Dyna Drive Train Alignment - Harley Forum

botzman · #1 01-08-2008, 01:01 PM

Hey all.

Finally feeling well enough to get back to wrenchin'. Big plans for the old Sturgis. First and foremost gonna fix that tank liner issue that just wont go away. Then rebuild carb AGAIN. Motor Mounts. 50,000+ miles and never been changed. Wonder if anything is left? LOL. Gonna due mounts and stabilizer links. Anyone ever due them on a Dyna? I believe I can use a laser to align the bike but engine alignment? Just not sure. I did the swingarm bushings last year along with new rear shocks and front springs and neck bearings. After motor mounts should be nice and tight. Any tricks or suggestions are appreciated. Of course i will be reading the service manual too. Feels good to be able to function again. Leg is really coming along. Thanks guys. MIke

#2 01-08-2008, 02:43 PM

Hi Mike

I don't know about your Dyna but the step by step alignment procedure for my FXR is nicley laid out in the factory service manual. It's pretty straight forward but a little involved. You don't need a laser. Two long straight edges will do just fine. A nice little carpenter's laser might be very cool for this so if you do use one and it works out tell us about how it went.

Good Luck

94flhtcu · #3 01-08-2008, 02:51 PM

Not sure on a dyna, but two 8 foot flourescent tubes worked well on my ultra. Can't help more than that. Glad to hear about the knee!

botzman · #4 01-08-2008, 06:54 PM

Hey milindh / 94,

The engine alignment is straight forward and extremely easy as per the manual (stabilizer adjustment only). Maybe I should have read it b4 I posted. However, there is no guide to motor mount replacement. Im guessing maybe just jack up the block and replace. Cant get down that far with knee to get a look. Front and rear wheel alignment it straight forward too. For some reason I thought the engine alignment had to be worked into the equation with the wheel alignment. No biggie. Sorta funny story. Pulled the tank today. I happened to have one leg on each side of the mcy jack/lift when i lifted the tank. My old Cougar was about 1 1/2 feet behind me. I had no where to go and got stuck because knee would'nt lift over the jack. I was stuck. Had to call for the wife to bail me out. Now I owe her. Guess I'll be dyeing her hair soon. LOL.

94flhtcu · #5 01-08-2008, 07:34 PM

HA! After coloring her hair, you should take her out to dinner!

What year Cougar? I had a'68 back in, oh, '78 or '79. I absolutely loved it. You don't see many of 'em on the road anymore.

Might be a couple more weeks 'til you can get that knee to cooperate, so take it easy. As you know, I've had lots of knee stuff. I have over done it a couple times, and it's a set back. Just take it easy.

botzman · #6 01-08-2008, 07:55 PM

Hey 94,

We have similiar taste. I have, well my wife has, 67 Merc Cougar. 58K Original miles. Bought it in Virginia on way home from Disney. Tore whole car apart and did ground up rebuild in my garage. Why I bought it was car was totally unmolested. Still had original AM radio in it plus A/C car. Wife had two in high school and always wanted another. See...I may not dye hair but I built her a car. And of course a happy wife makes a happy me and my motorsickles.

Your right about the knee....should be more careful. I heard all the bikes today (50 degrees today) and I got the itch. Had to get out there and do something. Later. Botz

shovelmike · #7 01-08-2008, 09:15 PM

Don't worry, Botz. You just forgot to resize while you were at tinypic.com. The reason I know is That I did it once too. Y'all didn't catch me cause I deleted my post and started over again.
Really nice Cougar. I had a '68 the same color back in '80. One owner car, fresh paint, thought everything was great until I was washing it a few months later and a whole hunk of paint came off and I saw BONDO! The rust holes had been filled with Bondo. I just hate what the road salt does to cars around here.

botzman · #8 01-13-2008, 08:43 AM

ShovelMike,

Lucked out on the cougar. No bondo. Was originally an AZ. car. Woman had every receipt since new and kept every state inspection since '67. Great way to track the mileage. Wasnt sure if it was 58K or 158K until she showed me all the inspection receipts. I knew it was low mileage when I pulled the heads off. Very clean. I have to replace the original 2V carb. The old choke sux and car is diificult to start for my wife. (I know the trick). Gonna put a 4 barrel (electronic choke) with an Edelbrock performer intake. I had thrown an Edelbrock Performer cam in when I rebuilt just for a bit more bottom end but with the 2 barrel it was a waste. I want her to drive it more.

Went to HD yesterday and ordered all my parts. Place was mobbed. If they aint selling bikes they sure are selling accessories. I was surprised they had all my parts in stock. Motor mounts, stabilizer link, front rotor, brake line and Im even replacing my turn signal microprocessor which hasnt worked in oh, 10 years. Going out there today and start wrenching. I did notice the amount of brand new riders at the dealership spending money like water. I was approached by a group of new riders who saw my leg and asked what happened. When I told them it was a bike wreck they were mortified. I think they thought it doesnt happen or at least wont to them. After 25 years street riding it can happen and did. I think it was an elightening experience for them...LOL. I hope they at least listened to my advice. Sorry for the long post. Just glad to be more mobile and able to work on the bike again. BOtz

shovelmike · #9 01-13-2008, 04:14 PM

Good to hear from you,Botz. That car was a really great find. Being a 67 it doubtless has the 289, mine was an early 68, 289 as well; The better engine in my opinion, the 302 that replaced it was detuned to meet emissions. The 4 barrel will really wake that engine up, especially since you already have that cam in there.
Glad to hear you got the parts you needed for the bike and are feeling good enough to wrench again. Wrench safe, ride safe and God bless you and yours. Sincerely: Shovelmike.

94flhtcu · #10 01-13-2008, 05:24 PM

Man, what a find! That car is gorgeous! Mine was evidently a late '68...302 2bbl. I think it's quite a coincedence that all 3 of us, maybe more, had cougars.
Not only cougars, but the GOOD year cougars. I've built several 289s and a couple hipo-289s, all for other people, and Shovelmike is right. I also believe it to be the better engine. 302 isn't bad, but I prefer the 289. Congrats to the wife...she has great taste, but you already know that, huh!

It's hard to believe the HD money train is still rollin in. (Hey, they should call one that and paint it green!) I honestly thought it would have at least slowed more than it has.

About the knee...somewhere in my possesion is a pic of me as a teen, full cast from toe to waist, on my honda xl350 with the cast coat hangered to the handle bar. I kid you not. I learned (not soon enuff) to take it easy. I also understand the boredom...just be careful!