A few tech questions. Kinda long.

[fudgie]

Starting my spring maintenance tonight. Have a few unanswered questions.

Put a hitch on last year and had a hard time getting the little chrome bar that is behind the tire that hooks onto the oem saddle bag supports. I'm not sure if my hitch spacers are to big or what. It did not come with any so I winged it. I used the oem ones from the rails to hitch and then new ones approx 1/2" long, from the hitch to bag supports. Bags sat alittle rooster eyed after squeezing the bar into place. How long should each spacer be?

Also for the past few years I noticed my bag heat shields were hitting the top of my pipes. Adding truck stacks next and I see this might be trouble during the application. Any thoughts? I did notice the exhaust hangers/pass peg mounts are close to my swing arm. I may have bent them in 02 when we, (gulp), trailered to Sturgis    with the tie down. That the only time I can think of. Its been on its side but all were easy lay overs into the side ditch. The right side is about 1/2 to 5/8 away from the swing arm and the left is 1/4 to 3/8 away. I can see where the exhaust acorn nuts rubbed the swingarm on the left side. What's the distance on yours?

Any helpful tips on removing the alternator? Gonna have it gone through by a alt guy.

Also need a link to Daniel Meyers write up or others for the shifter seal replacement. Whole side of the Lady's belly is oilly. 

[junior]

as far as the tweeked body parts i cant help you, but the alt is a plud and play thing unhook the neg bat cable,undo the wires at the alt,remove the 3 bolts that hold the alt to the eng and remove the alt.
as for the oilseal pop the old one out and use a deepwell socket and an exstetion yo drive the new one inbit dont forget to lube the seal lip before the install. i would have sent you the link for dans site but i couldnt find it. i hope this helps

[John U.]

Here is Daniel Meyer's site: http://lifeisaroad.com/

[Daniel Meyer]

Shifter seal replacement:
http://lifeisaroad.com/valkshiftseal.html

[sandy]

Starting my spring maintenance tonight. Have a few unanswered questions.

Put a hitch on last year and had a hard time getting the little chrome bar that is behind the tire that hooks onto the oem saddle bag supports. I'm not sure if my hitch spacers are to big or what. It did not come with any so I winged it. I used the oem ones from the rails to hitch and then new ones approx 1/2" long, from the hitch to bag supports. Bags sat alittle rooster eyed after squeezing the bar into place. How long should each spacer be?

I put a HitchDoc on my Tourer in '04. As you found out, the rear brace doesn't fit. I never put it back on and have had no problems. I've towed a tent trailer and loaded too much weight in the bags and all is well. I did add a spacer to the front bag mount on the pass footrest brace. It straightened the bags up a bit.

[fudgie]

Starting my spring maintenance tonight. Have a few unanswered questions.

Put a hitch on last year and had a hard time getting the little chrome bar that is behind the tire that hooks onto the oem saddle bag supports. I'm not sure if my hitch spacers are to big or what. It did not come with any so I winged it. I used the oem ones from the rails to hitch and then new ones approx 1/2" long, from the hitch to bag supports. Bags sat alittle rooster eyed after squeezing the bar into place. How long should each spacer be?

I put a HitchDoc on my Tourer in '04. As you found out, the rear brace doesn't fit. I never put it back on and have had no problems. I've towed a tent trailer and loaded too much weight in the bags and all is well. I did add a spacer to the front bag mount on the pass footrest brace. It straightened the bags up a bit.

Does it make the oem bag 'crash' bar to loose or flimsy?

[fast black]

One thing I did when I did my alternator was use penetrating oil on bolts and let set overnight so I didn't twist one off.  I have read on this forum where the bolts have broken off in the past.
adios,
fast black

[greggh]

Ya knkow the hangers for my pipes on the left side are close also.
Close enough tha t it has scaped agianst the swing arm.  I have never had it down not sure about the previous owner.
My right side is fine.

I have always wundered about that!

[dalai-lama]

One thing I did when I did my alternator was use penetrating oil on bolts and let set overnight so I didn't twist one off.  I have read on this forum where the bolts have broken off in the past.
adios,
fast black

Good idea.  One of mine broke in the aluminum casing and there just is no room to drill the darn thing out.  I ended up cutting drill bits down and using a right angle drill.  You don't want to go there 

the dalai