Update on Road Glide fairing install on FXDF
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Well I got the word from the painter the fairing is painted and ready for pick up. I had dropped it off last week along with the front fender for matching of the finish. My buddy/client is the local PPG rep and he arranged the deal for me.
Man I am so glad I took him up on the offer to have one of his shops do the painting rather than try it myself. Despite having experiance painting I have never shot a satin finish and apparently it is really tricky to get it dead on perfect. Color is not the issue, the issue is the finish and flatness. Since unlike a shinny paint you cannot simply wet sand and buff it to the right surface texture you must shoot it correctly and that takes experiance. Picking it up in the morning and will post photos then.
In the mean time I began the installation of the Cyclevisions mounting bracket made for a FXDWG. They have never done one before so I am in unchartered territory here. The difference is in the rake which they tought may require some grinding, but so far no issues. The only issue is the headlight harness uses a different plug so I will need to find a female auto style three prong and a male mini plug then splice them making up an addapter so I do not cut the FXDF harness.
Next, is going to be moving the turn signals off the handlebars, does anyone have instruction on this? I need a step by step from someone who has moved their fronts down on the forks or lower triple tree clamp area.
My plan is to use the rear turn signals which happen to be identical to the Road Glide front turn signals. Then I will install one of those combination tail light/license frames that has turn signals built in so when I install the bags I will still have turn signals when I choose not to run with the bags.
Bob
Man I am so glad I took him up on the offer to have one of his shops do the painting rather than try it myself. Despite having experiance painting I have never shot a satin finish and apparently it is really tricky to get it dead on perfect. Color is not the issue, the issue is the finish and flatness. Since unlike a shinny paint you cannot simply wet sand and buff it to the right surface texture you must shoot it correctly and that takes experiance. Picking it up in the morning and will post photos then.
In the mean time I began the installation of the Cyclevisions mounting bracket made for a FXDWG. They have never done one before so I am in unchartered territory here. The difference is in the rake which they tought may require some grinding, but so far no issues. The only issue is the headlight harness uses a different plug so I will need to find a female auto style three prong and a male mini plug then splice them making up an addapter so I do not cut the FXDF harness.
Next, is going to be moving the turn signals off the handlebars, does anyone have instruction on this? I need a step by step from someone who has moved their fronts down on the forks or lower triple tree clamp area.
My plan is to use the rear turn signals which happen to be identical to the Road Glide front turn signals. Then I will install one of those combination tail light/license frames that has turn signals built in so when I install the bags I will still have turn signals when I choose not to run with the bags.
Bob
I finished splicing in the head light wiring and tightened up the mounting bracket.
The paint came out dead on including the finish and surface. Dougs Custom Paint did a killer job and now has the formula for doing Harley Denim Black. They showed me about a dozen test shots, some which were only slightly different and setting them side to side or in the sun light right up against the fender was my only way to tell the difference. They now have the correct one filed on their shelf with mix and settings written down so doing any other Harley Denim black will be a no brainer, well for them at least.
Bob
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 89
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Joe, I would really like to see how the front turn signals look because as I look at the Fat Bob fronts I don't see how they would blend in with out the base peice like the rears. I was going to use the rears however I am not ready to do the rear tail light modification just yet so right now what I am going to do is run new wire through the handle bars and splice into the front signals for now unless I can pick up a set of Road Glide front signals tommarrow. Either way I need to splice into the wires that run to the turn signals.
I finished splicing in the head light wiring and tightened up the mounting bracket.
The paint came out dead on including the finish and surface. Dougs Custom Paint did a killer job and now has the formula for doing Harley Denim Black. They showed me about a dozen test shots, some which were only slightly different and setting them side to side or in the sun light right up against the fender was my only way to tell the difference. They now have the correct one filed on their shelf with mix and settings written down so doing any other Harley Denim black will be a no brainer, well for them at least.
Bob
I finished splicing in the head light wiring and tightened up the mounting bracket.
The paint came out dead on including the finish and surface. Dougs Custom Paint did a killer job and now has the formula for doing Harley Denim Black. They showed me about a dozen test shots, some which were only slightly different and setting them side to side or in the sun light right up against the fender was my only way to tell the difference. They now have the correct one filed on their shelf with mix and settings written down so doing any other Harley Denim black will be a no brainer, well for them at least.
Bob
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
Joe, I would really like to see how the front turn signals look because as I look at the Fat Bob fronts I don't see how they would blend in with out the base peice like the rears. I was going to use the rears however I am not ready to do the rear tail light modification just yet so right now what I am going to do is run new wire through the handle bars and splice into the front signals for now unless I can pick up a set of Road Glide front signals tommarrow. Either way I need to splice into the wires that run to the turn signals.
I finished splicing in the head light wiring and tightened up the mounting bracket.
The paint came out dead on including the finish and surface. Dougs Custom Paint did a killer job and now has the formula for doing Harley Denim Black. They showed me about a dozen test shots, some which were only slightly different and setting them side to side or in the sun light right up against the fender was my only way to tell the difference. They now have the correct one filed on their shelf with mix and settings written down so doing any other Harley Denim black will be a no brainer, well for them at least.
Bob
I finished splicing in the head light wiring and tightened up the mounting bracket.
The paint came out dead on including the finish and surface. Dougs Custom Paint did a killer job and now has the formula for doing Harley Denim Black. They showed me about a dozen test shots, some which were only slightly different and setting them side to side or in the sun light right up against the fender was my only way to tell the difference. They now have the correct one filed on their shelf with mix and settings written down so doing any other Harley Denim black will be a no brainer, well for them at least.
Bob
Sad thing is during the week I only have about an hour to work on it so progress is slow. Well off to pick up some wire and sheilding sleave for tonights work.
Bob
Last edited by HYPR; Apr 5, 2012 at 10:56 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Alexandria, VA (via Northern CA)
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,046
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From: sugar land, gulf coast, tx
A little off topic, but what are your plans for the front suspension? Heavier springs and oil? Had an RG. Wind and water protection was pretty good. You may just have to join the secret society of the shark nose.
A small select group of appreciators of the RG look... tp
A small select group of appreciators of the RG look... tp
