I guess if I'm changing to chrome housings/switch covers it would be much easier to do this on the bench rather than do it standing up over the bike. I have my bike down to the frame/engine so time is not the issue. I have a June 1st hopefull completion date!!! Did you guys push the pins out with a small drill bit (backwards) or a paper clip or something that fits the connector hole? Thanks, I have got SO much help from this forum. gary
PS, The completion date is totally dependent on the $$$, I just can't start writing checks for stuff.

 

I took the handle bars mount and all off the bike, and mounted the whole thing to the bench, by drilling two holes in a piece of plywood , then screwing it to the bench ( so I wasn't left with two big holes in the bench). It worked great, leaving the bars loose in the clamps let me move them back and forth as needed.

 

I took a small safety pin from my wifes sewing kit. Put the pin in the same side that they will come out from (don't push them out, pull them while working them). There is a small hook like piece you need to 'dislodge'. The reason the first one took me so long is that i had inserted the safety pin on the inward side of the pin (towards the center), needed it on the outward side. Then just kinda wiggle the pins to try to work it loose while pulling gently. I found the technique to be more like picking a lock...


Edit again:

I just happen to be doing this project this weekend. Her is the trick that gets my pins loose:
On the side that the orange rubber piece came out of.
Insert safety pin on in along side the pins on the outward side.
Flex Safety pin towards the inward side while gently pulling the wire loose.

 

Take the radio out too. Makes everything a lot easier to do. The maintenance manual tells exactly how to remove the radio.So simple a caveman could do it.

 

Lots of good advice here.
The first one will of coarse be the hardest.
I found that keeping a little preasure on the wire in the direction you're trying to pull it out, while poking around with needle like device worked great. When you move the release, it will slip right out.

 

Do yourself a favor and get the one piece top clamp for the bars as used on 08 and later tourers 55918-08 $35.95 retail

 

yep..once again, dawg is right on...did the one piece clamp when installed I my 575's!

 

So the wires are long enough, but how about the cables? Opinions on how much to extend them or dont need to? I have a 06 SG that i would like to put 13" bars on. Thanks for all the info. Very helpful

 

Can't comment on the cables needed for 13" bars on a Street Glide, but the 575 bars will require a longer clutch cable, and brake lines on Electra Glides. the stock throttle cables will work fine.

 

Stock bars are a 6" rise........so if you are putting on 13" bars, that would mean that you need at least +7" cables, +8" would be the best bet.

Steve