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Hydraulic back rest broken

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Old Jun 7, 2017 | 08:54 PM
  #1  
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Default Hydraulic back rest broken

Can anyone describe to me how the hydraulic back rest inner workings and how it locks into place? Pardon me of I get the part names wrong, but the lever you use to release, set, and lock the back rest moves the cable and the lower part at the hydraulic ram where it connects, but it moves freely where it used to have some friction. The back rest no longer locks into position.

At first I thought it was the lever/cable assembly, but when I removed it, it simply locks into place on both ends and moves the cable. Now I think it must have something to do with the mechanism the cable attaches to at ram end, but I can't figure out how it locks the ram in place.

Any help is greatly appreciated since I don't really want to buy another complete kit. Thanks.
 
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Old Jun 8, 2017 | 05:52 AM
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I would pull the saddle and look to make sure the cable is attached and secured to the actuator assembly. It may have come loose. Here are the instructions for the '09-later touring models.

https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....7?locale=en_US
 
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Old Jun 8, 2017 | 09:16 AM
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yes pull the seat and check attachment,when you release it (the back rest falls foreword)it creates slack in the cable and can and will come unhooked.(p.i.t.a.)
 
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Old Jun 8, 2017 | 09:48 AM
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Thanks for the info. The first thing I checked was to see if either end of the cable had become detached. Alas, neither one had, so I'm trying to find out how or what actually locks the hydraulic piston in place when you release the adjustment lever.
 
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Old Jun 8, 2017 | 10:35 AM
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with the seat off does the cable move at both ends when moving the handle??? look where the cable attaches under the seat,move that little lever down (away from cylinder)and see if it locks.you may have to put the back rest in place so as to be able to move it,that spring is strong.
 

Last edited by 1340hog; Jun 8, 2017 at 10:54 AM.
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Old Jun 8, 2017 | 11:17 AM
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1340hog, I actually tried that, too. The cable moves freely at both ends while attached. I've played around with that little lever (the lower one) at the cylinder while moving the backrest, but to no avail. It just seems to freely move not only up and down but in and out, too, with the cable attached. My thought was that the lever applies some sort of friction to the rod coming from the hydraulic ram, but I didn't see anything move as the ram cylinder moved up and down with the position of the seat.
 
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Old Jun 8, 2017 | 12:00 PM
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i figured you checked all that but had to ask any way.there must be some kinda dog leg catch in there that broke.i do not know if any of these parts are replaceable or not.i guess you will have to swing by a dealer and see what can be done.sure would suck if you had to replace the whole thinggood luck.without taking one apart i'm not sure how it works,sorry.i looked in my parts manual and there no listing for that kit in there.
 
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Old Jun 8, 2017 | 03:17 PM
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Not that this helps your situation, but the last time I reinstalled my adjustable backrest after having it off because of the solo seat I had on the bike, I didn't install the actuator handle and cable. I found once I had the backrest where it was comfortable, I never moved it from that position.
 
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