Electrical / Lighting System Upgrade FLSTC
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I have the factory parts catalog and while it only shows one speed nut in the picture, it lists two. So, I also need to learn to look at the parts catalog more carefully.
It is also difficult doing this by feel. I am working on removing the rear fender so I can see better what I am doing and have easier access. Although I am finding that getting the rear fender off is not the easiest thing in the world either..... lol.
It is also difficult doing this by feel. I am working on removing the rear fender so I can see better what I am doing and have easier access. Although I am finding that getting the rear fender off is not the easiest thing in the world either..... lol.
With your light unit as difficult as it is to get off, I suggest you leave the fender well alone. You may risk damaging it. Remove the rear wheel to get better access to the light.
I have had similar problems to you in the recent past and eventually replaced my fender and rear lights with later ones, but I am not fussy about keeping my bike original.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
If you want the most room possible I suggest pulling the rear wheel to assist in getting at the bolts holding on the rear fender.
I suggest getting some wooden dowels to put in the fender bolt holes to keep the fender up while you remove the other bolts.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
When I bought my first Harley, back in 1974, the dealer (the only one in the UK at the time), used trolley jacks as his only lift and would take out both wheels of a Glide using two of them!
To get the wheel out of yours will require lifting to a reasonable height, to create the space to jiggle the wheel out to one side. You could use your jack to lift the bike onto it's jiffy (which is extremely strong) and lower it back onto a pile of lumber blocks, to stabilise your bike and hold it upright. Or use a single block of lumber if you have suitable big stuff, bricks, etc!
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Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
I am thinking that I will build some kind of stand out of cinder blocks and wood. Lift the bike carefully with my scissor lift, slide the stand under the bike and lower it on to the stand. My scissor lift has a 1,000 lb capacity so hopefully that will work.
I have used the scissor life in the past to get the bike supported vertically and with the rear wheel just a little off the ground. For this, I have positioned the scissor lift behind the shocks (on the softail, they protrude a little below the frame). When I do this, just the rear comes up since I am well behind the balance point. If I position the scissor life a head of the shocks, will I be near enough to the balance point that I will be able to get the entire bike off the ground? Is this a two person job to make sure I do not crush myself?
I have used the scissor life in the past to get the bike supported vertically and with the rear wheel just a little off the ground. For this, I have positioned the scissor lift behind the shocks (on the softail, they protrude a little below the frame). When I do this, just the rear comes up since I am well behind the balance point. If I position the scissor life a head of the shocks, will I be near enough to the balance point that I will be able to get the entire bike off the ground? Is this a two person job to make sure I do not crush myself?
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Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
I messed with the scissor lift a bit. If I put it in front of the shocks, it seems to be close to the balance point. I can lift it to the point that I can gently rock the bike forward and back to touch either the front or rear wheel. It rocks on a support cross piece that connects the two sides of the frame.
I think if I put a 2x4 in front of the cross piece and a 2x2 behind it, the bike would lift with reasonable stability. However, I would not want to work on it suspended like that, especially not removing the rear wheel.
Therefore, I am thinking that I could lift it that way and then slide a cinder block with a 2x4 on top of it under the frame behind the shocks. Then if I lower it back down a bit, I should put enough weight on the cinder block for the bike to be stable.
Then tie it down to the scissor lift in the front and cinder block in the back. Hopefully that will be stable enough.
I am a novice as you can tell by my questions. Do not hesitate to chime in if you think I am getting ready to do something stupid..... Would not be the first time....
Thanks again for all the great comments and advice - very helpful - you guys are an amazingly valuable resource.
I think if I put a 2x4 in front of the cross piece and a 2x2 behind it, the bike would lift with reasonable stability. However, I would not want to work on it suspended like that, especially not removing the rear wheel.
Therefore, I am thinking that I could lift it that way and then slide a cinder block with a 2x4 on top of it under the frame behind the shocks. Then if I lower it back down a bit, I should put enough weight on the cinder block for the bike to be stable.
Then tie it down to the scissor lift in the front and cinder block in the back. Hopefully that will be stable enough.
I am a novice as you can tell by my questions. Do not hesitate to chime in if you think I am getting ready to do something stupid..... Would not be the first time....
Thanks again for all the great comments and advice - very helpful - you guys are an amazingly valuable resource.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
Thanks, I will look at that. I bought the scissor jack since I wanted something that would not take up much space in the garage. I have been involved in a lot of activities over the years with my two boys and we have a lot of stuff in the garage.
But a jack that has a wider support dimension with two support cross pieces and a gap in the middle would work well to get around the shape of the bottom of the frame on my bike.
And it would be nice to easily jack it up, work on it and put it down.
Then again, for what I am doing and as slow as I go, it may be on the jack for a while once I get the wheel off.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 442
Likes: 30
From: Florida
Think I should get the bigger one for $180?
https://www.harborfreight.com/high-p...ift-99887.html
Or the smaller one for $90?
https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-l...ift-60536.html
Also thinking about getting a wheel chock I could mount to some plywood. Lift the bike a bit higher than I need. Create some kind of support structure for wheel chock, then lower bike onto wheel chock. That way when I remove rear wheel, I will not have to worry about changing the balance point.
https://www.harborfreight.com/high-p...ift-99887.html
Or the smaller one for $90?
https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-l...ift-60536.html
Also thinking about getting a wheel chock I could mount to some plywood. Lift the bike a bit higher than I need. Create some kind of support structure for wheel chock, then lower bike onto wheel chock. That way when I remove rear wheel, I will not have to worry about changing the balance point.