WHAT IS THIS THING?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From:
RE: WHAT IS THIS THING?
ORIGINAL: Gutman
Holy cow, has anyone looked at their bikes.ChooChoo is in-correct. The stabilizer links do not align your engine. The alignment tools align the engine. The engine cannot flop around in the chassis since the rear pivot shaft extends through the transmission case and the engine is bolted directly through it. The stabilizer links (2), and always have had two, maintain the engines horizontal and verticalalignment. They do not isolate engine vibration. The upperlink that has been located under the fuel tank was moved forward for two reasons. The larger fuel tank and changes to the new larger induction module. The front engine isolators and rear cleave blocks absorb the engines vibration. The front "up and down" the rear "side to side."
Holy cow, has anyone looked at their bikes.ChooChoo is in-correct. The stabilizer links do not align your engine. The alignment tools align the engine. The engine cannot flop around in the chassis since the rear pivot shaft extends through the transmission case and the engine is bolted directly through it. The stabilizer links (2), and always have had two, maintain the engines horizontal and verticalalignment. They do not isolate engine vibration. The upperlink that has been located under the fuel tank was moved forward for two reasons. The larger fuel tank and changes to the new larger induction module. The front engine isolators and rear cleave blocks absorb the engines vibration. The front "up and down" the rear "side to side."
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From:
RE: WHAT IS THIS THING?
ORIGINAL: adlerx
DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!!!
ORIGINAL: Gutman
Holy cow, has anyone looked at their bikes.ChooChoo is in-correct. The stabilizer links do not align your engine. The alignment tools align the engine. The engine cannot flop around in the chassis since the rear pivot shaft extends through the transmission case and the engine is bolted directly through it. The stabilizer links (2), and always have had two, maintain the engines horizontal and verticalalignment. They do not isolate engine vibration. The upperlink that has been located under the fuel tank was moved forward for two reasons. The larger fuel tank and changes to the new larger induction module. The front engine isolators and rear cleave blocks absorb the engines vibration. The front "up and down" the rear "side to side."
Holy cow, has anyone looked at their bikes.ChooChoo is in-correct. The stabilizer links do not align your engine. The alignment tools align the engine. The engine cannot flop around in the chassis since the rear pivot shaft extends through the transmission case and the engine is bolted directly through it. The stabilizer links (2), and always have had two, maintain the engines horizontal and verticalalignment. They do not isolate engine vibration. The upperlink that has been located under the fuel tank was moved forward for two reasons. The larger fuel tank and changes to the new larger induction module. The front engine isolators and rear cleave blocks absorb the engines vibration. The front "up and down" the rear "side to side."
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 473
Likes: 57
From: Utah
RE: WHAT IS THIS THING?
ORIGINAL: daconiam
It is there on the 08s to improve the 5th gear noise and the 6th gear jacking in the cruisedrive transmission, it will be available to the 07s for a nominal fee (plus labor charges).
It is not to "fix" any "problem" identified on the 07s, but just an "enhancement" to ridability.......[8D]
It is there on the 08s to improve the 5th gear noise and the 6th gear jacking in the cruisedrive transmission, it will be available to the 07s for a nominal fee (plus labor charges).
It is not to "fix" any "problem" identified on the 07s, but just an "enhancement" to ridability.......[8D]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 2
From: USA
RE: WHAT IS THIS THING?
Now if I can get one of those forward head/frame links and modify it to be my new shifter linkage I'd be in business with out paying some 100 plus bucks for a Heim joint linkage!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,498
Likes: 19
From: East Alton, IL
RE: WHAT IS THIS THING?
ORIGINAL: planewrench
Some people are pretty dense. If you ever had your bike apart or studied the Service Manual ..........
If you read the section on alignment in the Manual,......
Some people are pretty dense. If you ever had your bike apart or studied the Service Manual ..........
If you read the section on alignment in the Manual,......
And please tell us dense ones where you got your '08 Touring service manual.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From:
RE: WHAT IS THIS THING?
ORIGINAL: Jim Dawson
You're right, some people are pretty dense. You keep saying to "study your service manual" but I'm so dense I can't find my service manual (oh, yeah, I forgot, they're not available for the '08s yet which is what we are talking about). And I think my answer is correct, they moved the link to make room for the 6 gallon tank.
And please tell us dense ones where you got your '08 Touring service manual.
How many ways can we prolong this? The only thing that changed was that the top stabilizer bar was moved forward in '08. There are plenty of manuals out there for all the other years. There was so much confusion created by thearmchair expertson this one simple topic. I attempted to explain it in simple terms.
Looks like you fly airplanes. So do I. I own two. I also have an aircraft maintenance business. As you well know, misinformation from the ill informed in our business is unacceptable. It's frustrating to see people volunteer inaccurate 'opinions' on a simple mechanical issue. Reminds me of the occasional customer who heard of a better 'fix' for his airplane on the internet.
ORIGINAL: planewrench
Some people are pretty dense. If you ever had your bike apart or studied the Service Manual ..........
If you read the section on alignment in the Manual,......
Some people are pretty dense. If you ever had your bike apart or studied the Service Manual ..........
If you read the section on alignment in the Manual,......
And please tell us dense ones where you got your '08 Touring service manual.
How many ways can we prolong this? The only thing that changed was that the top stabilizer bar was moved forward in '08. There are plenty of manuals out there for all the other years. There was so much confusion created by thearmchair expertson this one simple topic. I attempted to explain it in simple terms.
Looks like you fly airplanes. So do I. I own two. I also have an aircraft maintenance business. As you well know, misinformation from the ill informed in our business is unacceptable. It's frustrating to see people volunteer inaccurate 'opinions' on a simple mechanical issue. Reminds me of the occasional customer who heard of a better 'fix' for his airplane on the internet.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: WHAT IS THIS THING?
Anyone who thinks thatthe links don't have anything to do with alignment are probably the same ones complaining about wobble....
MCNews reported on this years ago, when they were trying to figure out why Road Kings were coming from the factory with the rear wheel 3/4" out of plane with the front. The links were improperly adjusted at the factory.
And you don't need the shop manual to know this. Read your owner's manual! This is what mine says, under "Vehicle alignment".
"Vehicle alignment is important. Major alignment of the front and rear wheel is partially controlled by the stabilizer link at the top of the engine."
MCNews reported on this years ago, when they were trying to figure out why Road Kings were coming from the factory with the rear wheel 3/4" out of plane with the front. The links were improperly adjusted at the factory.
And you don't need the shop manual to know this. Read your owner's manual! This is what mine says, under "Vehicle alignment".
"Vehicle alignment is important. Major alignment of the front and rear wheel is partially controlled by the stabilizer link at the top of the engine."