09 FXD bent strut, tweaked swingarm?
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09 FXD bent strut, tweaked swingarm?
..Long time reader, first time yada yada yada.
Here's a little introduction-
SO, 3 months ago, I decided to act like a jackass, another guy was standing where he shouldn't have been, and I ended up nailing a pretty high curb. I broke my back and got the worst concussion of my life by putting my helmetless head through some scooter fairings. I thought the damage to the bike was basically limited to the huge dent in the tank, ruined Road 6 bars, busted up hand controls, and punctured outer primary cover, but now I'm not too sure.
I was cleared to start riding again, so today I was doing some last minute maintenace (read- chopping the rear fender to the shocks,) when I noticed that the clutch side strut is pointing towards center, and the brake side swingarm seems to do the same, albeit to a lesser degree.
I'm chopping the strut anyway, so I could care less about that, but the swingarm has me troubled. I assume it's supposed to be square to itsself, and not tapered in ~7/16's, right? I checked the welds, and they look good, so I'm thinking of just riding it as is, if I can get it alligned well enough. ..In my head, it's not really any different than an offset rear wheel. Speaking of offset rear wheel, this isn't how the MoCo would have fixed that problem on the 05+ bikes, is it? What do you think?
If it weren't 10PM here in Sicily, where I'm currently living, I'd post some pictures. Maybe I will anyway once the work is done.
Here's a little introduction-
SO, 3 months ago, I decided to act like a jackass, another guy was standing where he shouldn't have been, and I ended up nailing a pretty high curb. I broke my back and got the worst concussion of my life by putting my helmetless head through some scooter fairings. I thought the damage to the bike was basically limited to the huge dent in the tank, ruined Road 6 bars, busted up hand controls, and punctured outer primary cover, but now I'm not too sure.
I was cleared to start riding again, so today I was doing some last minute maintenace (read- chopping the rear fender to the shocks,) when I noticed that the clutch side strut is pointing towards center, and the brake side swingarm seems to do the same, albeit to a lesser degree.
I'm chopping the strut anyway, so I could care less about that, but the swingarm has me troubled. I assume it's supposed to be square to itsself, and not tapered in ~7/16's, right? I checked the welds, and they look good, so I'm thinking of just riding it as is, if I can get it alligned well enough. ..In my head, it's not really any different than an offset rear wheel. Speaking of offset rear wheel, this isn't how the MoCo would have fixed that problem on the 05+ bikes, is it? What do you think?
If it weren't 10PM here in Sicily, where I'm currently living, I'd post some pictures. Maybe I will anyway once the work is done.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
..Long time reader, first time yada yada yada.
Here's a little introduction-
SO, 3 months ago, I decided to act like a jackass, another guy was standing where he shouldn't have been, and I ended up nailing a pretty high curb. I broke my back and got the worst concussion of my life by putting my helmetless head through some scooter fairings. I thought the damage to the bike was basically limited to the huge dent in the tank, ruined Road 6 bars, busted up hand controls, and punctured outer primary cover, but now I'm not too sure.
I was cleared to start riding again, so today I was doing some last minute maintenace (read- chopping the rear fender to the shocks,) when I noticed that the clutch side strut is pointing towards center, and the brake side swingarm seems to do the same, albeit to a lesser degree.
I'm chopping the strut anyway, so I could care less about that, but the swingarm has me troubled. I assume it's supposed to be square to itsself, and not tapered in ~7/16's, right? I checked the welds, and they look good, so I'm thinking of just riding it as is, if I can get it alligned well enough. ..In my head, it's not really any different than an offset rear wheel. Speaking of offset rear wheel, this isn't how the MoCo would have fixed that problem on the 05+ bikes, is it? What do you think?
If it weren't 10PM here in Sicily, where I'm currently living, I'd post some pictures. Maybe I will anyway once the work is done.
Here's a little introduction-
SO, 3 months ago, I decided to act like a jackass, another guy was standing where he shouldn't have been, and I ended up nailing a pretty high curb. I broke my back and got the worst concussion of my life by putting my helmetless head through some scooter fairings. I thought the damage to the bike was basically limited to the huge dent in the tank, ruined Road 6 bars, busted up hand controls, and punctured outer primary cover, but now I'm not too sure.
I was cleared to start riding again, so today I was doing some last minute maintenace (read- chopping the rear fender to the shocks,) when I noticed that the clutch side strut is pointing towards center, and the brake side swingarm seems to do the same, albeit to a lesser degree.
