Body removal

[TPost]

I'm getting ready to add some V&H slip ons to my Freewheeler. I'm also going to add lift brackets and upgraded shocks. I need to pull the body to access the rear hanger bolts.
Any tips or tricks to pulling the body off. Not exactly sure how many bolts are holding the body on. Thanks in advance. Todd

 

[ROAD DOG]

The body has 4 or 6 bolts 1/2 inch wrench, pull the side covers, the seat , unplug the wires , remove backrest if you have one, two people can lift it no problem, it's a little easyer with the wheels off . you can get the muffler bolts off with the body on pain in the ass butt your changing the shocks so you might as well take it off.

 

[Old Road Dog]

Remove carpet liner in this order: Bottom. Bulkhead. Wrap around. 4 bolts in bottom of box to frame. 2 in forward bulkhead. 1 each side under side covers. Use a small tab of cardboard and blue tape at the seat mount.Cardboard and tape at the muffler louvers. Blue tape everything. Especially the wrap around at the bottom each side. I use 4 eyebolts in the rafters and rachet straps to lift the body.I agree taking the wheels off makes it easier to clear the fenders. If you were only doing slip ons you could get away with lifting and blocking the body. DO NOT apply jack to bottom fiberglass to lift the body up!

 

[kceder001]

Like was said above. 4 bolts in floor of trunk, 2 at top forward of trunk, 1 under each side cover. Unplug electrical plug where the back of the seat would be (mine is gray) One person on each side, blankets to sit it on.

I had a harder time getting it back on. Getting it in just the right place. Then again, the person helping me does not know the meaning of the word finesse.

I was going to put it back before putting the wheels on, seems it would be easier, but figured that would make it a little more awkward to get the jack stands out.

As far as jacking it, and Im gonna get roasted for this im sure, I used a floor jack with a 2x4 across it, at the very rearmost of the frame where the clutch cover is. Went in from the side. As far as the front wheel wanting to come off the ground, had my helper hold it down (takes little to no effort) until I got the jack stands under it. Yes, kinda sketchy, No, not what I would prefer nor reccomend, and yes, made sure no body parts were under anything. Having the body already off seemed to make it quite a bit less tail end heavy. Another reason to leave the wheels on, if anything went bad, she would land on her feet.

Others have put the jack under the rear crossmember, including Kevin from DK customs as I recall. Harley doesn't recommend it, even though Im sure is probably been done a thousand times with no issue. Honestly, I debated a lot on which way to do it. I wish I had a floor mounted front wheel vise, that would be the best.

 

[TPost]

Lifting shouldn't be a issue. I bought a jack adapter for my floorjack from Kustom FX. It has a slot on the other side that the tie down ring on the bottom of the axle goes through. Todd

 

[kceder001]

Much better solution.