Shovelhead sidecar help

[Rmccreary4]

I have a 1972 FLH with a side car, and I'm trying to get the toe in right. It's at 1" now and I read you want to be around 5/8" to7/8", so it needs to come in. The problem is, I don't know where to make the adjustment. I'm guessing at the torsion bar up front. Can anyone lead me in the right direction? By the way, this is my first side car rig. Thanks!

[Rubone]

The toe-in is controlled by the rear mount. Is there any sort of spacer between the swing-arm mount and the swing-arm itself? The front "S" bar controls lean only.

[Rmccreary4]

No spacer between the swing arm. I do know the front bar that connects to the frame in front of the tank is for lean, I have that set already. There is another bar in front down low that connects the front of the side car frame to the bike which looks like it would set toe in. It's low down in front of the bottom motor mount. It looks to be the only way, but I want to be sure. I've been looking for info on this with no luck.

[Sargehere]

Do you have the correct rear swingarm ball-joint socket/bracket? That part was changed from a straight rectangular bar (with the ball-joint socket on one end and hole for the rubber-bushed swingarm bracket on the other end) to an "offset" ball-joint socket right about the time of your bike. It was done to clear the new exhaust or something. The wrong one will affect your toe-in, too. One's straight, one is bent into an offset.
This part:

[Rmccreary4]

Do you have the correct rear swingarm ball-joint socket/bracket? That part was changed from a straight rectangular bar (with the ball-joint socket on one end and hole for the rubber-bushed swingarm bracket on the other end) to an "offset" ball-joint socket right about the time of your bike. It was done to clear the new exhaust or something. The wrong one will affect your toe-in, too. One's straight, one is bent into an offset.
This part:

Yeah, it has the one that's got an offset.

[Sargehere]

The offset one moves the ball joint outboard (to the right of the vehicle) and increases toe-in. I had it backwards. I mis-recollected: Apparently, the offset part came first (1958-72), then it got straightened when the rectangular-box swingarm replaced the tubular swingarm in 1973 (reducing overall toe-in), Would changing to the straight 1973 & later one (pictured above) reduce your toe-in?

Harley had a bit of a reputation for mixing things together (using up stock on-hand or other changing suppliers or...) during times of transition like that. Is your sidecar a factory-matched set from the factory, or from the original dealership, or maybe a later owner pairing? Just curious. It's interesting to me that you are being so meticulous about this one chassis dimension.

I personally think the angle of lean-out is the adjustment (controlled by where the "S-bar" front upper mount is cinched to the frame under the body) that most affects sidecar tracking, and whether the rig goes straight down the road without pulling to one side or the other, loaded or unloaded. I think a quarter-inch of toe-in would probably be almost un-noticeable by the driver, but might slightly affect sidecar tire wear, "in the long run."

And I do mean "long," since (the lightly-loaded) sidecar tires normally last almost forever. Whereas pulling a sidecar will about halve the mileage you get from the "pusher," the bike rear tire. Along with almost halving your overall gas mileage. (just a warning of what to expect.)

Use of one or the other of these might lead you to also notice an unusual sidecar tire-wear pattern, or affect overall handling noticeably & lead you switch them back. I'd think about having both of these parts on-hand, and watching the tire wear and handlebar "feel." Sidecar driving is a learned art. Prepare for a steep learning curve, but in the end more fun than a barrel of monkeys! You successfully drive a sidecar combination through the judicious use of your throttle & brakes to help you around corners; it is an art.


I see them at swap meets, or you can usually find both FS on Ebay Motors category "Sidecar."

[Rmccreary4]

I think you maybe right, I'll put some miles on and see how it works. The side car is a 74, I think the owner went back to the dealer later for it. Some paperwork I got kind of looks that way. It's like being a detective. Thanks for the help, really appreciate it!

[Sargehere]

You're very welcome. I hope you thoroughly enjoy the sidecar life, M. Mccreary! It is an experience "unique" in sporting transportation.

[Magic]

It is an experience "unique" in sporting transportation is right! It truly is and can put a smile from ear to ear when you finally take a good friend for a ride. I need to take mine out soon it's been sitting all winter :-/ Gotta go over all the connections and brakes first.

[Sargehere]

It is an experience "unique" in sporting transportation is right! It truly is and can put a smile from ear to ear when you finally take a good friend for a ride. I need to take mine out soon it's been sitting all winter :-/ Gotta go over all the connections and brakes first.

Good idea! I second that motion, Magic.
Gettin' Ol' Tex out this weekend. Good to perform a thorough pre-flight!
Gets even more goggling for the passenger when you open the door for them:

That's not stock on a '37, but Merle Wolfe makes them for the metal "LE" model sidecar body (1936-~64). The fender is an inexpensive repop, so don't fret for it. It catches hell from my driving.

With my constant co-pilot, Spot:


Pls post up some pictures of your everyday sidecar. Ol' Tex is mine.