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Posted by gdrudd13
- August 03, 2014, 18:58:36 PMUpdate from last post: Received an email back from the company, and here's the answers. Got it all worked out, so I'm happy.
1- they sent the wrong adapter which then came with the wrong bolt. It does come with the correct hardware.
2- They said that the shock is supposed to be loose as it gives a better ride with a slight bit of play. I didn't notice any ill effects, so I'm just going to leave it.
All in all though, good customer service, especially considering they responded on a Sunday afternoon.
Posted by gdrudd13
- August 03, 2014, 16:34:09 PMOkay, first bit of the writeup, and with pictures.
Note: While I did run into some minor fitment issues, I contacted the company I bought the kit from to let them know. I haven't found anyone else that has put air ride on a Vulcan 800, much less a Drifter, so I was expecting to have to make a few modifications.
I'm not going to delve into the shock removal, it has been covered very well in other places, probably better than any write-up I would do. Here is a good thread about shock removal.
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=3993.msg47350#msg47350
The only change I would make is that I had to also remove the lower dogbone bolts. because the new shock is slightly larger than the old one and therefore harder to get in.
REAR SHOCK INSTALL:
Okay, here is where I ran into every issue I had. That being said, none were major issues that some drilling and a trip to the hardware store couldn't fix. So first picture show the top shock mount. It is slightly too narrow in relation to the stock shock. To fix this I used washers, making sure to add the same amount to either side to keep the shock centered. The stock hardware is reused for this part of the install. It also seemed like the hole in the bushing was slightly oversized, which would make me think I would hear it on the highway. So far I haven't heard anything, so it might be a non issue.
The lower shock mount is pretty easy, but requires some modification. First, the bolt and bolt hole were the wrong size. They should have been 12mm, but the included ones were 10mm. A drill press and the correct drill bit made short work of that issue. This led to the next issue. The included shock adapter is much thicker than the the stock shock. So the stock bolt cannot be reused. This is where the trip to the hardware store comes in. I ended up buying a new bolt that had the same thread pitch as stock so I could reuse the nut, and then I bought a few washers because the bolt was a standard hex head instead of a flange head. Unfortunately, I didn't write down the length of the new bolt. It is a hardened grade 10.9 bolt, so at least the bolt will survive nuclear war. I added these to the parts list. To get the shock to bolt up, it required some cycling of the jack to get the bolt holes to line up since the shock was fully retracted (compressed). Then just retorque everything, and that part is done.
Posted by gdrudd13
- August 03, 2014, 15:16:17 PMThanks for the offer, but it actually uses the standard handlebar bolts. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
I did find these:
http://www.probolt-usa.com/stainless-steel/stainless-steel-bolts-dome-head/stainless-steel-dome-head-bolt-m10-x-1-25mm-x-35mm.html#.U8crBPldUQg
Also, the air ride is installed, and it is awesome. Pictures will be added as I edit them. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a fitting that I needed in town, so the gauge is installed, but isn't hooked up yet. They're on order from amazon though, and should be here next week.
Posted by greenbarn
- August 01, 2014, 23:21:05 PMI think most of the SS bolts I bought at our ACE store were around $1.79 each, give or take a few cents.
I have a hundred (100) 6x 1.0 x 25 mm button head allen bolts coming from my bulk supplier, if you feel like waiting. They're for another project for my son's truck mirrors, but I'll have plenty to spare. It will probably be a couple weeks though.... But they're a lot cheaper than $20 - for the entire hundred....
Posted by Tecumseh
- August 01, 2014, 23:17:43 PMQuote from: gdrudd13 on August 01, 2014, 20:56:44 PMThat's lookin' Sweet! gotta' agree with greenbarn though, some SS button-heads would really give your work the finishing touch!Okay, so it's getting close to the install day (Sunday) so I figured I'd get everything together. I got some pictures of the gauge mount with the gauge installed. I think it looks great. Took some pictures real quick with the bolts i'm using in there. Can't decide if I want to keep them silver or paint them black. Silver matches the screw covers in the handlebar mount, but they're not exactly pretty bolts. Also included a picture of the spacers now that they're painted black. Nothing real special about them though. Personally, I think the gauge mount turned out really well. I really like how the gauge trim ring pops with the mount being black. Fits too since most of the front end is blacked out.
Took the bike for a spin, it was running great, so it looks like I didn't screw anything else up getting rid of the evap stuff. it's also nice not to have to take it apart again...
Posted by gdrudd13
- August 01, 2014, 23:01:03 PMQuote from: greenbarn on August 01, 2014, 21:34:50 PMThat's what I'm thinking. I need to try a few other places to see if I can't find any. If not, I'll probably just pop for the expensive ones I found online. I know they'll look better, and with the total cost of this system another $20 won't be that big of a deal. I may just order them and get it over with...My vote would be to use a couple of SS button-head bolts. That would be a good look.
Posted by greenbarn
- August 01, 2014, 21:34:50 PMMy vote would be to use a couple of SS button-head bolts. That would be a good look.
