This stock set up sucks (FXDL)... i want to install wide glide bars, is there enough slack in the wires to reach?? in my old sportster, there was plenty of slack hidden in the headlight housing but in the dyna i notice the wires lead down between the tank and frame on the left side. hmmm....
please help if you have done this mod or know first hand
thanks
I know that on an FXD, putting on Wide Glide Mini apes are a bolt on deal. No cutting of the wires is nessessary. Under the tank is a keeper for the harness, you may need to snip the keeper and a wire tie to gain enough slack to make them fit. Just work all the slack you can out from under the tank.
I just put 16 inch apes on my '02 FXDWG. My experience may be useful (but model info may not correspond to yours and mini-apes are sure easier). First question is whether you plan to hide your wiring inside the bars. A pain but worth it. Absolutely must cut wires to do so. Some have said that you can disconnect the wiring at the harness (small screwdriver pushing little prongs inside harness) but it was too tight for me. If you don't plan to hide the wiring, you may have enough wire. Cut the tie as mentioned. I didn't see a keeper but did see another tie inside the tube. Cut both. You'll need to lift the front of the tank to get access. On my ride there is a rubber plug on the right side of the frame tube. Pull it to get at one of the ties and maybe push/pull a bit of wiring out of the tube. Also on my bike there is a service loop of wire coiled under the seat. There is a rubber cover inside the rear wheel well. Remove the cover and uncoil the loop. It'll give you more wire. Then you can pull the excess wire and harness out of the front of the tube. I found this to be a real ***** -- the service loop was jammed in so tight that it wouldn't come out. My local dealer said that they often have this problem too and sometimes have to remove the rear wheel to get in there enough to pull out the loop. A major pain. Keep in mind when you're pulling on the wire that there's a harness inside the tube and if you pull hard enough, you'll pull the harness apart. Not a good thing. If you do cut the wires, a few suggestions learned from others (mostly on this board) (a) be careful to cut the wire leaving enough room to solder in the splice (b) try to stagger the splices so that you don't have a big "clump" of connectors and tape that won't fit back down the tube, (c) solder and heat shrink connectors are the way to go, and (d) don't forget to unhook your battery (obvious). Also don't forget about your throttle/idle/clutch cables and your front brake line. Probably long enough but I don't know on your model. Hope these tips help a bit. Overall I'd be sure to buy a shop manual appropriate to your model as it'll give you lots of tips. Good luck.
[quote]Originally posted by Oaktown
[b]I just put 16 inch apes on my '02 FXDWG. First question is whether you plan to hide your wiring inside the bars. Absolutely must cut wires to do so.
No No No. I easy ran the wires in my custom 1" bars on my FXDXT. Most apes would be a peace of cake to do so.
The FXDL is one of the dynas that have a different wire harness but you only know what you got after you pull all that wire fron you backbone.
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