ... I chased the threads with a tap. if you look close at the top of the engine below the tap, you can see lots of red.
So, following the instructions I put the horn back together using the heavy bracket, screws and spacers provided. Forgot to get a pic of that. The new screws are none too long for the top mount where the wire clip goes. I could not get it to start until I put the bottom one in and got it started and snugged up. After that, I was able to get it in and tightened down. Tightened them all down.
I installed the new rubber vibration damper with red locktite. I then put red locktite on the 5/16" nut threads and tightened it up.
Next you have to hold your mouth just right to get the "Love Jugs" spacer, the mighty mites bracket, the horn bracket with the horn and wire installed, the SS washer included and then the acorn nut. This would be a lot easier if Love Jugs choose to just use a washer instead of taking the opportunity for advertising ... I get it ... just trying to get all the parts in place while trying to align the "spacer" is a tad challenging (the "Love Jugs" Logo kept slipping down and taking up some some of the needed space to get the nut on ... or course ... it just might be I have little to no patients ... LOL. After I got them all in place and lined up ... kind of like the "advertising", even if the exact same thing is on the bracket ...
So at this point I left everything snug but not tight and routed the wires. Not too challenging. I did use the fuel hose to hold the wires off the engine, as well as, the spark plug wire for the rear cylinder (I really didn't want to take the tank off ... LOL).
Here you can see the Power Vision connection in the top "diagnostic" plug and the Mighty Mites "adapter" in the accessory port.
Some more wire routing cleanup.
As always when I install an accessory that requires I remove something OEM, I put all the pieces associated with that job in a zip lock bag with "extra parts" from the installed accessory, in this case the electrical I didn't use. I gotta tell you, I love plug and play electrical installs ... sure saves my screw drivers from "accidental welding".
I then tightened all the bolts down. In this case it was just the acorn nut. I then wiped everything down with alcohol to get my greasy finger prints off before I fired it up. If those finger prints get hot, they are there to stay .. don't ask how I know ...
Okay ... so I turned the key and nada ... hmmm ... yep ... the switch was off ... LOL. Turned it on and voila, two little jet engines fired up ... LOL. First time I've ever been glad the engine makes a little noise. That humming would maybe get a tad annoying if you could hear it.
A few words about the instructions. I'm a picture guy. Instead of using "their words" to explain the order of the screws, spacers and the like, pictures would have helped me. Also, the instructions caution you about not over tightening the acorn nut, but, don't give torgue values (the shop manual says 80-120 in pounds). I know ... nit picking, but, if I didn't have a shop manual I would have or could have over tightened it, or under tighten it. I suspect they didn't want to list all the torque values, but, I think the instructions should have said "See shop manual for torque specs".
Okay ... so I went to do a road test. First impressions, I didn't notice any difference in the temps the Power Vision saw. I did a 20 mile ride that included 10 mile in the beginning of 40-55 mph riding, then 10 miles of returning at 75 mph. Engine temp never got over 200* as read by the Power Vision. Maybe I should point out that the ambient temp was 44* ... LOL. I suspect the real test will be when I get in the Nevada desert ..
P.S. I'm glad I didn't pay the extra $$ for the frame mount. I think the horn mount, especially with their extra strength bracket backer and heavy duty rubber damper make it pretty secure. Do the fans vibrate a little at idle, sure, but, I don't think it's enough to cause any damage. I can see where it might be an issue on an engine that is more powerful or has cams and vibrates a little more than mine.
Nice description and pics of the Mighty Mites install. Glad to see someone else who actually reads the instructions to get an understanding of what is involved in an install. So many folks I've know just open the box, throw out the instructions and proceed with the install full speed ahead, lol.
Congrats on a very quick and nice install.When I first opened the MM box, they looked so well made and pristine, that they looked like fine jewelry on display.
2016 Tri Glide Billet Silver w/Pinstripes ["Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!"]
• "There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behooves any of us to find fault with the rest of us." ..... James Truslow Adams
• 2nd BN 33rd Armor "The Tiger Battalion" "1972 - 1974"
MM Update
Mr sun came out and I couldn't help it, for three days it's been crummy/rainy, so I "Needed" a ride. Ambient temp had gotten up to 66* according to the PV. I was curious about I70 travel at 75 mph and gas mileage over a long trip. Also curious to see if ET as read by PV would actually get over 200* (was pretty sure with the temp increase it would. So I decided to do the first 10 miles on the route I did this morning. Then I wanted to go 10 miles away from home and back to my house, 20 miles via I70.
I did that ... some observations that I've never seen with the pv until the Mighty Mites came along.
1) As is normal for spring time in Colorado (I suspect it's this way anywhere it gets cold in the winter, not talking 50* cold, like 8" snow cold), I ran into construction on the last mile getting to I70. ET when I stopped was 196*. I didn't kill the engine because we were crawling some. While sitting, the ET dropped to 192*. When I crept forward it would climb to 196* again. It did this for every stop and every crawl ... Interesting. I'm guessing if ambient was 85-90* this might not have happened. If it does, these things are worth every penny ... LOL ... even if it just slows the rate of climb, they will have been worth the cost.
