do it yourself
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1
From: The High Desert, SoCal
do it yourself
I have all the parts for what I want to do to my 08 Deluxe: HD Narrow beach bars, HD riser. I don't plan on swapping out cables for braided or anything so I hear I may ony have to get a longer brake cable. I also have everything I need (parts wise) to Chrome the front end. Dealer is ridiculously priced for these jobs and a local indy shop wants $420. They estimate 3-4 hours on the front end and 3 on the bars since I'll be wiring internally. Guess it is reasonable but the thought of saving $420 is very tempting. Thing is I have no experience working on bikes and am more than a little aprehensive to take this on.
Is this something a layman can do with the right instruction? If so, where can I find easy to understand step-by-steps with photos, tools required, stands, jacks, etc.Most manuals alwaysseem to be written for the technician and not the do-it-yourselfer. I've seen some stuff here about the front end. One in particular stated they left out the steps that were easy or obvious. LOL. I need that stuff....(1. pick up screw driver 2. insert tip in screw head.)
Lastly, I didn't look hard but didn't see that anyone on the board does work for extra $. Is it taboo?
Is this something a layman can do with the right instruction? If so, where can I find easy to understand step-by-steps with photos, tools required, stands, jacks, etc.Most manuals alwaysseem to be written for the technician and not the do-it-yourselfer. I've seen some stuff here about the front end. One in particular stated they left out the steps that were easy or obvious. LOL. I need that stuff....(1. pick up screw driver 2. insert tip in screw head.)
Lastly, I didn't look hard but didn't see that anyone on the board does work for extra $. Is it taboo?
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 1
From: Galt, CA
RE: do it yourself
If you are not a mechanicaly inclined person, have no tools and/or no experience, don't mess with the front end of your bike. Leave that job for a professional. My advice to you is, if you want to learn how to work on your bike, take a class, buy the manuals, and start out on the simple tasks. There are plenty of "bolt-on" mods that you can perform that won't affect the safety of your bike. As you learn, you can then tackle larger tasks and eventually start doing all of your own work. Having many years as a mechanic, there is nothing worse than having a customer bringing you his half done project, a box full of parts with some items missing, and then having them tell you that they need it yesterday. Oh. and by the way, please give me a discount on the labor because I already did half the work.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: Sunny Sedona AZ
RE: do it yourself
Bowtieman is right!
Don't be messin with stuff you have no idea of how to do!
For your safety sake and the safety of others please only
perform work on your bike that does noteffect it's safety.
Don't be messin with stuff you have no idea of how to do!
For your safety sake and the safety of others please only
perform work on your bike that does noteffect it's safety.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From:
RE: do it yourself
I agree, If you aren't very mechanically inclined I wouldn't touch the front end.
Also, since you are chroming the front end and other things it would look a lot better with braided cables, but hell it's your bike.
Also, since you are chroming the front end and other things it would look a lot better with braided cables, but hell it's your bike.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 11
From: The Lone Star State
RE: do it yourself
I have done everything to mine so far except the dyno tune (for obvious reasons) and switching out my injectors (b/c that was free). Iinstalled my bars and all the other stuff on my bike, however I am not comfortable with doing the front end, so I will probably be taking that to a shop to have done. I just feel better about it. Although, there are a lot of guys on here who have done it themselves and were successful.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 913
Likes: 1
From: Canary Islands
RE: do it yourself
ORIGINAL: Bowtieman31
If you are not a mechanicaly inclined person, have no tools and/or no experience, don't mess with the front end of your bike. Leave that job for a professional. My advice to you is, if you want to learn how to work on your bike, take a class, buy the manuals, and start out on the simple tasks. There are plenty of "bolt-on" mods that you can perform that won't affect the safety of your bike. As you learn, you can then tackle larger tasks and eventually start doing all of your own work. Having many years as a mechanic, there is nothing worse than having a customer bringing you his half done project, a box full of parts with some items missing, and then having them tell you that they need it yesterday. Oh. and by the way, please give me a discount on the labor because I already did half the work.
