gronk62
28th December 2004, 05:12
G'day all.
This maybe old news to some of ya's but I thought it might be useful to post it here anyway.
As an 04 owner I was interested to see that HD upgraded the rear axle on the 05 models to 1" diameter.
They also changed the swingarm and brake caliper mount and claimed the whole shebang would be slightly stiffer.
Quite a few members here at the time were a little concerned that their newly purchased 04 models were flawed in the swingarm/axle area and there was quite a bit of discussion about why HD decided to do this.
I have only recently been able to view up close the new 05 models as they have not been available down under for very long.
Comparing the 04 and 05 swingarms side by side its easy to see the differences.
On the 04 swingarm the hole for the axle is cut out of the tubing the arm is made of. The lower shock absorber mount lug is then welded to it.
This is the way HD have made XL swingarms for nearly 20years (maybe longer?)
On the 05 swingarm there is a cast forgeing that is welded to the end of the swingarm. It has the shock absorber mount lug cast with it as one piece.
The rest of the swingarm looks identical to the 04 in tube dimension and design.
Some of you were a little concerned about possible cracking on your 04's but after seeing the differences I have no doubt there will be zero problems with swingarms on our bikes.
Why did HD do this?
Maybe to streamline parts inventory a little as all the bikes now use 1" axles (I think ?)
Maybe to streamline Sportster swingarm production?
Anyway I just thought I'd share my observations with ya's :luvsport
This maybe old news to some of ya's but I thought it might be useful to post it here anyway.
As an 04 owner I was interested to see that HD upgraded the rear axle on the 05 models to 1" diameter.
They also changed the swingarm and brake caliper mount and claimed the whole shebang would be slightly stiffer.
Quite a few members here at the time were a little concerned that their newly purchased 04 models were flawed in the swingarm/axle area and there was quite a bit of discussion about why HD decided to do this.
I have only recently been able to view up close the new 05 models as they have not been available down under for very long.
Comparing the 04 and 05 swingarms side by side its easy to see the differences.
On the 04 swingarm the hole for the axle is cut out of the tubing the arm is made of. The lower shock absorber mount lug is then welded to it.
This is the way HD have made XL swingarms for nearly 20years (maybe longer?)
On the 05 swingarm there is a cast forgeing that is welded to the end of the swingarm. It has the shock absorber mount lug cast with it as one piece.
The rest of the swingarm looks identical to the 04 in tube dimension and design.
Some of you were a little concerned about possible cracking on your 04's but after seeing the differences I have no doubt there will be zero problems with swingarms on our bikes.
Why did HD do this?
Maybe to streamline parts inventory a little as all the bikes now use 1" axles (I think ?)
Maybe to streamline Sportster swingarm production?
Anyway I just thought I'd share my observations with ya's :luvsport