My local ACE hardware has a pretty good selection of SS metric bolts. Kind of a shame - it seems like every time I go in there it's $50....
Posted by gdrudd13
- August 01, 2014, 20:56:44 PMOkay, so it's getting close to the install day (Sunday) so I figured I'd get everything together. I got some pictures of the gauge mount with the gauge installed. I think it looks great. Took some pictures real quick with the bolts i'm using in there. Can't decide if I want to keep them silver or paint them black. Silver matches the screw covers in the handlebar mount, but they're not exactly pretty bolts. Also included a picture of the spacers now that they're painted black. Nothing real special about them though. Personally, I think the gauge mount turned out really well. I really like how the gauge trim ring pops with the mount being black. Fits too since most of the front end is blacked out.
Took the bike for a spin, it was running great, so it looks like I didn't screw anything else up getting rid of the evap stuff. it's also nice not to have to take it apart again...
Posted by gdrudd13
- August 01, 2014, 10:43:51 AMIt's all good. I thought it was supposed to be capped and was wrong. Live and learn. There are bound to be issues when you're doing something where there isn't much information available at all. I'm just glad it's running now lol. It doesn't help that the Haynes manual is kind of worthless when it comes to the carb.
Posted by Troll
- August 01, 2014, 10:13:27 AMI didn't have any carb hoses to change on my W, so I would have mentioned it if I did, and saved you grief...The only things I needed to mod were on the fuel tank and one vacuum hose to the valve.
Posted by gdrudd13
- August 01, 2014, 07:51:29 AMOkay, so an update. After a lot of troubleshooting, I found out I need to edit my post about what hoses to cap, or vent. It turns out, that the yellow hose at the carb needs to be left open to vent. This was after much troubleshooting... So not much got done on the bike other than trying to start it, tearing it apart to try to fix it, and then putting it back together when I finally got it to run correctly.
Posted by gdrudd13
- July 30, 2014, 22:25:29 PMYup, I can pull into a parking lot, and drop it all the way down if I want. Although it would take a bit longer to air up that what you see on the really fancy bikes because I don't have an air tank for that instant volume. I didn't get the expensive version of the shock, so I can't adjust how firm the ride is for any given ride height. If you want a lower look, you have to make the suspension softer to it sags more with what I got. The good thing is that with an air shock, it acts like a progressive spring so the ride isn't compromised too badly. The cool thing about this shock is that it is actually designed so it can be ridden with all the air out for a really slammed look. Downside it you'll basically have a hardtail which doesn't sound very comfortable. Hopefully that's close to the answer you were looking for though...
As an update, I got all the evap stuff removed so I just need to put it back together and take it for a ride to make sure I didn't screw anything up. I also got the gauge mount and spacers painted. Just waiting on the paint to dry. The actual shock install should be this Sunday. I'll take as many pictures as I can in case someone else wants to tackle this.
Posted by Tecumseh
- July 30, 2014, 19:36:44 PMQuote from: gdrudd13 on July 30, 2014, 09:56:32 AMThat sounds pretty darn cool! will this kit allow you to raise and lower the suspension whenever you desire?.......sorta' like the Hot Rod guys?Okay, so managed to finish the fabrication on the gauge mount. Thought I would add pictures of it so far. It will eventually be painted black which will make that gauge ring stand out. Sorry about the crappy pictures all the ones I have were taken at work on my phone.
And the spacers fit perfectly, although, not really sure there is a need for pictures as they're just spacers. They were made to the dimensions given earlier. They're aluminum, and will be painted to help protect against corrosion.
For those who are curious, so far, there have been no permanent modifications required to the bike. Other than ditching the CA evap stuff, which I'm not really counting. The compressor will be mounted where the evap stuff used to be, which is under the right side locking frame cover (not sure about terminology on that one).
Posted by gdrudd13
- July 30, 2014, 09:56:32 AMOkay, so managed to finish the fabrication on the gauge mount. Thought I would add pictures of it so far. It will eventually be painted black which will make that gauge ring stand out. Sorry about the crappy pictures all the ones I have were taken at work on my phone.
And the spacers fit perfectly, although, not really sure there is a need for pictures as they're just spacers. They were made to the dimensions given earlier. They're aluminum, and will be painted to help protect against corrosion.
For those who are curious, so far, there have been no permanent modifications required to the bike. Other than ditching the CA evap stuff, which I'm not really counting. The compressor will be mounted where the evap stuff used to be, which is under the right side locking frame cover (not sure about terminology on that one).
Posted by gdrudd13
- July 29, 2014, 12:09:10 PMOkay, so I figured another good piece of information to include would be the instructions included with the kit.
If you're wondering about the gauge install, that part is custom, so no instructions were provided for it. There will probably be one other deviation from the instructions for my install which will be moving the switch to a place where it is more accessible from the seat. It might go on the gauge mount, but that isn't set in stone. Ideally it will be accessible, but at the same time, some place that is at least a little bit discreet. Feel free to comment with any ideas for placement.
In other news the spacers are finished. Tonight will be a test fit. Once I know what, if any, alterations need made I'll post pictures.