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Turned out they are/were custom chrome. Swapped earlier this year. I found and polished up a set of HD boxes. Turned out to be a very good thing I did. Once disassembled found they were cracked, and the towers were whored as well as most of the rocker arm bushings.
So HD boxes, and s&s rocker arms and shafts....solved a problem I would have been unaware of except for puckered chrome and a small oil seep.
So those were custom Chrome rocker assemblies? I've never seen the mounting tower crack like that.. Some things you just got to stick with OEM or S&S........
So those were custom Chrome rocker assemblies? I've never seen the mounting tower crack like that.. Some things you just got to stick with OEM or S&S........
Only thing I can think of is bad casting. One of the other towers was cracked as well on the other base. Bolts were spec and came apart 'correctly' no apeing required. As to the damage where the rocker arms are, no idea either nor the rocker bushings. I pulled the screen and there was no debris, nor has any collected in the oil filter. Engine runs strong no noise or oil usage. It'll be one of life's mysteries for sure.
Buy and wrench on enough used bikes you'll see a lot, but there's always something new under the sun, for sure.
Man, I can't stress enough how important it is to thoroughly go thru a 'new' used bike. After even one owner, you never know what you'll find. My uneasiness with the forks was justified, the preload was barely set and the front trees literally fell off once things were loosened. GO THRU YOUR BIKE. Riding is dangerous enough without have your bike being a time bomb..... /rant
Glad I took this on. Glad i can afford decent tools for specific jobs. The Fast Eddy driver I picked up made quick work of removing the races, The George's installer made quick work of installing them. The old races were a bit notchy, lube was good though.
A few pics;
bottom race top race removed race installed races Race-less prep greased bearings in a zip lock, where the magic happens. Less Mess
Gots some two step in the middle and the paving company finally showed up. I'm getting gassed in the gay-rage, **** stinks.
Lots of little steps. Happy with the outcome, even though the front fender doesn't quite line up. No biggie as I'm putting a 16 on once the parts come back from strip and powder coat. The '05 brake line up perfect as well, no shims needed.
Got out for a hour shakedown. Bike much nicer riding now. More planted and the vague wandering is gone, should have done this before I put her on the road. Future miles will be much more comfortable.
Got a 'new' 16 off fb marketplace, it'll polish up nice, and more importantly its not whored out; threads and bearing seats are rock solid. The 16 for the front would look awesome, but the cost for a strip and powder coat is a bit much. I'm still shopping it around, but probably going to get a spoked 16 for the front.
I didn't realize you replaced the front end with wide glide triples.. Very nice.. Also your going to live the cartridge suspension... I absolutely love mine . Ride on...
@98hotrodfatboy yeah, had a Tiwian 'lifetime' 41mm set of legs and knockoff accutronix wide glide trees. Unknown chrome caliper as well. So back to HD parts, bit mix and match. Much, much better handling and all the weird up front noises are gone. Added bonus the turn signal cancel works again after cleaning up the wiring.
I've got some rust removal and painting to do. Otherwise guess I'll build the motor this winter...just because.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
