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Sorry for the late response. It may depend on how you feel about the possibility of the frame cracking and on how you feel about changing the frame from a standard condition etc.
Some people havent had the problem so they dont see the need to add the gusset. Others add it to avoid the problem. My Duo-Glide frame cracked in a country town in the middle of a three-day run many years ago and a local guy made a gusset for me and welded it on.
Eric
Not sure if a buddy was pulling my leg or if he was legit but he told me that the 65 pans were known to crack the frame right at the top left swingarm casting where it is welded to the frame.. He says there is a plate that gets welded across the tube / casting to increase strength of the support. I can see this being an issue if the bike had a sidecar but it sounds kind of fishy to me..
Any validity to this? Right now the frame and straight and the weld looks good. The frame on the parts manual is up to 65D and was used way into the shovels.. Maybe only early 65 frames?
TIA
yeah its true. Mine broke and the Harley dealer sold me a 1/4 in stamping called frame kit.l had to pay someone to weld it on. It was a 65 frame. Your buddy was spot on.Mine broke in 82.
I will say that I have owned my 65 since 1970. I shut it down at 118 k on the clock. Never beat obi it or rode it hard. My top speeds have never been more than 65 because the majority of my riding has always been on 2-lane blacktop and not the super slab. Had my frame inspected before paint and it is still solid.
Not just the pans, I've repaired numerous shovel & pan frames cracked or broken there and where the down tube welds into the casting for the rear motor and trans mount. Happy hand will get to them eventually.
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