Cats Eye Dash Fitment
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 7
From: Las Vegas
Cats Eye Dash Fitment
Bike is 1980 FXWG OEM Frame, Engine, Tranny, can't speak to anything else...
So I have two cats eye dash kits laying around that I am trying to make one or a combination of the two work on my fxwg fatbob tanks ...
looks like I absolutely have to use the base that has the extension tab on it to mount to the big tank mount on top of the frame...
if i use the flat base i would have to cob something to go around the tank crossover in the way...
i don't see any difference between the two dash covers...
holes appear to be in same place and look like they will work with either base...
my current dilemma is the rear of the dash cover sits about 1/2" above the tanks when everything is mounted up...
anybody know what the issue could be?
am i missing something obvious?
thanks in advance.
So I have two cats eye dash kits laying around that I am trying to make one or a combination of the two work on my fxwg fatbob tanks ...
looks like I absolutely have to use the base that has the extension tab on it to mount to the big tank mount on top of the frame...
if i use the flat base i would have to cob something to go around the tank crossover in the way...
i don't see any difference between the two dash covers...
holes appear to be in same place and look like they will work with either base...
my current dilemma is the rear of the dash cover sits about 1/2" above the tanks when everything is mounted up...
anybody know what the issue could be?
am i missing something obvious?
thanks in advance.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 7
From: Las Vegas
don't know what I would trim, cut since everything fits, bolts together without modification; I just have this 1/2" gap between the tanks and the bottom of the rear half of the cateye dash cover itself...
I was under the impression there were only two styles of these ... OEM's for the older bikes and the new style for like 66-84 shovelheads with fatbobs...
the base seems fine, so I am wondering if there is some other cateye dash cover i need? or different tanks? or?
I was under the impression there were only two styles of these ... OEM's for the older bikes and the new style for like 66-84 shovelheads with fatbobs...
the base seems fine, so I am wondering if there is some other cateye dash cover i need? or different tanks? or?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 3,721
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Guess my first question is if your gas tanks are OEM or aftermarket. Sounds like the dash plate assemblies are definitely not OEM.
So just confirm...there are no shims under the back of the baseplate.
The steel cats eye dash was replaced in 1948 withe another steel assembly; not sure when they switched to the cast covers.
Can you lift the tanks to meet/take up the gap. It will not happen with the tank mount holes but you might get away with hogging out the rear frame to tank holes
If you have C h i n c k $****…dash plate assembly and/or tanks, the only way you will make it work is to use a dremel tool to form the dash cover to your tanks. Just make sure your tanks are level before you start masking, scribing and grinding
So just confirm...there are no shims under the back of the baseplate.
The steel cats eye dash was replaced in 1948 withe another steel assembly; not sure when they switched to the cast covers.
Can you lift the tanks to meet/take up the gap. It will not happen with the tank mount holes but you might get away with hogging out the rear frame to tank holes
If you have C h i n c k $****…dash plate assembly and/or tanks, the only way you will make it work is to use a dremel tool to form the dash cover to your tanks. Just make sure your tanks are level before you start masking, scribing and grinding
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,136
Likes: 51,475
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Aftermarket dash kits can be all over the place for fitment and it gets even more interesting with non OEM tanks , sounds like you've got a mix of backplates . With the import cat's eyes I've had to space the front & rear mounts to the frame with very different thickness shims to fit and on the flip side had to cut & re-weld another to lower it along with bending & flexing the mount plate and where the speedo sits to get everything aligned & looking proper . Welcome to Taiwan Teds world of custom fit .
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 7
From: Las Vegas
I have 2 complete kits ...
believe it or not my bases are deeply stamped V-Twin U.S.A. ...
maybe they pre-date Tedd Cycle farming out all this kind of stuff to china/tawain?
had them for a while, swap meet stuff...
no markings on dash covers...
only difference appears to be base plates...
one works perfect and the other is a mile off, clearly made for fatbobs without a crossover hose where mine is...
I have no idea if my tanks are O.E.M. or not...
No doubt, frame, cases, tranny are OEM H-D & the cases & frame numbers match the title...
I don't think I need to remove any material from anything IMHO, as far as I can tell the radius of my tank and my dash cover don't jive... pretty much from right behind the ignition switch back...
when the base & cover are all lined up and bolted down there is about a 1/2" gap between the back couple of inches of the dash cover & the tanks ...
it seems like I need a different set of fatbobs but I am not clear if there is a specific set these dash's were designed for or not...
about all I can find is early model oem style or late models for shovelhead fatbobs...
I really like the way these dashes look, just wish was not such a PITA ...
believe it or not my bases are deeply stamped V-Twin U.S.A. ...
maybe they pre-date Tedd Cycle farming out all this kind of stuff to china/tawain?
had them for a while, swap meet stuff...
no markings on dash covers...
only difference appears to be base plates...
one works perfect and the other is a mile off, clearly made for fatbobs without a crossover hose where mine is...
I have no idea if my tanks are O.E.M. or not...
No doubt, frame, cases, tranny are OEM H-D & the cases & frame numbers match the title...
I don't think I need to remove any material from anything IMHO, as far as I can tell the radius of my tank and my dash cover don't jive... pretty much from right behind the ignition switch back...
when the base & cover are all lined up and bolted down there is about a 1/2" gap between the back couple of inches of the dash cover & the tanks ...
it seems like I need a different set of fatbobs but I am not clear if there is a specific set these dash's were designed for or not...
about all I can find is early model oem style or late models for shovelhead fatbobs...
I really like the way these dashes look, just wish was not such a PITA ...
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 2
From: Sausage Country, AB
The catseye dash was never intended for 5 gallon fatbobs, so the curvature and mounts are all off. I ended up custom fitting the whole works.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 7
From: Las Vegas
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
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
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 2
From: Sausage Country, AB
Thanks bud. You can see how the dash mounting plate was modified to fit the tanks; start there and work out. The front cover got cut off and a new one with the proper radius was bent up and welded to the dash panel.
If you don't have a small mig, now is a good time to justify buying one...
If you don't have a small mig, now is a good time to justify buying one...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lindosan
Want To Buy Motorcycles/Parts/Accessories
0
Apr 8, 2016 01:46 AM