All,

First off, I'm new to this forum, new to riding and new to HD! The education I've received from you guys have been invaluable and feel as if my choice to become part of the HD family has been one of my wisest decisions I've made so far!

As I start my journey to mod my bike (black it out), one of the first things I'd like to do is to cover the upper fork. I have purchased the RSD upper fork covers and from their online installation guide (http://www.rolandsands.com/files/ins...Tube-Cover.pdf) the project looks pretty simple and straight forward. However, I'm being told by the dealership that this install is more complicated. I would need to lift the bike, remove more than just the 3 clamps etc.

Can you experts guide me in the right direction? Obviously the bike pictured in the install guide is not an 883, so, can one do this easily in his own garage? What specifics should I know about my bike in terms of installing this upper fork cover?

THANKS in advance for your responses and help!

 

I think it would be easier to pop the front wheel off and drop the forks to install those instead of pulling the upper tree.

 

Welcome to the forum.
I agree with scuba , it's easier to drop the forks out the bottom after removing the front wheel.
Get a factory service manual first.
Grab an inch pound and foot pound torque wrenches.
Keep a bottle of blue locktite (it's a Harley)
Purchase the tools you need for each job , quality tools will make life easier.
Nothing is really hard to do , but certain fasteners are critical and all are important.
Refer to the manual for each job and write down the torque for each fastener.
You will save lots of cash and will get valuable experience along the way.
Don't be afraid , just methodical as you go.
Good luck , and if you get stuck , just ask , most of us don't bite.
Mick

 

It is a very simple install if you have two friends to help and a bike lift/jack. You can do it without even removing the front wheel and simply loosenung the four torx bolts on the triple trees. I have done this on my Dyna and a friends 48.

Pay close attention to the following. Have one guy jack up the bike and secure the bike. The distance between the upper and lower triple tree is 7 inches, that means you are want to jack up the bike exactly 8 inches. That will allow you to drop the fork tubes below the top surface of the bottom tree but not allow it to slip out completely. Next loosen the four torx bolts that pinch the tubes in the clamp, loosen the top bolts first. Before you loosen the bottom two make sure your other friend is holding the front wheel so it does not drop down too fast, there should be some friction and resistance but sometimes they just drop. Once the front wheel touches the ground the tubes should still be in the lower tree but not able to slide out. Next you are going to want to grab your fork covers, insert them between the triple trees, this may take help from the friend holding the front wheel. Next you want the friend working the jack to slowly lower the bike....key word SLOWLY. The weight of the bike will push the tubes back up through the trees. Before you tighten up the torx make sure you have a scale or ruler so that you can measure how much tube is sticking above the tree and make sure both sides ar EXACTLY the same measurement. This is also an easy way to lower the bike a half inch or so. If you do not plan on lowerig it make sur you take a measurment before you start so you can get the tubes back exactly where you had them before you started. Tightem up the two bottom bolts and remove the top two and apply new loctite, reinstall the top two with the and torque them down to the proper spec. Remove the bottom two torx bolts apply loctite and then reinstal and torque.

The bike is now ready to ride, enjoy!

 

Oops, forgot two things.

You may need to loosen the little clamp the holds your brake line to give you some extra slack when you drop the forks. My friends 48 had plenty of slack by my Dyna didn't have much slack and had to loosen. You do not want the weight of that front fork and wheel assembly hanging from a brake line.

The other thing is a little bit of silicone spray lube or even WD40 might help things slide back togehter. Without seeing how much fudge room they give you between the covers and the upper tubes. There may be a set screw to tigten as well.