Adjustable Backrest
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Wild&Wonderful West Virginia
Adjustable Backrest
I just installed the Harley adjustable riders backrest. Are thier any way to adjust the cable? The inside metal cable seems to be to short. I installed it per the enclosed instructions. The adjustment lever on the unit is pulled enough to let you adjust the forward and backward motion in the backrest pad without pulling on the button mounted under the seat. It doen't let you lock the backrest into any position. Did I install it wrong? It is the street glide backrest mounted on an 07 SG. Has anyone else had this problem?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 3
From: Washington State
RE: Adjustable Backrest
It's funny you should ask this..... I just installed the same backrest the other day and ran into the same problem. It's the cable. It's not allowing the stop on the little shock to retract enough to stop the backrest wherever you want it to. What I did, after nearly taking it apart was to disconnect each end of the cable from the where they attach and grab them with vice grips and stretched the cable ever so slightly until it finally allowed the backrest to stop wherever I wanted it to. I think over time it will stretch a bit and allow even more slack, but if not, it works for me. Good luck
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Wild&Wonderful West Virginia
RE: Adjustable Backrest
JonnyD,
I was going to try and stretch the inner cable. I took the two screws out that holds the adjustment button in place (plastic unit) and for some reason I started turning it over and over while watching the other end of the cable which was still connected to the shock lever. I noticed it was making the inner cable shorter. So I reversed my direction turning it and the inner cable begin to lengthen. I tried it and bingo it worked. Thanks for your input.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,341
Likes: 714
RE: Adjustable Backrest
ive ben lockin for the same thing the backrest is to big and wide wanted a smaller one that would fit the adjustable bracket no luck yet also going to get price from local seat shop to see if they can cut it down
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
From: Somerset, WI
RE: Adjustable Backrest
ORIGINAL: hittman
Does anyone else make a backrest (the pad & bar) that will work with the Harley adjustable base?
Does anyone else make a backrest (the pad & bar) that will work with the Harley adjustable base?
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,523
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
RE: Adjustable Backrest
Could you tell me the part number that you bought for the street glide??
Thanks in advance...
Thanks in advance...
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 3
From: Washington State
RE: Adjustable Backrest
ORIGINAL: hittman
JonnyD,
I was going to try and stretch the inner cable. I took the two screws out that holds the adjustment button in place (plastic unit) and for some reason I started turning it over and over while watching the other end of the cable which was still connected to the shock lever. I noticed it was making the inner cable shorter. So I reversed my direction turning it and the inner cable begin to lengthen. I tried it and bingo it worked. Thanks for your input.
JonnyD,
I was going to try and stretch the inner cable. I took the two screws out that holds the adjustment button in place (plastic unit) and for some reason I started turning it over and over while watching the other end of the cable which was still connected to the shock lever. I noticed it was making the inner cable shorter. So I reversed my direction turning it and the inner cable begin to lengthen. I tried it and bingo it worked. Thanks for your input.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Wild&Wonderful West Virginia
RE: Adjustable Backrest
JonnyD
The cable was still routed through the bike and hooked on the adjustment shock as per instructions. Turning of the adjustment button was not in the instructions, I was just trying it to see if it would make a difference. I think maybe what has happened is the inner steel cable like most steel cables are twisted. As it was connected at the shock and could not move, twisting or turning the button assm took some of the twist out of the cable making it a bit longer. Don't know if it makes since... but it worked.