I'm chopping the strut anyway, so I could care less about that, but the swingarm has me troubled. I assume it's supposed to be square to itsself, and not tapered in ~7/16's, right? I checked the welds, and they look good, so I'm thinking of just riding it as is, if I can get it alligned well enough. ..In my head, it's not really any different than an offset rear wheel. Speaking of offset rear wheel, this isn't how the MoCo would have fixed that problem on the 05+ bikes, is it? What do you think?
If it weren't 10PM here in Sicily, where I'm currently living, I'd post some pictures. Maybe I will anyway once the work is done.
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Novice
Joined: Dec 2009
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Sorry, not gonna be much help on your swingarm question....But dude, based on that picture and all the people around that looks like a recipe for disaster. I guess it turned out to be one too. You're lucky that no-one else got injured. And Yes, I know.... I'm being a Buzz kill
No, you're completely right.
To save a little face, there wasn't anyone in front of us on the sidewalk or otherwise (except for the photographer, and he's the one I had to dodge in the street.) Total bad judgement on my part. I learned my lesson pretty well though.
The most interesting part is that I rode sportbikes for about 5 years and never spilled a single time, then I decide to slow down and buy a new Harley, this happens within a couple months. I've never been a complacent rider, but I messed up big with this one. I'm done fooling around on two wheels.
It's actually a pretty funny story, maybe I'll tell it some time.
...Still looking for that answer, btw.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 5
From: Batesville Ga
On my 07 SB the struts look straight but with covers on its hard to really tell.
This won't be precise either, but I took a measurement through the rotor and spokes from outside to outside on the tail end of the swingarm (more technically what HD calls "rear fork assy") and got 12 3/4". Toward the front, just ahead of the weld where the axle section is, I got 12 5/8". It appears that the fork width (thickness) is the same in both areas so either my measurement is off (very likely as I was using a tape rule and bends in one location or the other would be likely) or the fork actually widens at the back end, which would point outward, not to the center.
As for the stunt, its all fun and games until someone trips running with scissors...
This won't be precise either, but I took a measurement through the rotor and spokes from outside to outside on the tail end of the swingarm (more technically what HD calls "rear fork assy") and got 12 3/4". Toward the front, just ahead of the weld where the axle section is, I got 12 5/8". It appears that the fork width (thickness) is the same in both areas so either my measurement is off (very likely as I was using a tape rule and bends in one location or the other would be likely) or the fork actually widens at the back end, which would point outward, not to the center.
As for the stunt, its all fun and games until someone trips running with scissors...
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Novice
Joined: Dec 2009
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On my 07 SB the struts look straight but with covers on its hard to really tell.
This won't be precise either, but I took a measurement through the rotor and spokes from outside to outside on the tail end of the swingarm (more technically what HD calls "rear fork assy") and got 12 3/4". Toward the front, just ahead of the weld where the axle section is, I got 12 5/8". It appears that the fork width (thickness) is the same in both areas so either my measurement is off (very likely as I was using a tape rule and bends in one location or the other would be likely) or the fork actually widens at the back end, which would point outward, not to the center.
As for the stunt, its all fun and games until someone trips running with scissors...
This won't be precise either, but I took a measurement through the rotor and spokes from outside to outside on the tail end of the swingarm (more technically what HD calls "rear fork assy") and got 12 3/4". Toward the front, just ahead of the weld where the axle section is, I got 12 5/8". It appears that the fork width (thickness) is the same in both areas so either my measurement is off (very likely as I was using a tape rule and bends in one location or the other would be likely) or the fork actually widens at the back end, which would point outward, not to the center.
As for the stunt, its all fun and games until someone trips running with scissors...
I didn't know HD's technical nomenclature, so that might come in handy if/when I replace the piece.
..Anyone with an opinion on riding it anyway?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,427
Likes: 2
From: Smack Dab in the Middle of Louisiana
Hey.........it's just physics and geometry 
Take some basic alignment measurements; {axle:axle / both sides of axle shafts} check swing arm squareness from frame and pull string line to measure rear axle from same point and make sure they are equal.
After all you don't want to be going down the road like a spanked Dawg with you butt end all squat-ty and cat-e-wumpus.
Take some basic alignment measurements; {axle:axle / both sides of axle shafts} check swing arm squareness from frame and pull string line to measure rear axle from same point and make sure they are equal.
After all you don't want to be going down the road like a spanked Dawg with you butt end all squat-ty and cat-e-wumpus.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
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From: Ogden, UT
Bolt everything up and see if it will align properly.
I doubt you could bend them into each others since it should have been solid with wheel and spacers at the axle. The struts yes, nothing solid between them.
I doubt you could bend them into each others since it should have been solid with wheel and spacers at the axle. The struts yes, nothing solid between them.