2) At 75 mph the ET did get over 200*. It rocketed all the way up to 204* and stayed there until I got off I70, turned around and got back on I70, about 10 miles. When I started back on I70 it had climbed up to 208*. After getting back to 75 mph, it lowered to 204* and stayed there ... again, interesting.
3) As a test, and this is not very accurate, but, will give me some data, even if not great data, I reset my trip A on the PV when I set the cruise at 75 mph. The 20 miles I did is "hilly" and has sweepers. If you've ever been through Junction, it's between Clifton and Mack exits. I also had a "hurting" cross wind. Anyway, when I went back to the gauges after resetting A, the mpg read 28.1. After 20 ish miles, it was up to 36.8 mpg. I'm thinking a burger run to Green River, Ut (about 115 miles each way) will tell the tale as to actual numbers. Friday is supposed to be 70* and sunny, 8 mph wind ... so nice day for a ride.
4) After the 20 miles on I70, I was back on semi city roads and the ET dropped to 196*. There are 5 lights between I70 and my house, caught 3 of them. At each one while sitting there, the ET dropped to 192-194*. I'm liking this so far.
So, what does all this mean???? Means I think the Fat Bottom Girl is loving the fans. And, Alan is thinking the $$ was well spent. Again, the Nevada desert will be the true test.
One thing I forgot to mention. Got an Email from softbrake.com yesterday afternoon saying the levers would be shipped (gave a shipping #) and I'd be getting a call so they could get a credit card number for the core charge. This morning I was replying to the email to ask them to cancel the order because I was uncomfortable with giving my credit card info over my cell phone when the same phone rang. It was someone claiming to be from soft brake, wanting the card info. I explained I don't discuss credit card info over the phone and could he invoice me via PayPal for the core charge (I paid with pay pal). Or I could send in a set of levers, then they could ship the ones I ordered when they receive them and he said they couldn't do either of those. So I just canceled the order. Guess I'll look elsewhere for short fat hand levers ... their loss). Not sure why they don't charge the core charge when you place the order, then refund it when you send them your levers.
Mighty Mites Update
Okay, so as I am semi addicted to Long John's Silver's, and It's a pretty ride (60 miles each way), I headed on out this morning. I leave at 9:15 and get there 10:20 ish, just to be first. After I order, it takes 7 minutes, but, it's hot out of the oil. Okay, I digress.
Here's the conditions:
Full tank with mid grade 89 Octane
Left it was 60*, when I got home it was 68*, both as read by the PV
Breezy, 10-15 mph wind from the east, I was riding Basically North to South and vice versa.
The speed limit except for about 2 miles to 6/50, 4 miles around Delta, a mile through Olathe, and 1 mile into Montrose is 65 mph. There is never any traffic or light at worst.
Terrain is hilly, lots of up and downs.
I do cruise control right on 65 mph when I can.
Okay, On the roundtrip, ET as read by the Power Vision didn't get to 200* until the last 5 miles before I hit Grand Junction, then it went up to 205* and stayed there until I hit town and the red light at my turn. While sitting at the light, I expected the temp to go up, nope, it dropped to 196*. Weird, but, only because I'm not well versed with the mighty mites. I am curious to see what happens in the temps of the desert.
About 2 miles from my house I filled the tank with mid grade 89 Octane. 120.3 miles/3.366 gallons = 35.74 mpg. I can live with that. As a side note, the PV showed 36.1 mpg.
Summary: I am beginning to think learned knowledge is cumulative when it comes to making a Harley run well (probably the same with all things). Each Harley I get, and work on, I say the same thing, this is the best running Harley I've ever owned .. and it's true. In the Fat Bottom Girls case ... it is really true, the E-series Mufflers and the Mighty Mites are the difference )plus all the other things I did), so, I have to conclude that both are worth the $$$. Thanks Kevin for the E-series lead and the testing on the Mighty Mites, thanks Zook for walking me through the mighty mite purchase, thanks to Jack, Fred, and so many others for the recommendations on the Mighty Mites.
Really looking forward to 5-12 days in the saddle starting the 12th ...
Alan, IMO the Mighty Mites will save your engine in the heat battle
I too have seen the ET values drop when exiting the hiway
If I am not mistaken you can record each run you make for comparisons
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
Jack,If I am not mistaken you can record each run you make for comparisons
Once again you are correct ... it's called data logging. On my 15 Tri, I did lots of that and put it into a data base I wrote and actually created what I lovingly called "smoothed VE tables". It was a disaster ... mainly because it took away the job auto tuning did that had made the tune for my specific bike ... so I would caution anyone that is not sure what you're doing from using it. It's great to look at trends ... which is what Jack is saying ... but ... if you don't know what you're doing, like most things, you can do some serious damage. I was lucky, noticed the trike ran really bad at slow speeds, stopped, loaded the last auto tune run and never did that again. LOL.
I don't need any more data to know these things are a smart investment, especially if you want to keep your ride for the long haul, like I do .... all evidence to the contrary ....
