Harley Springer 4.5 Deg Rake Kit
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 274
Likes: 1
From: Sleepy Hollow, IL
This sounds like its definitely NOT a bolt in kit which is not how it's advertised. That sucks! I would have considered this kit, but I'm not a machinist nor do I have a lathe. If I did, I would have made my own kit from scratch. Sounds like the verdict on this kit is that it is crap!
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: PA
This sounds like its definitely NOT a bolt in kit which is not how it's advertised. That sucks! I would have considered this kit, but I'm not a machinist nor do I have a lathe. If I did, I would have made my own kit from scratch. Sounds like the verdict on this kit is that it is crap!
JS
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 274
Likes: 1
From: Sleepy Hollow, IL
Well, I did it. I installed the 7.5 degree rake kit on my 2009 Crossbones. It looks good and operates and rides great! A couple things tho...
Do not even bother attempting to remove the stock stem from your springer with a hammer. I banged on it with a sledge for a long time and got nothing. My buddy is a mechanic at a Toyota dealer so I brought it over to him and we pressed it out with a 20 ton press. Even then it took a bit. We thought it was going to snap.
FYI, the stem goes out by pressing from the top through the bottom.
One of the problems I ran into after installing the whole kit was that the top of my springer rubbed the neck casting. I called Vulcan up and they told me that each casting is different at Harley so that happens from time to time. There are three solutions, space it out with washers, grind a groove in the neck or grind some material off of the springer. I ground my springer first but that wasn't enough so I ground some material off of the neck casting. I then touched both up with black touch up paint from the local auto parts store and you can't tell I did anything. That and it's hidden anyway. Now, no problems.
I have put a couple hundred miles on it since install and so far no problem.
I recommend the kit. It's a pretty easy install to do and a relatively cheap mod.
One last thing, my bike already had a Burly 1.5" lowering kit on it. The Vulcan kit states that it will drop the frontend 1.75". I didn't notice that much of a drop. Unfortunately I didn't take before and after measurements.
Here are a before and after pic...
Do not even bother attempting to remove the stock stem from your springer with a hammer. I banged on it with a sledge for a long time and got nothing. My buddy is a mechanic at a Toyota dealer so I brought it over to him and we pressed it out with a 20 ton press. Even then it took a bit. We thought it was going to snap.
FYI, the stem goes out by pressing from the top through the bottom.
One of the problems I ran into after installing the whole kit was that the top of my springer rubbed the neck casting. I called Vulcan up and they told me that each casting is different at Harley so that happens from time to time. There are three solutions, space it out with washers, grind a groove in the neck or grind some material off of the springer. I ground my springer first but that wasn't enough so I ground some material off of the neck casting. I then touched both up with black touch up paint from the local auto parts store and you can't tell I did anything. That and it's hidden anyway. Now, no problems.
I have put a couple hundred miles on it since install and so far no problem.
I recommend the kit. It's a pretty easy install to do and a relatively cheap mod.
One last thing, my bike already had a Burly 1.5" lowering kit on it. The Vulcan kit states that it will drop the frontend 1.75". I didn't notice that much of a drop. Unfortunately I didn't take before and after measurements.
Here are a before and after pic...
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