Swapping out tins, hard?

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Aug 30, 2007 | 09:06 AM

RK_Dave

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Swapping out tins, hard?

Well, I love my RK, butIjust have to have a Black bike

So, I just purchased a set of Black tins. So now, how hard is it to swap-out the tank & fenders on a RK? Is getting the wheels off going to be a problem, for a DIY? I'm very good with a wrench!
Any tips or trips I should know about?
Dave...

Aug 30, 2007 | 10:10 AM

dawg

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From: Vermont

RE: Swapping out tins, hard?

Tank, easy. Front fender, not too bad. Rear fender, pain in the azz! If you don't have a service manual then you should get one because it will explain about how to drain the fuel tank (can be messy if you don't do it right) and removing the rear wheel. You'll have to drop the exhuast to remove the rear wheel unless you have the proper torque adapter to get down in there.

Aug 30, 2007 | 10:22 AM

anubisss

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From: Los Angeles, CA

RE: Swapping out tins, hard?

Fuel tank is the most difficult. I did not take the wheels off of my softail when swapping, but I don't know about the RK...

Aug 30, 2007 | 01:52 PM

RK_Dave

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RE: Swapping out tins, hard?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: dawg
Tank, easy.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: anubisss
Fuel tank is the most difficult.

Well, which is it? Easy or Hard? Anyone actually changed-out their tins?
Bueller, Bueller, anyoneâ€¦.

Daveâ€¦

Aug 30, 2007 | 02:00 PM

cwilks

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From: St.Louis, MO.

RE: Swapping out tins, hard?

If your mechanical and can read then its probably not that hard....a lot of people can't do both...then it would be hard [sm=icon_rofl.gif]

Aug 30, 2007 | 03:07 PM

lickmstickmman

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Joined: Jul 2006

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From: Southern MD

RE: Swapping out tins, hard?

These were my experiences only, and I must have taken this bike apart 10 times while getting it ready for paint!

- The tank is a pain to drain... I rhymed! To actually take it off the bike is easy.
- The rear fender is difficult because of the one screw that is in the front center. You need to take the wheel off to do it right. And of course aligning the rear wheel and getting the belt tensioned just right was the other pain in my butt!
- Reassembling the bags is a tighten and untighten situation. If the latches are a little off, they try to come unhooked while driving down the road. I had to readjust the latches a few times to get it to stay locked.
- Front fender is difficult to do without taking the wheel off because of the bent tabs on the bolt to stop it from backing off. Remove the wheel to make life easier.

Just do it, you'll be fine!

Benji

Aug 30, 2007 | 03:59 PM

tfaucett

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RE: Swapping out tins, hard?

I personally did what they tell you not to do. I used vise grips on each side of the tank near the nipple of the crossoversand cut the line in the middle. 5/16 fuel line is very easy to replace. Then draining the tank iseasy once it is off the bike.