[allendalewilliams]

I believe that the engineers at Harley Davidson have made a rash decision in the design of the V-Rod rear fork. Upon replacing my stock fork with a chrome one I had to dismantle my precious bike and was disheartened to notice that there is nothing pressing the left side of the fork to the whole of my ride. The nut holds the side opposite of the belt against the motor mount but the head of the bolt slides right thru the sleeve on the arm and the friction of the bolts head to the sleeve is the only thing holding it on my ass as I am going down the road,WTF. I can now feel this looseness when ever I make hard left turns. Or is it just in my head?

 

[rbabos]

I believe that the engineers at Harley Davidson have made a rash decision in the design of the V-Rod rear fork. Upon replacing my stock fork with a chrome one I had to dismantle my precious bike and was disheartened to notice that there is nothing pressing the left side of the fork to the whole of my ride. The nut holds the side opposite of the belt against the motor mount but the head of the bolt slides right thru the sleeve on the arm and the friction of the bolts head to the sleeve is the only thing holding it on my ass as I am going down the road,WTF. I can now feel this looseness when ever I make hard left turns. Or is it just in my head?

It's all clamped. Right and left to the motor mounts. You need to study it a bit more. Very secure setup if all the parts are there.
Roln

 

[allendalewilliams]

It's all clamped. Right and left to the motor mounts. You need to study it a bit more. Very secure setup if all the parts are there.
Roln

I can take the bolt and slide i9t right thru the whole arm there is no shoulder,no lip, the only part of the bolt that touches the arm are the sides of it head. As you tighten the nut, there is a lip on the bolt that catches the motor mount on the threaded end of the bolt, the bottom of the nut pushes the arm against the race of the motor mount. The other side of the arm has nothing pressing against it, the head of the bolt can slide right thru. It did so on my chrome arm, and my stock arm.

 

[allendalewilliams]

I can take the bolt and slide i9t right thru the whole arm there is no shoulder,no lip, the only part of the bolt that touches the arm are the sides of it head. As you tighten the nut, there is a lip on the bolt that catches the motor mount on the threaded end of the bolt, the bottom of the nut pushes the arm against the race of the motor mount. The other side of the arm has nothing pressing against it, the head of the bolt can slide right thru. It did so on my chrome arm, and my stock arm.

By the way I am a Journeyman Millwright that built turbines for PG&E and Westinghouse for a living.Steam and gas powered

 

[allendalewilliams]

By the way I am a Journeyman Millwright that built turbines for PG&E and Westinghouse for a living.Steam and gas powered

if anybody wants my stock rear fork they can have it for free, it came off of my 03,a picture will follow, you pay shipping

 

[streetrodracer]

adws - so yes, the right side of the swingarm does rotate and can float in & out with temp changes etc. on the pivot bolt but the belt side ( left ) is captured between the nut and the engine mount and thru the swingarm structure itself will not allow it to slide off the pivot bolt on the right side. I agree it's a bit wishy washy from an engineering perspective and the rubber mounts allow swingarm movement which isn't ideal for handling either but you're not in danger of the swingarm coming off. IMHO the whole setup is to accommodate ease of engine installation into that hydroformed frame, ( no welded on permanent engine / swingarm pivot ears in the way ) and road shock, engine vibration control. Being a Millwright you can probably envision a new swingarm pivot bolt like me with a flange at the right end that would prevent the swingarm from moving to the right off the pivot bolt head but it would have to be redesigned to have a bearing like the left side, or a radial needle bearing or bushing to prevent binding ( or a gap so the swingarm doesn't rub on it at all ), but it wouldn't really do much, just a backup to make a guy feel better, and probably why it's not there. There are solid and poly engine mounts that remove some of that excessive stock rubber mount movement and even the Tru-Track link that's supposed to keep the swingarm in alignment under power so short of a redesign of the H-D system that's an option if you do feel looseness that bothers you.

 

[rbabos]

By the way I am a Journeyman Millwright that built turbines for PG&E and Westinghouse for a living.Steam and gas powered

Don't matter to me if you are from NASA. I'm surprised you are struggling with this ?. The pivot shaft forms a compression fit between the inner part of right mount, , the engine case, , left side spacer between bearing and left inner motor mount, the bearing and finally the nut. This locks the engine, both mounts and the left side of the swing arm as a unit. The right side swing arm bushing is a floater by design. Only movement can only happen via the rubber engine mount rubbers and it's very small. Early and late models are slightly different but the concept is the same.
Ron