Got the hitch installed today.

[John Schmidt]

I found a couple bolts with the 1.25 thread but only threaded about 1.5" so had to cut threads on the rest of it. They turned out to be roughly 1/4" long when done so got out the air driven cutting tool and whacked the extra off. Did the same on the rear bolts, then put on the sanding disc and buffed them down a bit. Looks fine and the bags clear them with room to spare. The right side bag does barely touch the top guard rail so tomorrow I'll have to mess with that so I don't have a scratched paint job there. I mounted the rails and the center piece loosely and hung the bag mounts and guard rails just to see if it was going to work, which it did. The center rail that goes behind the wheel and slips into each side of the bag mounts...that took a bit of effort to get in place. But even that was less than a half inch off and was able to pull the two sides together enough by hand to slip it in place. Then I mounted the guard rails and they bolted right up. The bags actually don't look all that out of position now that it's all together. Here's a couple pics of the finished project, I really like how this particular style of hitch tucks right up by the fender and is almost hidden when not in use. I have a small cooler sized platform I plan to bolt down to the hitch, I'll remove the ball and bolt it down in place of it, using a long U bolt and fasten it to the forward part of the drawbar to stabilize it. I have a small round bag(long but not hight) that will bungee on there real good and not block the plate of turn signals. The other neat thing about the center piece of the hitch, it has a couple tabs with holes which I can use to mount my mudflap. And, when I win the lotto I'll pick up one of those fancy one wheeled trailers to lug my clean skivvies around in.   

[roboto65]

I am loving it John Awesome job of course figured you were about to throw it out there for a while LOL great Job !!   

[John Schmidt]

My wife told me this evening after I got it on...."I was giving you one more day, then was going to shoot you."  When I reach the exasperation point she stays out of the garage.  After talking to RJ the other night, I think most wives follow that same course of action.

[roboto65]

See this is why we keep the women seperated because they all think alike GOOD GOD !!! 

[fudgie]

So thats what them little tabs are for.  ??? I have a pair of chrome nuts hanging off mine. 

[John Schmidt]

So thats what them little tabs are for.  ??? I have a pair of chrome nuts hanging off mine. 

That just happens to be what I'm going to use them for. At my age, I'm just happy to still have mine....chromed or otherwise. 

[R J]

Vell, ya'll saw those big fellers on MGM when I posted the picture.

I put a barn door hinge on the bottom of the ball, under the hitch with the little part and the hinge to the front.  Dropped it over that round pipe between the bag rails and hung em with a 1/4" bolt and an aviation nuts with 2 washers.    That way the boys can swing and sway with Sammy Kay.....

Look real close at the top of the kahoons you can see the bottom lip of the hinge hanging down.   Set up with the bolt loose, they will move forward and backward and swing side to side.



By the way, those were given to me by my youngest daughter as a joke.  She thought she was being a smart butt by giving them to me.   When she found out I put them on the bike, she about had a hemorrhage.   She even asked her mom, why did dad put them on there.   She told her, that your dad was pleased with your gag gift and he put them to use.    I got them on my 65th birthday...  LOL  Love em.

[John Schmidt]

Her comment: "You don't want to do that, it wouldn't look right with TWO sets hanging back there."  Do you suppose that was a threat? 

I do have to figure out how to get a little clearance on the right saddlebag where it rubs against the upper guard rail, back near the reflector. Just barely touches but enough to mess up the paint. I'm wondering if replacing the rubber at the top rear bolt would lean it in far enough, I have some peel and stick that's about half the thickness. Don't think I can increase the curve in that area of the rails, it's strange because the left side has about 3/8" clearance.

[PhredValk]

What make/model is that hitch, and where would one get one? It looks perfect.

[Bugslayer]

I installed my hitch last week. Looks alot like yours. ( Big Bike Parts?) If ya don't mind, I've got a couple of question's.

Where did you get your cooler rack. I've been looking around, but haven't decided on anything yet. I'm still thinking about having one made, but just haven't had the time.

Also, in regard's to the hitch pin.... What size came with it?  Mine uses a 5/8" pin.... Which I find kinda odd. Most 1-1/4" receiver hitches that I've seen use a 1/2" pin. 

To be honest, I wasn't very impressed with the fit & finish. The angle's on the center piece were a little off, and the cutting/grinding could have been a lot better. But since most of it's hidden anyway, I'm not too worried about it.

Yours looks good.... Enjoy!

[Ratdog]

'Bout time !!    

[John Schmidt]

'Bout time !!    

I got it installed and looked good, real solid, then noticed the guard rail on the right side was up against the saddlebag in the reflector area. Try as I would, I couldn't get that adjusted out. All kinds of spacers, tried a little pressure to see if I could bend it jus a tad...all to no avail. My wife came out to observe and saw the level of frustration setting in so asked how many times a year I thought I might use it. Well....maybe once, twice at the most. Then asked if there was any reason I couldn't continue to operate as in the past. Well....no. She got up and went in the house, I pulled it off and put everything back as it was, sold the fool thing on ebay for over a $100 more than I paid for it. End of story. 

I have a motto: if something is causing aggravation, irritation, constipation, or just generally pissing me off after trying a few dozen times, I get rid of the source of irritation. Such was the case with the hitch.