If you are not a mechanicaly inclined person, have no tools and/or no experience, don't mess with the front end of your bike. Leave that job for a professional. My advice to you is, if you want to learn how to work on your bike, take a class, buy the manuals, and start out on the simple tasks. There are plenty of "bolt-on" mods that you can perform that won't affect the safety of your bike. As you learn, you can then tackle larger tasks and eventually start doing all of your own work. Having many years as a mechanic, there is nothing worse than having a customer bringing you his half done project, a box full of parts with some items missing, and then having them tell you that they need it yesterday. Oh. and by the way, please give me a discount on the labor because I already did half the work.
I was, and still am pretty clueless, but I managed to do most of the mods on my bike, including swapping out the bars. BUT, I do have a few dings, I did do a few stupid things, like strip bolts, pour gasoline all over myself etc etc, oh, and today I just dropped a small toiletry bag in a washing up bowl full of old oil and managed to splatter oil everywhere, like I mean everywhere;........ and cover like everything.
I did things like take off the fender, relocate the blinkers, take the gas tank off, plus the Throttle/Idle cables etc........ all this, but I would never think in a million years of messing with the front end. Not on my life, I'd be checking the front wheel wasn't coming orf every 3 mins. [
]Dude, Take the front end to the dealer and go have a nice meal with the bird, ........then come back to a nice shiny front end.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
RE: do it yourself
ORIGINAL: chromedome
I have all the parts for what I want to do to my 08 Deluxe: HD Narrow beach bars, HD riser. I don't plan on swapping out cables for braided or anything so I hear I may ony have to get a longer brake cable. I also have everything I need (parts wise) to Chrome the front end. Dealer is ridiculously priced for these jobs and a local indy shop wants $420. They estimate 3-4 hours on the front end and 3 on the bars since I'll be wiring internally. Guess it is reasonable but the thought of saving $420 is very tempting. Thing is I have no experience working on bikes and am more than a little aprehensive to take this on.
Is this something a layman can do with the right instruction? If so, where can I find easy to understand step-by-steps with photos, tools required, stands, jacks, etc.Most manuals alwaysseem to be written for the technician and not the do-it-yourselfer. I've seen some stuff here about the front end. One in particular stated they left out the steps that were easy or obvious. LOL. I need that stuff....(1. pick up screw driver 2. insert tip in screw head.)
Lastly, I didn't look hard but didn't see that anyone on the board does work for extra $. Is it taboo?
I have all the parts for what I want to do to my 08 Deluxe: HD Narrow beach bars, HD riser. I don't plan on swapping out cables for braided or anything so I hear I may ony have to get a longer brake cable. I also have everything I need (parts wise) to Chrome the front end. Dealer is ridiculously priced for these jobs and a local indy shop wants $420. They estimate 3-4 hours on the front end and 3 on the bars since I'll be wiring internally. Guess it is reasonable but the thought of saving $420 is very tempting. Thing is I have no experience working on bikes and am more than a little aprehensive to take this on.
Is this something a layman can do with the right instruction? If so, where can I find easy to understand step-by-steps with photos, tools required, stands, jacks, etc.Most manuals alwaysseem to be written for the technician and not the do-it-yourselfer. I've seen some stuff here about the front end. One in particular stated they left out the steps that were easy or obvious. LOL. I need that stuff....(1. pick up screw driver 2. insert tip in screw head.)
Lastly, I didn't look hard but didn't see that anyone on the board does work for extra $. Is it taboo?
In your spare time start by buying a simple, cheap car or motorcycle & take it apart, than figure how to rebuild it, than put it together. After that buy a more complex vehicle and repeat the process. Get a job in a auto, marine, or motorcycle shop, usually you will start out by washing & getting coffee. You listen real good at all the great tips the old guys give you on the easy way to do things. Get a job finally at Harley, go thru a few schools and live motorcycles for a few years (at least 15) and than you might be capable of fixing not only this project but a few more.
