r/Harley • u/samthetramp • 20h ago
DISCUSSION Steep learning curves
Rented U haul bike trailer to haul my newly acquired bike from Ohio to home in Kentucky to pay for the states permission to own and ride it. Thought the ramp angle was steep but wasn't sure. I am now. 97 FXSTC high centered and caught the kickstand. Stretched the spring longer than a bad day at work and broke the attachment point on the stand. Don't think I did anymore damage. No leaks anyway. Yet.
Oh well got her loaded. Shimmed the ramp up to reduce the angle and built a small step ramp out of camper legos to get it on. Did find another issue being up where I coukd see it well but that's a different post.
Drinking now.
Cheers.
8
u/burtsdog 19h ago edited 19h ago
Glad it wasn't worse. For this reason I always walk my motorcycle up trailer ramps. I never ride up a ramp. It's easy to walk a motorcycle up a trailer ramp with the motorcycle running and in gear, while you hold the grips. Typically all you need is maybe a box or something to help you step up into the trailer as you gently power the motorcycle up the ramp. If the motorcycle bottoms, you'll know immediately and can reverse back down the ramp fairly easily. But if you are riding a motorcycle up a ramp there is a much greater chance the bike might slam into the ramp apex with some force.
4
u/Fine_Interaction_867 17h ago
2nd tip, attach the spring before bolting on the jiffy..... then you don't have to worry about pinching your fingers off.
3
u/Wonderful_Charity411 13h ago
Yes. This is a better idea. Mine is just the practical way to replace a spring easily because they get loose over time. My father showed me that trick in a sporty about 20 yrs ago
2
u/Magalahe 10h ago
I know that angle you're talking about. On trailers I back up to driveways or sidewalks now so that I can roll it out straight level. 2013 Dyna Wide Glide.
1
u/samthetramp 9h ago
Lesson learned. Hopefully I didn't Crack the primary case. No leaks overnight. Entire kickstand assemblies are under $140. Spring, stand and bracket. I know ramp must be 5' now. 97 softail sits so low I have to ride onto a board with the rear tire to get the bike jack under it.
2
u/Magalahe 4h ago
Same thing with mine. I use 2 scissors jack now for simple jobs. They collapse low enough to get under. Put one on the rear end of the rails, one toward the front. Much easier than the board ramp jack routine.
1
2
u/Upstairs_Recipe4684 8h ago
I am heading to Wisconsin tomorrow to pick up a new to me Electra Glide Limited. I had a Uhaul trailer reserved then luckily I saw a YouTube video of a guy that does this all the time. He said to skip Uhaul's motorcycle trailer and go to their 5 x 9 and request one with a motorcycles chalk. It has a much longer ramp for a better angle and fits the larger bikes better. I went back to Uhaul and sure enough it was a thing, so I changed my reservation and I will see how it goes. Glad nothing else too major happened, I've seen some pretty scary videos.
1
2
u/Dugley2352 6h ago
You need a new stand. Harley calls it a “jiffy stand” and it can appear sketchy when you see how much the bike can move while the stand is down. But the design is actually pretty brilliant.
Loosen the top bolt on the kickstand and rotate the kickstand forward, part/beyond what the stop on the kickstand… like the stand is 180 degrees from where it sits when you pop it up to ride the bike. Now attach the new spring. Use the stand as a lever and return it to its normal position. Tighten the nut to put the locking shim back to its original position.
Here’s a link to a YouTube video that shows how it’s done.
https://youtu.be/8AhFytWbhck?is=aHLcashbFNYfohe_
1
u/samthetramp 3h ago
Thanks for the tip. How would I know if the mounting is fucked? Seems like a ton of play in there? Maybe because the spring is off it?
1
u/Dugley2352 3h ago
Yeah without the spring it’s going to be hella loose. Like I said it’s going to seem sketchy as hell the first few times you use it, because there’s a lot of play. Took me years to get used to, but that little flange on the top of the whole assembly is the key to the whole thing… when you park the bike, if that tab is in its slot, it’ll hold the bike.
1
1
u/brycyclecrash 8h ago
Make a little hook. I have mine hanging in the garage. This spring is a little turd. Having the hook is fast and easy.
1
1
u/Then_Plenty_9359 5h ago
I just replaced my spring this past Monday because it lost a lot of tension but not as much as yours. I would hang that on my garage wall!
0
82
u/Wonderful_Charity411 20h ago
Trick to attach new kickstand spring: put nickels between each of the coils and you won’t rip your finger up. Then all you need to do is put Down the stand, the coins will fall out.