DIY Cheap Mods
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Youngsville LA
Instead of going and buying a side mount license plate, I took a peice of 1/4" aluminum diamond plate, cut it the size of the license, left a tab on the side about 2" long and 1 1/4" wide. bent the tab and bolted on to the axle nut. The aluminum was free from the scrap iron dumpster at work. goes well with the aluminum seat, lol!!!
Then I took a dremmel tool and cut that ugly plastic S#!T off the back. You can buy a light at our local bike shop for 20 bucks that is a strip and is made for that, but i havent yet.
Then I took a dremmel tool and cut that ugly plastic S#!T off the back. You can buy a light at our local bike shop for 20 bucks that is a strip and is made for that, but i havent yet.
Novice
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Santiago, CHILE
This is the best thread of this forum. A little trick, if you want fix the emition valve in the exhaust (if you are installing a Fuepack or similar, changing the slip-ons in a fuel injected bike)
First, disconnect the cable that activate it, I recommend dropping the first bracket for an easy disconnection.
Fix the valve:
Build this piece, you can see, is not very beautiful but meet your goal (if you're refined, send it to chrome)
And fix it in the spring and the activation cable hole...
The Mark over the wire is a futile previous intent to drill it (forget it, it´s really hard)
First, disconnect the cable that activate it, I recommend dropping the first bracket for an easy disconnection.
Fix the valve:
Build this piece, you can see, is not very beautiful but meet your goal (if you're refined, send it to chrome)
And fix it in the spring and the activation cable hole...
The Mark over the wire is a futile previous intent to drill it (forget it, it´s really hard)
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,344
Likes: 6
From: my house
signal relocation for rocker/rocker c/softail
ok this is cheap too wanting to change signals elsewhere besides where
everyone else has em (on forks) wanted somethin lower so
i was gonna make a braket but then after looking at bike there are 2 holes that looked great
this one and same on oppisite side so took old hardware from sigs
put small washer behind it
sticker through hole,used og nut as small spacer
put kool black mesh stuff(thanks citoriplus) around wire 1st,
run wires neat up to plug in,otherside needed a larger bolt 1 1/4 5/16 24 thread,
and a nut for a spacer cost $1.60+tax end result is kool(dont ferget loctite)
already had kool mesh stuff so i dont count that,and smoked lenses already paid for as well so i dont count that either thanks to mud,citorpolus,and other for your inspiration!
everyone else has em (on forks) wanted somethin lower so
i was gonna make a braket but then after looking at bike there are 2 holes that looked great
this one and same on oppisite side so took old hardware from sigs
put small washer behind it
sticker through hole,used og nut as small spacer
put kool black mesh stuff(thanks citoriplus) around wire 1st,
run wires neat up to plug in,otherside needed a larger bolt 1 1/4 5/16 24 thread,
and a nut for a spacer cost $1.60+tax end result is kool(dont ferget loctite)
already had kool mesh stuff so i dont count that,and smoked lenses already paid for as well so i dont count that either thanks to mud,citorpolus,and other for your inspiration!
Last edited by m i k e; Nov 5, 2009 at 11:27 PM.
Thread Starter
|
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
m i k e,
Very clever, I like it. Here's a fun one for you. As soon as I saw your post the first thing I did was run out to the garage to see if my bike had the same holes, and it does (wonder what they are for, frame fabrication maybe?). I even have my good luck or gremlin bell hanging from the one on the left side. I completely forgot it was there and never noticed the matching one on the other side.
I'm not sure if it would be legal to mount turn signals that low here (gonna have to check on that one).
But you have given me an idea. I have been trying to think of a way/place to add a pair of small halogen auxiliary lights. But couldn't figure out where to put them that I didn't think looked either goofy or like everyone else's.
Now thanks to you I have a new place to put them. Placed that low and aimed out just a little they might let me see something coming a second or two sooner. Like the stupid deer that like to wait for a car or bike to come by before they run across the street.
Very clever, I like it. Here's a fun one for you. As soon as I saw your post the first thing I did was run out to the garage to see if my bike had the same holes, and it does (wonder what they are for, frame fabrication maybe?). I even have my good luck or gremlin bell hanging from the one on the left side. I completely forgot it was there and never noticed the matching one on the other side.
I'm not sure if it would be legal to mount turn signals that low here (gonna have to check on that one).
