Broken brackets upper fairing
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 336
Likes: 181
From: West Central MN
Broken brackets upper fairing - how to fix?
Noticed a rattle from the fairing this spring, Thinking it was a loose bolt - but yesterday the radio display died, so I took that as providence I was supposed to open up the fairing. and things just went downhill from there. I ended up completely rendering it (the radio) useless in the process of attempting to identify the issue, but I also noticed 2 broken brackets when I was working on it.
i've attached an image of where they're broken. both ends are snapped off where they bolt to the fairing. I'm no engineer - but I'm thinking this is the source of the rattle - and probably helped the radio faceplate loosen up the way it did.
So thoughts on how to repair these? One looks like a bolt on part. the other, looks like it's integrated into the whole fairing hardware.
i've attached an image of where they're broken. both ends are snapped off where they bolt to the fairing. I'm no engineer - but I'm thinking this is the source of the rattle - and probably helped the radio faceplate loosen up the way it did.
So thoughts on how to repair these? One looks like a bolt on part. the other, looks like it's integrated into the whole fairing hardware.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
Welcome. Lots of us have had this issue and there're numerous posts. My left upper bracket broke. I fixed it by adding a modified L bracket from the local hardware, using the existing connection into the inner fairing and drilling a few holes in the broken bracket that were used to attach the L bracket. I drilled the broken HD bracket in place. If you do the same, be super careful with the drill waste as you don't want metal shavings loose inside the fairing.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 100
From: Pasadena TX
Welcome. Lots of us have had this issue and there're numerous posts. My left upper bracket broke. I fixed it by adding a modified L bracket from the local hardware, using the existing connection into the inner fairing and drilling a few holes in the broken bracket that were used to attach the L bracket. I drilled the broken HD bracket in place. If you do the same, be super careful with the drill waste as you don't want metal shavings loose inside the fairing.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 127
Likes: 10
From: Elk River, Minnesota
Try this guy out befor its too late. Put these on mine last summer alot cheaper than stock and stronger too. Had to send my radio in to Iron Cross Audio because of vibration damage. All 4 of my brackets were broken.
http://www.nwmachine.com/rfw/ Just bought more for my sons 07 classic, he just needed the upper ones. You can put these on without taking anything apart. Put over 60000 miles on my 07 ultra after the repair.
My sons 07 did the same. and the repair never failed on mine up to 117000 miles
http://www.nwmachine.com/rfw/ Just bought more for my sons 07 classic, he just needed the upper ones. You can put these on without taking anything apart. Put over 60000 miles on my 07 ultra after the repair.
My sons 07 did the same. and the repair never failed on mine up to 117000 miles
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,002
Likes: 86
From: Charlotte Metro
I had planned big trip and noticed one of mine was broke so being in a crunch used L bracket got from Lowes. Later bought some nice stainless pieces from guy on eBay called Chopperdan0404. He has both vertical(my issue) and horizontal speaker brackets.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fairing-Supp...3D282181120377
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fairing-Supp...3D282181120377
Last edited by acchd; May 18, 2017 at 04:32 PM.
Trending Topics
+++1 on Ragans Fab Works! Price is great and very easy to install. The kit has everything you need including a drill bit. Just installed both upper and lower kits on mine..
and a fyi. Chopperdan0404 is Dan Ragan of Ragan Fab Works. It is his eBay seller name.
Here's a link to a post I did about a week ago regarding it.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/1176490-shout-out-to-dan-ragan-fab-works.html
and a fyi. Chopperdan0404 is Dan Ragan of Ragan Fab Works. It is his eBay seller name.
Here's a link to a post I did about a week ago regarding it.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/1176490-shout-out-to-dan-ragan-fab-works.html
Last edited by whyrzwaldo; May 20, 2017 at 12:15 AM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
I put some of those Fab Works support brackets on years ago, before I had any breakage, just to prevent the problem. It's believed the cause of the brackets to break may possibly be a weak or broken front motor mount, allowing too much vibration/shaking transmitted to the fairing. So check out the front motor mount too.
