doing the conversion myself, suggestions welcome

[pcombe]

pepper

The champion conversion kit and raked tripple trees been ordered for my 1989 tour glide ultra and i am so committed now!
Lets pray that in six weeks time when the kit arrives that God is in his heaven and the planets alighn to make this conversion as seamless as possible.

I am doing the conversion myself and i am not as young as i once was.
so any one with some good tips to keep me from making the ordinary run of the mill and garden variety dumb first timer mistakes, please feel free to educate this country boy before someone need call me a whaaaaa-mbulance?

Suggestions for work smarter not harder tools would also be appreciated!

 

[saab9k]

what kit did you order ??

 

[buster]

When I did my Frankenstein conversion on my 91 Tourglide, the majority of the work was changing the front triple tree. Rear end went pretty easy, but I did have to move battery under the seat.

 

[Papa Zook]

Paul,
The Champion solid axle kit is one of the most straightforward and easiest kits to install, period. Their install instruction manual is thorough and has lots of pictures, stuff us male humans need and like! My best advice is to 1) Take two Extra Strength Aleve first thing every morning especially if you dont have access to a lift. 2) Call Zook if you have any questions. 3) Have an extra set of hands close by. 4) Get a tube of blue Loctite and some cold beer!

 

[pcombe]

what kit did you order ??

The champion solid axle for FLH

 

[pcombe]

no lift but i do have a ceiling crane

 

[pcombe]

How is the tripple tree to install?

 

[Papa Zook]

How is the tripple tree to install?

Its the hardest part of the whole deal...

 

[pcombe]

maybe i will do it first?

 

[Papa Zook]

maybe i will do it first?

That would be a good idea...get that out of the way and the conversion will be a breeze. I will have the rake kit to you shortly.

 

[saab9k]

How is the tripple tree to install?

Easy on a Yamaha road star.

 

[Dragonrider]

Get a tube of blue Loctite and some cold beer!

Best advice for working on a Harley right there!

 

[Gorilla]

I did my 07 with a Champion Straight axle and triple trees. Just take your time. You might want to go to the Champion web site and down load the install instructions. That will give you time to read them over a lot to be ready. I put mine together in just a couple of days not counting the painting. It really is NOT rocket science.

 

[eagle1]

& jump into the nearest hot tub after each day to relax!!even your neighbors tub.

 

[pcombe]

I did my 07 with a Champion Straight axle and triple trees. Just take your time. You might want to go to the Champion web site and down load the install instructions. That will give you time to read them over a lot to be ready. I put mine together in just a couple of days not counting the painting. It really is NOT rocket science.

thanks for the vote of confidence. The project dosen't really scare me but its good to hear from one who has done it.
I went over had a look at your photos, your bike will appear pretty close to what my old tour glide will become. I dont have a bike lift but i do have an overhead lift.
Did you have any trouble changing out the tripple trees?
Thanks;
Paul

 

[pcombe]

And so the conversion begins!

ThumbUp
I got started on my trike conversion today. I got the gas tank, upper and lower fairing off as well as opened up the instument panel.
I got tired and had to quit.
The oxygen hose in my nose is constantly frustrating as it is in the way.
I don't know how many times i tore it off my face accentally, hurts every time too.
Yes, i barked up my hands and bleed all over but i'm started!
I dont know how to post pictures of my progress!
Paul

 

[americanbadass]

Re: And so the conversion begins!

ThumbUp
I got started on my trike conversion today. I got the gas tank, upper and lower fairing off as well as opened up the instument panel.
I got tired and had to quit.
The oxygen hose in my nose is constantly frustrating as it is in the way.
I don't know how many times i tore it off my face accentally, hurts every time too.
Yes, i barked up my hands and bleed all over but i'm started!
I dont know how to post pictures of my progress!
Paul

I am still wondering why you pulled the tank:Shrug:???? As far as posting pics-the easy way is to hit the black paperclip icon, and then "browse" your saved pics on your PC---Open them and hit upload.
P.S. You don't have to pull the motor or tranny to install the Champion kit......he...heee .hee!pepper

 

[pcombe]

Re: And so the conversion begins!