But you have given me an idea. I have been trying to think of a way/place to add a pair of small halogen auxiliary lights. But couldn't figure out where to put them that I didn't think looked either goofy or like everyone else's.
Now thanks to you I have a new place to put them. Placed that low and aimed out just a little they might let me see something coming a second or two sooner. Like the stupid deer that like to wait for a car or bike to come by before they run across the street.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,344
Likes: 6
From: my house
you inspired me,i also used your black mesh from frys
mod as well(one of those stores 3 miles from me)i had my
sigs down there b4 on my sporty no probs so far w/ long arm LOL
notice the sig by the leather fringe thanks
mod as well(one of those stores 3 miles from me)i had my
sigs down there b4 on my sporty no probs so far w/ long arm LOL
notice the sig by the leather fringe thanks
Last edited by m i k e; Apr 24, 2009 at 07:45 AM.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
wanted something for 1 up riding when I take the wifes rear big touring seat and backrest off.
This is not a "seat" nor will not be used to sit on.
Tried a leather fender bib but the stock front seat give no back support.
I took the orginal stock rear seat and cut it down then used the foam that I cut off to make the new one using rattle can glue.
I designed it for comfort and looks then had local auto trim shop recover it
last thumbnail is with touring pads for 2up riding..
This is not a "seat" nor will not be used to sit on.
Tried a leather fender bib but the stock front seat give no back support.
I took the orginal stock rear seat and cut it down then used the foam that I cut off to make the new one using rattle can glue.
I designed it for comfort and looks then had local auto trim shop recover it
last thumbnail is with touring pads for 2up riding..
Last edited by oct1949; Feb 14, 2018 at 03:56 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 2
Stock Baffle Mod
A lot of us have tried drilling and punching and never could get the right sound. Here is my take on a stock baffle mod. First my bike is an 04 Heritage fuel injected and I could never get the right sound with Screamin Eagles, Vance and Hines, etc. What I did was purchase at Advance auto two 1 3/4" x 18" tailpipe extensions, less than $7.00 each. I drilled 4 rows of 1/4" holes 1" apart and as I drilled it pushed though and left a jagged edge, see pick. With the stock muffler baffle completely pulled out except for the wire mesh part, I inserted the new pipes with the holes drilled in them. They are a snug fit but that's actually good. I put a small bolt in the end to hold them, but you might not even need that. Seems to be enough back pressure, the bike runs great. I do have a race fueler and an S&S air cleaner set up. Of course this Harley sound thing is whatever you like just thought I would share and did include a sound clip.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5paKBGiHnlg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5paKBGiHnlg
Floorboard extensions for softails. Under $50 and they really increase you comfort level. Check out our product for softails. Free Shipping in the Con US. Money back guarantee as well. Plus a 15% discount for forum members. From just reading it might not sound like it would really change much, but they really do give you a lot more room for you feet. No more burning your boots on the pipes either. No need for a heel guard. Enough shamelss self promotion here. Click our banner for actual prices.
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Novice
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
tailight
I was sitting in the garage admiring my brand new J&S Jack (http://www.jsjacks.com trust me... they are worth every penny)
While I sat there i began to despise my tail light more and more with each passing moment. *shrug* I dunno... you know how that happens right?
I decided to do something about it... I have wanted to install something with integrated turn signals for a long time... but the integrated signals for HD seem incredibly lacking asthetically to me.
I much prefer something like the Ducati Monster,
(
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUCATI-MONSTER-94-07-600-750-900-Signal-LED-Tail-Lights_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q 3a4Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c29 3Q3a1Q7c294Q3a200QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZ item220325742991QQitemZ220325742991QQptZMotorcycle sQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
dont look at me like that! Its MY bike!
But it wont just mount up to this ugly plastic POS
Thinking caps on!
Once you remove the ugly effin hunk of plastic, slap a piece of cardboard up there. Make a couple of 1 inch notches so the cardboard can slip down past the point where the lower tag panel attaches to the tail light housing.
Flip the housing around and trace the outer edge. Cut out your template and.... voila!
Grab some sheet metal... 5-7 bucks at home depot
This pan will eat up 8 inches... so you can get three of these out of a 12x24 sheet. I know this isnt very thick... just mocking this idea up and it could be cut and trimmed easily with snips. I will get something thicker for the final pan.
