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I have a 1977 fxe with mid controls. I noticed that the 2-bolt boss which is used to mount forward brake control on just about every old big twin frame is missing. I don’t know if a previous owner cut offer or if it came from the factory that way. It looks like original frame paint so it seems to be a factory mod. Does anyone know if that boss is supposed to be on this year/ model frame or not?
the brake bracket bolts to the tranny cover -- on the frame at the bottom of the brake bracket is a tab that the brake bracket bolts to but it only has 1 bolt hole-- maybe a pic would help?
doc308 I believe you are referring to this........?
I own a 1978-1/2 FXE that is almost completely stock. When I bought it I noticed the missing tab and thought it may have been cut off, except that it looked like a factory finish over that cut off section. As I found out for 1977 and 1978 FXE models MoCo did in fact cut tha tab off, so sans welding a tab (or a custom bracket), forward controls is not possible.
Pic of the bike...air cleaner cover and pig snout backing plate is 1977-Early 1978. The luggage rack attached to rider backrest/sissybar and pad (stock items from accessory catalog) is actually from a later year model but it fit so I kept it cuz it makes packing stuff simple.
Last edited by panz4ever; Oct 6, 2018 at 12:28 AM.
FX style shovel frames came missing the right side tab, forget what year they started doing it, know it was mid 70's sometime. Welded a few on for people over the years, easy to make and some of the older aftermarket catalogues used to sell the tab.
How very Odd...
Our 1974 FX [no E] has all of the same frame "tabs" as an FL, but neither came with the "blocks" to mount the Passenger Pegs.
The '79 FXS, also has the not only the passenger peg blocks, but the two hole Bracket for the front Highway peg or even the Floorboard/forward controls... but, No Tab mounted below and behind that for the Floorboard Mount... the '84 FXS is the exact same..
Only one FXE from 1977 around me, And I do Not see that guy that much... I would have bet $$ that he has Forward controls ... tho, I will make a Point to double check and also check his VIN next time I see him..
All that to say I have Never seen a 4 speed frame without the Two bolt Mounting plate in front . Much like Never seen any 4 speed without the Three bolt Mounting plate on the left side...
Hell.... The FXR even has the Two bolt plate both sides!!!
New one on me... just shows ya can't ever see everything....
What troubles me is Why the MoCo would introduce this
part number 49126-77B
in 1977, whilst not including the Mount on the Frame??????? Very Odd indeed...
Wondering why... why spend Time and $$ to remove something that does Not interfere in any way with the final product...all this accomplishes is increase the Cost of Production...
Crazy!!!!
I thinking they didn't want riders to covert to FL/H style bike maybe? The 75 FXE I owned prior to the 78 had all the same tabs as the FLH frames and would have been a very easy conversion right down to floorboards, split tanks and speedo. And as odd looking as the FXE gas tanks are MoCo designed them so they would not have to cut off the top mounts on the frames probably saving on overall costs.
Seen pics of 77 FXS (Lowrider)n models with the tabs but none of FXE models. And FXEs were cheaper than the FXS series so maybe that too was a way to make sure the FXE could not be transformed into a more expensive looking model.
And Eric, any chance you got the vin on the frame pic you posted to determine if it is and FXE or FXS frame?
Last edited by panz4ever; Oct 6, 2018 at 11:27 AM.
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1977 frame question
