97' Tour Pack Rack cracked in two
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 304
Likes: 38
From: SE Michigan
97' Tour Pack Rack cracked in two
I just got home from my first trip on my 97' FLTHC-I. 982 miles in three days and I just loved the bike. Didn't want to get off at the end of each day. This was also the first time I rode the bike with the tour pack on since I brought it home after I bought it. While unpacking at the end of the 2nd day and just over 600 miles into the trip, I found that the tour pack rack cracked both support tubes at the rivet nut inserts. I am soooooo glad I did not loose the thing while riding down the road! All that was holding it on was the (2) bolts and rivet nut inserts at the license plate mount. I had hardly nothing in the tour pack and used it mostly when we stopped to store my helmet and jacket. Luckily, our second night stop was with friends that I could leave the pack with even though it was 300 plus miles from home.
So question? What is everyone replacing these racks with? I cant believe that I am the only one that had one crack in two after looking at the design? I don't think I want to go with a quick dis-connect rack, just a stock bolt-on one. Looking at my friends 99' Ultra, it looks like they added a reinforcement piece to this area of the rack?
Thanks, G.B.
So question? What is everyone replacing these racks with? I cant believe that I am the only one that had one crack in two after looking at the design? I don't think I want to go with a quick dis-connect rack, just a stock bolt-on one. Looking at my friends 99' Ultra, it looks like they added a reinforcement piece to this area of the rack?
Thanks, G.B.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
I've seen this before , when people tie their bikes down on a trailer using the bag rack, or overloading the trunk. You say you had very little in there so the previous owner may have overloaded it or tied it down that way. Hope this helps.
John
John
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,200
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
I've always overloaded my tourpack, on roadtrips to the point of throwing the balance of the bike off. I've had everything bungied on top of it at one time or another: Luggage, sleeping bag, ice chest, tent, etc. Right now, it is full of leathers to the point of having to press down to close it. Not had a problem with it (knock on wood). Don't know if my mount is different than that, as I've never had the thing off. I would suspect the PO may have tied it down by that if that's John's theory.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: Minnesnowta
I don't have the quick release like you do but this very same thing happened to me last summer. Secured the trunk for travel and made a few phone calls. The dealer in Duluth Mn didn't have it but an Indy shop in Ironwood Michigan, where we were headed had a take off. Headed that way, bought the take off for less than a 1/3 of the dealer price, and installed it in the parking lot of the Motel.
Yeah, it was pretty scary at the time, I thought I lost my trunk.
Yeah, it was pretty scary at the time, I thought I lost my trunk.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 304
Likes: 38
From: SE Michigan
Thanks for all of the feedback and input. I was riding with friends on my trip who were riding 99' and 06' Ultra's. The 99' tour pack rack has reinforcement brackets under the tube or bar on either side and the pack was thru bolted thru the tube and support reinforcements. The 06' does not have the reinforcement brackets but uses large aluminum rectangular washers with the bolts that thru bolt the pack to the rack tube.
I like the 99' set up but don't know if there is a difference in the rack tube wall thickness between the 99' and the 06' rack tube.
Does anyone have experience with either set up?
Thanks G.B.
I like the 99' set up but don't know if there is a difference in the rack tube wall thickness between the 99' and the 06' rack tube.
Does anyone have experience with either set up?
Thanks G.B.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Joliet,IL
When I got my 1998 FLHTC 5 years ago, I found that the rack was cracked at the front bolt hole on the right side. Found a replacement at a swap meet for $20 and replaced it and thought I would be good for another 10 years. The replacement cracked again in the same spot 2 years later. Started looking at different bikes and noticed that some had a metal piece under the rack for added support. Ordered the parts from a dealer and replaced the rack with another swap meet replacement and am hoping for the best. I have found many of these are cracked; even on used bikes for sale at dealers. (When I showed the people at the dealers I looked the next time I went there and neither dealer had repaired the problem). I did notice on my trip around Lake Mich. a few week ago that the tour pack didn't rattle at all while loaded. When empty, I can hear it rattling when I am at idol. Made me think I may need to upgrade my motor mount.
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,081
Likes: 2,159
From: Ohio
I know you mentioned not interested in a quick disconnect but I run a over sized Shovel tour pak on a quick disconnect fully loaded and moved back as far as possible. The quick disconnect has wedges on the bottom to transfer load like you mentioned plus hole to hole structure so if all fails, you have an option that will work by real world being tested.
Should be able to find out what years the stock bracket fits by a HD part number, the 97's 98's go deep into the Twinkie years roughly to 2005
Should be able to find out what years the stock bracket fits by a HD part number, the 97's 98's go deep into the Twinkie years roughly to 2005
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 23
From: Summit, Mississippi
This was a very common problem with the 97's and newer. The 96 and previous were bullet-proof as the TP sat on a flat plate that was a very sturdy mounting system. MOCO changed the frame in the 97 model year and along with that, they mounted the TP on the two round rails....no more plate to mount on. They later came-out with a supposed "fix" which was a small concave aluminum parts-kit that sandwiched the bars to strengthen the bolt-hole connections. I don't know how they are doing it now. I have seen them break on trips and one poor guy usually stayed bungie-corded up for most of a trip until we finally got tired of that. His even broke the tabs on the frame. I just took his old one and built it stronger at the breaks (bolt-holes) by welding a 1/2 tubing section down each side, of course....I had to weld some washers on his frame where the flimsy tabs had broken off. All-n-all....we got his welded-up enough that it has now lasted for 5-6 years. He painted the thing black....nobody ever looks under there to notice the difference and he's a happy camper.
As stated above I think.....keep the loads light (tell that to my wife..please) and don't put any strong, or lowering shocks on the rear. You can either fix it like I did....or just baby the thing.
As stated above I think.....keep the loads light (tell that to my wife..please) and don't put any strong, or lowering shocks on the rear. You can either fix it like I did....or just baby the thing.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jasnusc
Touring Models
5
Jul 7, 2010 09:18 PM