I am still wondering why you pulled the tank:Shrug:???? As far as posting pics-the easy way is to hit the black paperclip icon, and then "browse" your saved pics on your PC---Open them and hit upload.
P.S. You don't have to pull the motor or tranny to install the Champion kit......he...heee .hee!pepper

I will have to check out te paper clip i guess.
On my profile page it won't let me open any more albums or upload more pictures.

I pulled the tank to keep my clumsy self from scratching it.
Also the champion kit comes with a bracket to beef up the top motor mount ( so says the instructions i read on the champion site) and was going to have to pull it anyway?

Don't even joke about pulling the engine and tranny on a bike as old as mine, I came damn close to it replacing the front drive pully and belt in feb.
Paul

 

[pcombe]

But you do have to remove what he did to put the raked triple trees on,,,,at least I hope that's what you were doing lol. Just take your time and don't over do it and know when to walk away for awhile. If you need help there are plenty of people om here that enjoy helping other riders in need. Good luck.

Good advice

 

[pcombe]

Re: And so the conversion begins!

I am still wondering why you pulled the tank:Shrug:???? As far as posting pics-the easy way is to hit the black paperclip icon, and then "browse" your saved pics on your PC---Open them and hit upload.
P.S. You don't have to pull the motor or tranny to install the Champion kit......he...heee .hee!pepper

Here is a link to show where im at.
I havent figured out how to display th pictures in the order i want them.

pcombe's Library | Photobucket

 

[SEABILL]

You are using Photobucket so it is real easy to include a picture in your post.

In photobucket, on the right hand side, there are a couple of buttons. One says "Image Code". Select the picture you want to share, click on the button. It will say copying. Then just paste that into your post.

 

[pcombe]

You are using Photobucket so it is real easy to include a picture in your post.

In photobucket, on the right hand side, there are a couple of buttons. One says "Image Code". Select the picture you want to share, click on the button. It will say copying. Then just paste that into your post.

Thank you

 

[pcombe]

Re: I ran into a snag

:busted:

I got the front end off and the bottom race in the neck has no edge to get ahold of to drive it out of the frame neck.
Harley has a special tool.
Short of grinding it out im at a standstill.
I can borrow a tool come monday but damn i would like to get going back together,
Paul combe

 

[pcombe]

Re: I ran into a snag

I finally got fed up with that bearing race, put a couple spot welds on it so i could get ahold of it with a punch and it fell out with one tap!
I used to that with heavy equiptment. I would weld a bead all around the bearing race but a couple small tack welds did the trick here.
I should have done it in the first place.
I have the new tripple trees hanging on the frame now!

 

[pcombe]

:LordHelp:

You can follow the proccess of conversion at

pcombe's Library | Photobucket

I will take pictures, I cany organize the photos on photo bucket but you can follow the progress by looking at the pictures alphabetically.

 

[screwball]

HOPE you take off that oxygen hose you were talking about earlier before welding, don't want you blowing your face off:laugh::laugh:

 

[pcombe]

HOPE you take off that oxygen hose you were talking about earlier before welding, don't want you blowing your face off:laugh::laugh:

Jeez,whats the fun in that?
I got the front end back on today. Im beat!

 

[pcombe]

Jeez,whats the fun in that?
I got the front end back on today. Im beat!

Front end installed. check pictures---http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/pcombe/library/

 

[pcombe]

Front end installed. check pictures---http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/pcombe/library/

I got the front end back on as you will see in the pictures, but when i tried to adjust the fall away acording to my shop manual there is no way that i can get the wheel to come center after starting it at either right or left.
I can center the wheel but it either falls one way or the other and don't come back center.
adjusting the rubber fork stops don't make much difference.

I am assuming that since i kicked the wheel out it will no longer work the way the manual recomends.
The front end worked before i took it apart, I tried it.

So what is the secret to getting the right adjustment on the center pin bolt to put the right torque on the bearings?
I don't beleive the manuals adjustment technice is going to work!
Please help?

 

[buster]

The fall away test will not work with a raked tree. You have to torque the center bolt to the triple tree manufacturers spec. My triple tree had a torque amount in instructions. The torque will be greater than stock and the tree will have noticable drag when turning.