1976 FXE Forward Controls

[SanB2013]

The snow is here so guess it's time to begin some changes on the 76" FXE.  I'm going to go with forward controls and running boards.  Mu one question is will this change the shift pattern?  Currently it's 1 down 3 up.  The attached pictures are of the mid-mount linkage.  From checking out pictures of other bikes I believe the shift pattern will remain the same.  Also when I remove the shift arm from the inner primary will I need to plug the hole the arm goes trough?  Also is there a special fitting to use to plug the hole if necessary?  This is still using the primary chain.

Thanks, Steve

[JamLazyAss]

Your shift pattern will remain the same.
Test it by pressing your current shift lever down, towards first gear.
You should see the upper arm pictured go in the same direction.

As for the hole,
If you are talking about that 'Oval" shape piece, they sell them without a hole for forward controls.

[david lee]

shifting patten stays the same and you have to take the inner primary off to remove selector shaft and also plug the hole or put on a flh inner primary.why are you going forward controls.i did the same once and regretted it and went back to stock.might make sense if your a tall person that does a lot of highway riding

[JamLazyAss]

Here is the cover you will need:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-PANHEAD-SHOVELHEAD-EVO-TWIN-CAM-CHROME-INSPECTION-COVER-FOR-1965-UP-/172411067797?hash=item2824801d95:g:0OYAAOSwuwRYLJPM&vxp=mtr

[dirtymike]

you have a FLH outter primary on it for the left floor board. now. For the right side you will need to weld a tab on the frame for the rear mount of the floor board. I converted to boards a few years ago and it seems more comfortable on long rides, city not so much.   

[tmwmoose]

On the back side of the primary were the shifter went thru I pulled the seal and siliconed a quarter or nickle forget which one fit and put a new seal over it .

[SanB2013]

Here is the cover you will need:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-PANHEAD-SHOVELHEAD-EVO-TWIN-CAM-CHROME-INSPECTION-COVER-FOR-1965-UP-/172411067797?hash=item2824801d95:g:0OYAAOSwuwRYLJPM&vxp=mtr

I'm not tall but the mid controls just don't feel right so I just want to give it a try. My last bike was ridged with floorboards and stock type forward controls and was very comfortable. I've had a couple of sportsters with their mid controls and liked them a lot but they sat more compact.

[SanB2013]

you have a FLH outter primary on it for the left floor board. now. For the right side you will need to weld a tab on the frame for the rear mount of the floor board. I converted to boards a few years ago and it seems more comfortable on long rides, city not so much.

Thanks for the link, I'll will need one of those.  I was referring to the hole on the inner primary cover where the shift arm passes through to the other side.  tmwmoose had the idea of using silicone to seal a coin of the proper size, sounds like a good idea to me.

[SanB2013]

On the back side of the primary were the shifter went thru I pulled the seal and siliconed a quarter or nickle forget which one fit and put a new seal over it .

I believe my frame has the tab for the right side floorboard bracket.  The attached picture is from the right side forward of the existing foot peg.

[david lee]

Here is the cover you will need:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-PANHEAD-SHOVELHEAD-EVO-TWIN-CAM-CHROME-INSPECTION-COVER-FOR-1965-UP-/172411067797?hash=item2824801d95:g:0OYAAOSwuwRYLJPM&vxp=mtr

I'm not tall but the mid controls just don't feel right so I just want to give it a try. My last bike was ridged with floorboards and stock type forward controls and was very comfortable. I've had a couple of sportsters with their mid controls and liked them a lot but they sat more compact.

i hope your happy when its done as its a big job to reverse it back to stock as i found out like removing the inner primary again to fit the selector shaft.what i have seen is when people do what your doing is to leave the stock selector shaft in and put a clamp on where the gear lever bolts on which is an easy way out if you go back to stock controls

[76shuvlinoff]

Personally I really like boards. I don't have enough inseam for forward pegs without killing my knees in 50 miles and mids make me feel bunched up. I did put some mid pegs on an 09 FX just to have a place to move my feet to from the forward pegs.
With boards I can move my feet around just about enough to stay comfortable. I don't have highway pegs on my 12 EG but I might change that this winter.

Mark

[david lee]

Personally I really like boards. I don't have enough inseam for forward pegs without killing my knees in 50 miles and mids make me feel bunched up. I did put some mid pegs on an 09 FX just to have a place to move my feet to from the forward pegs.
With boards I can move my feet around just about enough to stay comfortable. I don't have highway pegs on my 12 EG but I might change that this winter.

Mark

i agree forward pegs on a long ride are knee breakers if your a short person.iwent back to mid controls as my riding is mostly city riding but have kept the boards so i can just slip on for long rides

[Topjimmy1]

Hey Steve... I was not going to run boards on mine since it sits in the weeds already, but in looking thru all my parts for a banana caliper the other day (lol) I found a set of boards n controls I acquired years back that mount more forward completely off of the stock mounts where the front motor mount crosses the down tubes... bolted them on and have pretty damn good ground clearance, but riding it will probably make me rethink that, lol,  I can try to send a pic of what they look like, don't know who made them. And I believe you said you were not too tall? I also put a round swingarm on it with the 11 inch shorty shocks and it sure sat it down... love the low ridin' bikes...

[SanB2013]

Hey Steve... I was not going to run boards on mine since it sits in the weeds already, but in looking thru all my parts for a banana caliper the other day (lol) I found a set of boards n controls I acquired years back that mount more forward completely off of the stock mounts where the front motor mount crosses the down tubes... bolted them on and have pretty damn good ground clearance, but riding it will probably make me rethink that, lol,  I can try to send a pic of what they look like, don't know who made them. And I believe you said you were not too tall? I also put a round swingarm on it with the 11 inch shorty shocks and it sure sat it down... love the low ridin' bikes...

Pictures are always great.  Along with the boards and relocated controls I'm removing the 4" over tubes and replacing with stock length due to my short legs so any ideas for "short" will be greatly appreciated.  Also I'm thinking about leaving the mid foot pegs to be able to move my feet for more comfort.  I have tried the highway pegs out front and they just don't work for me.

[Topjimmy1]

I'll try to get some shots tomorrow

[76shuvlinoff]

To get lower I don't recommend short shocks unless you can find some upper end ones. The cheap shorties I had really rode like crap. I am currently using a longer than stock take off shock from an 05 FX on my 76 FLH in combination with an adjustable swingarm and really like the ride.
I have 3 degree bearing cups in the neck kicking it out and lowering it but it's not a lot. My right side floorboard is moved outward 3/4-7/8" to accommodate a Thunderheader. It's usually dragging in a right hand curve so I am considering bringing the front end back in and the rear back up a notch just to reduce that.

[SanB2013]

On the back side of the primary were the shifter went thru I pulled the seal and siliconed a quarter or nickle forget which one fit and put a new seal over it .

I was thinking about putting a freeze plug in there but am having trouble finding on that will fit.  It's smaller than 1" and may be a metric size.  Anyone else done this before?

[SanB2013]

I found a freeze plug that fit perfectly in the shifter shaft hole in the inner primary cover.  It was a 25 mm plug I found at a local auto parts store.  If anyone is interested I have the Dorman part#.

[crock]

Post it

[SanB2013]

The freeze plug is a Dorman 555-097





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[Hogman]

The freeze plug is a Dorman 555-097





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Impressive! Looks Like it Fits QUITE Nicely Sir!




ME