Hello, I am new here...and new to touring bikes as well. I have a new to me 98 Electra and the bars are loose, like turning in the clamp...and I can't even get see the clamps??? SO I turn to you folks for help, my old shovel didn't have clamps...just solid mounted t-bar jobs that vibrated you to numbness in .003 seconds lol. Thanks in advance for any direction you can give a clueless newb

 

Seriously? No easy way to get to the clamp? the fairing has to come off? Need a sawzall? Torches? Freaking Dynermite?

 

Someone can explain how to get to the clamps, but while you are in there replace the two piece clamps with the new one piece unit. Maybe Dawg or someone else can chime in with the part number.

 

also would like to know about new one piece unit. i asked a question about my road king and bushings recently - to get a response of change to new one piece clamp while you are at it. we to harley store and the new nothing about it.

help.

tin

 

55918-08 is the pn# for the one piece touring top clamp. It won't be on the HD site as it is not an accessory, but a stock part. To get to the handlebar clamps in a batwing, you have to remove a few things. There are two bolts on each clamp. You can reach the rear (top) bolts by pulling the outer fairing and removing the radio (or glove box if no radio). You can reach to two front (bottom) bolts by pulling the ignition and fairing switch cap. It will all be laid out in the service manual on how to remove all these items.

 

+1 on the service manual. It shows all the necessary steps. Also, the reason I was advised to go to the 1 piece clamp was that the original 2 piece unit allows for twisting of the bar ( between the two pieces ) and over time can result in problems.

 

I think you have to pull the head light to access some of the crap inside. Mine works that way on my 88 EGC. Inner & outer fairing.

 

Is it worth it to replace the stock riser bushings with polyurethane ones while you're replacing the top clamp? HD part # is 56298-03 & they list for $39.95 or can you use the Drag Specialties ones that are only $10.95? My bars seem a little sloppy, just want to tighten up, or will the new top clamp solve the problem?

 

thanks dawg, as usual.

tin

 

Thanks a bunch guys! I hate to start ripping into it blind,its too pretty to f#ck up.. my service manual has not come in yet and I am ready to ride!