[X Ring]

Came up with another solution for mine.  I removed the center section of the hitch and took it to a welding shop.  They removed the receiver tube from spacer and the spacer from the cross piece.  They rewelded the spacer and receiver tube so the spacer is an inch back from the end of the receiver tube.  I also removed the reinforcing lip on the top of the receiver tube.  This allows the middle section of the bag rails and the bag mount cross tube to be in their normal position.  In addition, I'm running the stock Honda spacers between the grab rails and hitch plates and 1/2" spacers between the hitch plates and bag mounts.  I also have 1/2" spacers on the upper shock bolt mount.

Marty

[fudgie]

I installed my hitch last week. Looks alot like yours. ( Big Bike Parts?) If ya don't mind, I've got a couple of question's.

Where did you get your cooler rack. I've been looking around, but haven't decided on anything yet. I'm still thinking about having one made, but just haven't had the time.

Also, in regard's to the hitch pin.... What size came with it?  Mine uses a 5/8" pin.... Which I find kinda odd. Most 1-1/4" receiver hitches that I've seen use a 1/2" pin. 

To be honest, I wasn't very impressed with the fit & finish. The angle's on the center piece were a little off, and the cutting/grinding could have been a lot better. But since most of it's hidden anyway, I'm not too worried about it.

Yours looks good.... Enjoy!

Al's motorcycle accs. Search it. Thats where I got mine for $40. Some are concerned that it covers the tail lights to much. Well, it sorta does.  We use hand signals and I dont use it after dark so its not a big concern to me.

[Bugslayer]

[/quote]

Al's motorcycle accs. Search it. Thats where I got mine for $40. Some are concerned that it covers the tail lights to much. Well, it sorta does.  We use hand signals and I dont use it after dark so its not a big concern to me.
[/quote]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[Ratdog]

'Bout time !!    

I got it installed and looked good, real solid, then noticed the guard rail on the right side was up against the saddlebag in the reflector area. Try as I would, I couldn't get that adjusted out. All kinds of spacers, tried a little pressure to see if I could bend it jus a tad...all to no avail. My wife came out to observe and saw the level of frustration setting in so asked how many times a year I thought I might use it. Well....maybe once, twice at the most. Then asked if there was any reason I couldn't continue to operate as in the past. Well....no. She got up and went in the house, I pulled it off and put everything back as it was, sold the fool thing on ebay for over a $100 more than I paid for it. End of story.  

I have a motto: if something is causing aggravation, irritation, constipation, or just generally pissing me off after trying a few dozen times, I get rid of the source of irritation. Such was the case with the hitch.

ROTFLMFAO !!!!  Are you serious ?!?!  

I'm tellin' ya... it's that friggin' square assed tire you got on there.  Put a real tire on there and get yer Zen flowin' again.   

[fudgie]

Al's motorcycle accs. Search it. Thats where I got mine for $40. Some are concerned that it covers the tail lights to much. Well, it sorta does.  We use hand signals and I dont use it after dark so its not a big concern to me.
[/quote]

Thanks. I'll check it out.
[/quote]

Well I searched it for ya but link was discontinued.  Must be why I got it cheap! Heres a pic.

[junior]

Al's motorcycle accs. Search it. Thats where I got mine for $40. Some are concerned that it covers the tail lights to much. Well, it sorta does.  We use hand signals and I dont use it after dark so its not a big concern to me.

Thanks. I'll check it out.
[/quote]

Well I searched it for ya but link was discontinued.  Must be why I got it cheap! Heres a pic.
[/quote]


hey fudge? i think i know why your bike cover sticks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it cause your bike is sooooooooooooo dirty............

dont you ever wash that thing or have you been chasing sheep, i see you have your wide topped rubber boot on the caddy 

[Jess from VA]

I pulled it off and put everything back as it was, sold the fool thing on ebay for over a $100 more than I paid for it. End of story.  cooldude


Way to go John.  That is funny....... but effective!  

I have a motto: if something is causing aggravation, irritation, constipation, or just generally pissing me off after trying a few dozen times, I get rid of the source of irritation. Such was the case with the hitch.

I feel exactly the same way.  Did that with a wife last year.

 

[fudgie]

Al's motorcycle accs. Search it. Thats where I got mine for $40. Some are concerned that it covers the tail lights to much. Well, it sorta does.  We use hand signals and I dont use it after dark so its not a big concern to me.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

Well I searched it for ya but link was discontinued.  Must be why I got it cheap! Heres a pic.
[/quote]


hey fudge? i think i know why your bike cover sticks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it cause your bike is sooooooooooooo dirty............

dont you ever wash that thing or have you been chasing sheep, i see you have your wide topped rubber boot on the caddy 
[/quote]
Notice the bottle of whiskey in my 'sheep' boots. Knee high boots, whiskey, sheep, we hoosiers know how to party!  We bought the boots for rain riding. Which was a waste since we never wore them in the 3 rain storms we went through.  ??? The dirt was from 300 miles that day. it rained so hard, 2"+ over the lunch hour, that it brought up all the sand onto the roads. SD used their highway snow plows to remove the sand drifts from the road.