Fairing Misaligned?
Fairing Misaligned?
I noticed from day one, my FLHXS fairing is cantered to the left. Its not noticeable sitting there, but more so when riding. The handle bars were changed to chrome, but same thing. Also, where the fairing meets handle bars it there's more of a gap to the left....
Has anyone noticed that their fairing misaligned too? If so, has anyone been successful in loosening everything up and attempting to adjust for proper alignment?
Has anyone noticed that their fairing misaligned too? If so, has anyone been successful in loosening everything up and attempting to adjust for proper alignment?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
I noticed from day one, my FLHXS fairing is cantered to the left. Its not noticeable sitting there, but more so when riding. The handle bars were changed to chrome, but same thing. Also, where the fairing meets handle bars it there's more of a gap to the left....
Has anyone noticed that their fairing misaligned too? If so, has anyone been successful in loosening everything up and attempting to adjust for proper alignment?
Has anyone noticed that their fairing misaligned too? If so, has anyone been successful in loosening everything up and attempting to adjust for proper alignment?
Probably didn't get it straight when the bar changed occurred. You can loosen the studs up and lift one side and tighten it back down. I have seen it on lots of home done bar jobs, mainly when looking at the bars where they meet the fairing. One side will be close and a good gap on the other side.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
Doesn't surprise me that a dealer did it. I just see it when buddies tell me about their bar swap and I will mention they need to align their fairing. Two options, take it back to them, or.... Remove the dome nuts for the turn signal housing with a 1/2 then use a 9/16 and loosen the studs and lift the low side to match the high side.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
I noticed from day one, my FLHXS fairing is cantered to the left. Its not noticeable sitting there, but more so when riding. The handle bars were changed to chrome, but same thing. Also, where the fairing meets handle bars it there's more of a gap to the left....
Has anyone noticed that their fairing misaligned too? If so, has anyone been successful in loosening everything up and attempting to adjust for proper alignment?
Has anyone noticed that their fairing misaligned too? If so, has anyone been successful in loosening everything up and attempting to adjust for proper alignment?
OTOH, they may not be capable of doing ANYTHING right, and probably aren't, if they can't even manage to get a fairing back on straight - so if you're mechanically-inclined, you might try fixing it yourself. From reading some other responses, it seems pretty straight forward and easy to do.
That's the only way you'll know for sure that it was actually done right by somebody who gives a crap!
Last edited by jpooch00; Sep 21, 2015 at 07:55 AM.
The brain-dead dealer "tech" f-ed it up, they should fix it.
OTOH, they may not be capable of doing ANYTHING right, and probably aren't, if they can't even manage to get a fairing back on straight - so if you're mechanically-inclined, you might try fixing it yourself. From reading some other responses, it seems pretty straight forward and easy to do.
That's the only way you'll know for sure that it was actually done right by somebody who gives a crap!
OTOH, they may not be capable of doing ANYTHING right, and probably aren't, if they can't even manage to get a fairing back on straight - so if you're mechanically-inclined, you might try fixing it yourself. From reading some other responses, it seems pretty straight forward and easy to do.
That's the only way you'll know for sure that it was actually done right by somebody who gives a crap!
Yeah. I'm fed up with the dealers. I took it all a part and realigned it myself. Much better now. It was driving me crzy..
I have to say, HD engineered the s@#t out of this inner fairing. I actually followed the shop manual on this one. I'm impressed how the inner frame, speaker pods are its own unit now and the out/inner fairings are just covers.
It seems that an inner fairing swap would be a lot easier than the '13's and earlier.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 902
Likes: 152
From: Georgia
Mine has always aimed a little to the right. Bars have never been swapped. Dealer said they tried to adjust it but no change. Dealer said they needed to talk to Harley. Haven't heard from them since.
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Not sure on this,but IMO the MoCo must assemble theses upright and the don't align right especially if its a Monday or Friday, hahaha...Like I said, mine was never right from day one even BEFORE the handle bar swap. So, honestly I can't blame the tech. at the dealership. Although, a little "attention to detail" would be nice especially at a labor rate of $112 an hour.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
Well, I took mine completely off. Incidentally, it can be tilted forward or taken completely off for servicing now. Pretty easily too. Anyhow, I then laid it flat on my workbench which was covered by a towel. I then loosened all the speaker pod bolts and stereo frame bolts. Everything seemed to settle into place. I then tightened all up after loctiting the bolts back in.
Not sure on this,but IMO the MoCo must assemble theses upright and the don't align right especially if its a Monday or Friday, hahaha...Like I said, mine was never right from day one even BEFORE the handle bar swap. So, honestly I can't blame the tech. at the dealership. Although, a little "attention to detail" would be nice especially at a labor rate of $112 an hour.
Not sure on this,but IMO the MoCo must assemble theses upright and the don't align right especially if its a Monday or Friday, hahaha...Like I said, mine was never right from day one even BEFORE the handle bar swap. So, honestly I can't blame the tech. at the dealership. Although, a little "attention to detail" would be nice especially at a labor rate of $112 an hour.
Get a shop manual and take the time to learn to do it yourself - then you'll know that it'll be done right the first time, every time!