Milwaukee Eight (M8) 2017 and up M8 Air and Liquid Cooled discussion
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

AIM Light Force

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 2, 2018 | 08:17 PM
  #1  
HDFBagR's Avatar
HDFBagR
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
10 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 17
From: PA
Default AIM Light Force

About two weeks ago I received the new AIM Light Force clutch slave cylinder. Today, I tried to install it on my 2017 CVO Limited and am
very disappointed. Took the whole exhaust system off, removed the floor board, and then removed the OEM slave cylinder. The AIM
cylinder did not fit! I had to reinstall the OEM cylinder and bleed the clutch. What a wasted effort and time.

There are two problems with the AIM cylinder. At first I tried to connect the hydraulic line, screwed the flair nut in and it bottomed out
without tightening up the hydraulic line. The line was loose and could be moved in and out with the nut tightened all the way. Upon
further inspection, I noticed that The AIM cylinder has an SAE flair seat really deep inside. The OEM cylinder has a DIN flair on both the cylinder and the hydraulic line. The second problem is that the AIM casting is shorter where the flair fitting attaches, by half an inch. The hydraulic line is therefore too short to thread into the AIM cylinder when the cylinder is mounted to transmission side plate.

Attached are some pictures. I will be calling AIM next week. It is a shame because I was hoping the width of the clutch friction zone
would be wider with the AIM unit due to the different fluid volume ratios between the slave and master cylinder. (One inch piston on the
OEM unit and 1.5 inch piston on the AIM unit) A lighter clutch lever force was an added bonus.

Package labeling shows correct application



AIM cylinder with SAE flair


OEM with DIN flair


DIN flair on hydraulic line


AIM on top of OEM for comparison
 

Last edited by HDFBagR; Nov 2, 2018 at 08:30 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2018 | 08:24 PM
  #2  
GlidingJoe's Avatar
GlidingJoe
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 333
From: Upper Providence Pa
Default

Well that SUCKS. Here I was about to order and very glad to have seen this. Sorry you had to go through that but seriously glad you shared.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2018 | 10:36 PM
  #3  
Cbyway's Avatar
Cbyway
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 788
From: Great State of Texas
Default

You have the same luck as I do. Every project I do myself I remind myself before beginning.

1). This will be harder than it looks
2). This will cost more than I think it will
3). Whatever can go wrong probably will
4). Make sure someone has already tried it on
YouTube.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2018 | 11:06 PM
  #4  
TwiZted Biker's Avatar
TwiZted Biker
Club Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,115
Likes: 51,405
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Default

Damn, well that answers a few questions they really screwed the pooch on that line fitting deal. May be an adapter fitting that would solve both the flare & boss length issue.

Looks like the black on the casting is bubbling too.
 

Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Nov 2, 2018 at 11:07 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2018 | 11:41 PM
  #5  
JakeC7R's Avatar
JakeC7R
Road Master
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 779
Likes: 326
From: Simi Valley, CA
Default

Well that sucks. Thanks for sharing this. Hopefully they will resolve it and thank you for being a beta tester. How do you miss that fit issue?
 
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2018 | 07:04 AM
  #6  
aviscomi's Avatar
aviscomi
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 463
From: Philadelphia
Default

Perfect timing discovering this issue. I was just heading out to the garage to start installing mine. I guess I'll sit tight and see what response @HDFBagR receives from AIMS.
 
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2018 | 07:36 AM
  #7  
DeLaw's Avatar
DeLaw
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 16
From: Louisiana
Default NA


Mine does not look the same. Was planning to install Sunday afternoon.
 

Last edited by DeLaw; Nov 3, 2018 at 07:38 AM. Reason: No picture at first try
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2018 | 07:38 AM
  #8  
aviscomi's Avatar
aviscomi
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 463
From: Philadelphia
Default

Originally Posted by DeLaw
Mine does not look the same. Was planning to install Sunday afternoon.
Hmm...Please keep us informed with the results.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 3, 2018 | 07:47 AM
  #9  
HDFBagR's Avatar
HDFBagR
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
10 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 17
From: PA
Default

The installation could have actually gone worse. Instead of costing me three hours of my time, I could of had to pay someone
for three hours of labor. And if they did not take their time like I did, there could have been DOT 4 brake fluid spilled onto my tank
and lower fairing. It is messy bleeding the clutch master cylinder.

I took a look at AIM's website. It says "Quick Installation, no modifications needed."
The picture they show of the cylinder installed also shows an issue. They have the hydraulic line attached to the cylinder, but you
will notice that the line does not pass through the center of the notched out area of the transmission side cover. There is supposed to be
a square rubber bushing around the line were the outer cover goes over it.
 

Last edited by HDFBagR; Nov 3, 2018 at 07:49 AM.
Reply
Old Nov 3, 2018 | 08:25 AM
  #10  
purpledeuce's Avatar
purpledeuce
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,672
Likes: 643
Default

That sucks! Depending on the response from AIM mine will be sent back
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:21 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE