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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 08:37 AM
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Question Top Engine Mount

I removed the top engine mount yesterday so I could clean it and the rocker box. Upon removing it, the motor shifted a little to the side. About 1/4". Now, I have never taken out a Twin Cam or a M8. But I have done dozens of Shovels and Evos. When aligning up the aforementioned, everything is sitting natural with NO tension on the motor, tranny, or motor mounts. So on this M8, should there be tension on the top motor mount/link ?
Respectfully, I would only like to hear from the people who "know".
thanks
 
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 09:39 AM
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Well you didn't mention which bike, the problem occurred on. If it's a rubber mount motor, things can shift when you remove the top mount, If it's not, you got problems.
 
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 09:48 AM
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Is the bike vertical, or on the side-stand? TC88 rubber-mounts use similar mounts to the earlier models, whereas the TC96s use a slightly different set-up. I haven't studied the M8s closely.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2020 | 01:15 AM
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Yea, take the bike off the side stand and put it up on blocks.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2020 | 03:46 AM
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Straitened the bike and have a buddy give you a hand to align up the bolts, they can be a punk to get lined up. An HD certified master tech and I did this on a replacement M8 engine.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2020 | 07:25 AM
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OOps. It's an M8. It is on the lift.
I know the earlier rubber mounts had a turnbuckle so you could adjust it. But, I know moving / adjusting it would change your wheel alignment. I've never had that problem, so I never changed it.
And, not that mine needs an alignment, with this link being solid, looks like alignment would be a lot harder.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2020 | 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by sbeamer
OOps. It's an M8. It is on the lift.
I know the earlier rubber mounts had a turnbuckle so you could adjust it. But, I know moving / adjusting it would change your wheel alignment. I've never had that problem, so I never changed it.
And, not that mine needs an alignment, with this link being solid, looks like alignment would be a lot harder.
I suspect the latest bikes are made to much more accurate tolerances, which is why there are not the same adjustments as in the earlier models. The design itself has been refined over the years and manufacturing techniques have improved greatly since 1980, when the design was first launched!
 
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Old Apr 19, 2020 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by sbeamer
OOps. It's an M8. It is on the lift.
I know the earlier rubber mounts had a turnbuckle so you could adjust it. But, I know moving / adjusting it would change your wheel alignment. I've never had that problem, so I never changed it.
And, not that mine needs an alignment, with this link being solid, looks like alignment would be a lot harder.
This makes me wonder if your bike was ever in perfect alignment or if the manufacturing crew just slapped it together and made some assumptions it's straight.

For that matter, did Harley think in all their infinite wisdom that they could design in a perfectly aligned bike so all manufacturing had to do is slap it together, hence the reason for the solid link with no adjusters?
 
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Old Apr 19, 2020 | 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by sbeamer
OOps. It's an M8. It is on the lift.
I know the earlier rubber mounts had a turnbuckle so you could adjust it. But, I know moving / adjusting it would change your wheel alignment. I've never had that problem, so I never changed it.
And, not that mine needs an alignment, with this link being solid, looks like alignment would be a lot harder.
I guess that by your post you don't know that there are both rubber mount and solid mount M8s just like TCs and EVOs. Anyway simply jockey the motor so you can get the holes to line up and install the parts. If you didn't notice any handling issues, be happy. Go ride the fricken thing.
 
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Old Apr 20, 2020 | 07:33 AM
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There weren't any handling issues. I just wanted to clean behind the bracket. And yes, I do know there are rubber and solid.
My bad for not specifying touring family.
 
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