I have been building bikes for myself for over 39 years. When I get a new project, and hang around with a few real mechanics’, I realize how much I really know. Mentally it gives me a reality check. I ain’t SH*T.
Now as far as your project, a word of advice, do not try it with a major component like a front end. Start off with mirrors and maybe after a while, put an exhaust system on it. You will not get hurt if/when it falls off. Think I am kidding? No, best advice right here. If you do go foward, I believe you will find a real respect for the real mechanic. Who am I anyhow to offer advice?
[IMG]local://upfiles/29413/F501715029664E15B560F3ADB90FF50F.jpg[/IMG]
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1
From: The High Desert, SoCal
RE: do it yourself
Thanks everyone. I'm convinced. I'm just going to buy a can of chrome spray paint. Kidding of course.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 2
From: North Carolina
RE: do it yourself
The front end is not as hard as it may seem. The disassembly and reassembly are straightforward, removing bolts, nuts, etc, and replacing them.Torqueing the pinch bolts is a no brainer, so really the only tricky part is the wheel alignment, andadjusting the steering head tension and fall awaycorrectly. The manual explains it pretty clearly,
If you are doing the fork sliders only you don't need to R&R the steering head but you would have to align the forks and adjust the fall away. If you're notmechanically inclined, or don't have the proper tools, especially something to seat the seals with,take it to the dealersave yourself the worry.
If you are doing the fork sliders only you don't need to R&R the steering head but you would have to align the forks and adjust the fall away. If you're notmechanically inclined, or don't have the proper tools, especially something to seat the seals with,take it to the dealersave yourself the worry.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 852
Likes: 3
RE: do it yourself
Buy a HD service manual to start. The HandleBars/Risers you should be able to handle. Just takes a little time and patience, and simple tools. Your time is much cheaper than HD stealer.Noneed for any heavy duty tools, just a pick tool (eg., an ice pick will do) to extract pins from the connectors (which the shown in the manual), and if you need to extend the wiring (either solder gun, shrink wrapping, or buy a novello extension wiring kit (plug in extension wires), a couple of torx, and go.
Other ideas while your at it:
1. change grips
2. check out Kuryakyn's Heat Demons. Install inside your handlebars while your at it too...
3. ANYBODY have any thoughts on also replacing rubber riser bushing with poly while he's at it???
check out this thread which will give you an idea of what you need to do. Although, not for a Deluxe, alot of the pics/procedures should still apply or be close:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1328001/tm.htm
I also agree with the front-end. I'd either wait aliitle and be comfortable with reading the manual first. see what tools you will need, and determine if all that is worth tackling, or let a local do it for you. At least you're saving money on the handlebars/riser install. That money you save can be applied to the harder tasks you may not for comfortable with.
My other opinion is worse case, try it, if your having no luck, there's always a local or HD stealer that can fix your mistake(s). Well, Of course, as long as you can get the scoot to them in some resemblance of what you started with.
But, buy the HD service manual. It's got alot of good do-it-yourself maintainance info thatYOU CAN DO!!!
Other ideas while your at it:
1. change grips
2. check out Kuryakyn's Heat Demons. Install inside your handlebars while your at it too...
3. ANYBODY have any thoughts on also replacing rubber riser bushing with poly while he's at it???
check out this thread which will give you an idea of what you need to do. Although, not for a Deluxe, alot of the pics/procedures should still apply or be close:
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1328001/tm.htm
I also agree with the front-end. I'd either wait aliitle and be comfortable with reading the manual first. see what tools you will need, and determine if all that is worth tackling, or let a local do it for you. At least you're saving money on the handlebars/riser install. That money you save can be applied to the harder tasks you may not for comfortable with.
My other opinion is worse case, try it, if your having no luck, there's always a local or HD stealer that can fix your mistake(s). Well, Of course, as long as you can get the scoot to them in some resemblance of what you started with.
But, buy the HD service manual. It's got alot of good do-it-yourself maintainance info thatYOU CAN DO!!!