One last thing .. I did do a test after my ride today. Because of the wind I was a little stiff after riding, so I headed out to the hot tub. On my way since I had no fob, I tested all the positions and on the ignition switch and there is no power to the acc plug, hence the fans without the fob, unless you do the pin thing. I will still lock the ignition switch when I leave it anywhere longer than a few minutes (Not the forks).
Geezer Day.
Was a pretty nice day, breezy, but like 50 when I left, so, yep took Fat Bottom Girl.
A few of the geezer I go to see where sitting outside the Solarium. So, I rode the trike up on to the wide walkway. Probably not my brightest move as VA security came to see what I was doing. I explained that I had come to see the guys and get my b$tt kicked at monopoly, but, since some of them where outside, I just rode up to show them the trike. The guard looked at the geezers and decided they were worth it .. or he was afraid to mess with America's finest generation.
Wasn't long until there were bunches of them scoping her out ... the biggest draw was the "Fat Bottom Girl" naming ... Needless to say the old guys had some stories about their "favorite" Fat Bottom Girls. The old guys can spin a yarn ... were they true, don't know, but really colorful.
One of the guys that had seen her before zero'd right into the mighty mites as being new. All kinds of questions about what they do, How good they work, and the like. They were kind of impressed that something that small could move that much air. Since the trike had cooled lots and the jugs were just warm, I had them "feel" the air flow. When I warned them that the jugs were warm there were some more "colorful" remarks.
After a little while, we went in and I did get my butt kick at monopoly .... again!
All in all, a good day.
When I got home I decided to make the sun shield on my Arai 3/4 helmet, permanent. I'd been using electrical tape to provide sun protection down to the brow line. Works well, but, when it gets warm, it tends to peel. So, since I had a line to follow, I masked off the Clear section with blue painter's tape, on both sides. Next I pulled the electrical tape off and then I took a 3m greenie and roughed up the untaped part, both sides. Wiped it down with alcohol, let it dry, and since I had some high temp flat black left from the muffler blanks, I shot both sides with two coats.
It's drying now (I always pull the blue tape off after about 10 minutes, leaves a better line) but here it is:
When it dries completely, I'll protect it with the ceramic I think, if the sealer hasn't fully crystalized already, got just a bit left, might help protect the black from the bugs. And it's too pricy to waste LOL.
Good you spend time with our REAL HEROS
2012 Triglide Piaggio MP3 500 to get groceries 1991 FLHS as back up
"Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it !"
Tiffany, Olive, Daisy, “The Three Musketeers” together again.
It is a double edged sword ... I love spending time with these guys ... but ... in the last 18 months since I had my first knee replacement, like 12 of them have passed ... the CLC is a rehab facility, but, primarily a place for terminally ill. I've gotten where I don't ask where so and so is ... too sad. They will eventually tell me when someone has passed ... but you can tell they all think about their time.Good you spend time with our REAL HEROS
You are a good soldier Alan
My hat is off to you
Nuff Said," Were Burnin Daylight, Lets Ride"(Sober 37 years)
Current ride : 2021 FREEWHEELER M8, oldest ride 1960 FL
Getting Old
Okay ... so the weather for the trip is looking bad again, Not in Mesquite ... just the mountains. Since the ride to Mesquite is just that, not really part of the meandering thing, I've decided to put the fat bottom girl on the trailer and take it like that.
I can leave the truck and trailer at the hotel, they have RV parking with security, I have reservations for the 12th and 16th. That gives me 4 days to meander. Couple days to relax and no worries about travel.
Weather in Mesquite is supposed to be mid to high 80's and sunny. Might take a ride along lake Mead, into Henderson. Maybe to the Hover Dam. Haven't seen the "New Bridge".
Anyway, weather was a little cr$py here today, windy, spitting rain, etc. Got tires checked on the truck and trailer. Got the irrigation pump all hooked up again. Had a leak in the seal.
Since I messed up and rescheduled my Trip to start on Mother's Day
Look what I found for the Geezers ...
Found this on eBay ... if I get It, I'll donate it to the CLC.
Just heard ... They accepted my offer ...
Forgot
I forgot about the tank lift and the air deflectors ... fortunately ... DK came out with the new CNC ones ... LOL ... so I ordered those ... then this morning remembered the air deflectors ... both will get installed when I get back.
Spending that Monopoly money are you?
New course heading Mr. Sulu: ...2nd star to the right and straight on til morning...!!
Scooter and Sassi....2 furrever.
Nah ... I have a government T$T in each hand ... and I'm gonna spend it before they take it away ... or make me a $15 an hour employee ...
Geezer Day
Went and saw the guys ... not many ups and about today ... praying for them.
So, a check of the weather shows that it should be fine, so, I am doing the trip via trike alone. got all the rain stuff I need, so, I'll be fine.
Be a good chance to test everything out. I know the route well, so I'm leaving the 2 gallon RotoX home. I'll be doing meandering days, not a bunch of them ... the plan is torrid all day and do some gambling at night, well, evening ... bed comes early for this old guy.
I'm not bringing the computer, just the phone, probably won't be on here for week or so.
See ya on the flip side.
Have a safe trip!!
"No matter what you ride, give respect to get respect"
2016 Billet Silver/Black Tri Glide
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