Clamp the template down on an 8x12 inch piece of your sheet metal and trace around it. You probably have super cool metal working clamps... I got these all purpose "I need to clamp wood together for the glue to dry" clamps... so I used them.
Use the snips to cut out around your line... but stop at the bottom of the line... you will see why in a second.
You need these little ears to fold up. You will drill two holes in each to mount your new pan.
Yeah some masking tape on the fender to prevent scars when you are fitting the new pan is EXCELLENT advise. I happen to have a set of denim black in a box waiting on me to install so I didnt really care as these will end up being painted as well. But anyway... slap some flat black paint on this and you have something you can mount other lights to.
With this is mind I grabbed a light I had picked up for the sporty just to see something blinky back there. Drilled a couple of holes, shoved it in and poof! New light!
Yeah it looks like crap... of course I would recess it into a hole so it mounted flush.... but its not the light I will end up with anyway. And again, this is just mocking up an idea.... I will get some thicker steel and use this as a template to make the final product.
<--- I dont know WHY this freakin picture wont show up when I read the post... but in case it doesnt for you either... here is the direct link http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JHCRXNuv84Q/SU...k/template.jpg
This should be self explainitory.... you want a piece of sheet metal shaped like the black lines... to scale with your fender of course.
Bend it on the red lines... Ta Daa!
Drill a couple of holes for the mounting bolts.... and now for the tricky part... either find some low profile nuts to go between the bracket and fenderwall... or you can try to reuse the ones from the stock plastic mount. I went with low profiles I found in the specialty fasteners at my local ACE hardware.
Im sure there is a better way... but this is me getting one step closer to integrated turns in a tail light and ripping the stock mushroom stalks off my rear fender. I think it will clean up the rear end real nice.
Let the bashing begin!
While I sat there i began to despise my tail light more and more with each passing moment. *shrug* I dunno... you know how that happens right?
I decided to do something about it... I have wanted to install something with integrated turn signals for a long time... but the integrated signals for HD seem incredibly lacking asthetically to me.
I much prefer something like the Ducati Monster,
(
dont look at me like that! Its MY bike!
But it wont just mount up to this ugly plastic POS
Thinking caps on!
Once you remove the ugly effin hunk of plastic, slap a piece of cardboard up there. Make a couple of 1 inch notches so the cardboard can slip down past the point where the lower tag panel attaches to the tail light housing.
Flip the housing around and trace the outer edge. Cut out your template and.... voila!
Grab some sheet metal... 5-7 bucks at home depot
This pan will eat up 8 inches... so you can get three of these out of a 12x24 sheet. I know this isnt very thick... just mocking this idea up and it could be cut and trimmed easily with snips. I will get something thicker for the final pan.
Clamp the template down on an 8x12 inch piece of your sheet metal and trace around it. You probably have super cool metal working clamps... I got these all purpose "I need to clamp wood together for the glue to dry" clamps... so I used them.
Use the snips to cut out around your line... but stop at the bottom of the line... you will see why in a second.
You need these little ears to fold up. You will drill two holes in each to mount your new pan.
Yeah some masking tape on the fender to prevent scars when you are fitting the new pan is EXCELLENT advise. I happen to have a set of denim black in a box waiting on me to install so I didnt really care as these will end up being painted as well. But anyway... slap some flat black paint on this and you have something you can mount other lights to.
With this is mind I grabbed a light I had picked up for the sporty just to see something blinky back there. Drilled a couple of holes, shoved it in and poof! New light!
Yeah it looks like crap... of course I would recess it into a hole so it mounted flush.... but its not the light I will end up with anyway. And again, this is just mocking up an idea.... I will get some thicker steel and use this as a template to make the final product.
<--- I dont know WHY this freakin picture wont show up when I read the post... but in case it doesnt for you either... here is the direct link http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JHCRXNuv84Q/SU...k/template.jpgThis should be self explainitory.... you want a piece of sheet metal shaped like the black lines... to scale with your fender of course.
Bend it on the red lines... Ta Daa!
Drill a couple of holes for the mounting bolts.... and now for the tricky part... either find some low profile nuts to go between the bracket and fenderwall... or you can try to reuse the ones from the stock plastic mount. I went with low profiles I found in the specialty fasteners at my local ACE hardware.
Im sure there is a better way... but this is me getting one step closer to integrated turns in a tail light and ripping the stock mushroom stalks off my rear fender. I think it will clean up the rear end real nice.
Let the bashing begin!
