Panniers, or saddlebags, were once a simple method for horse-borne riders to carry necessities over long distances. While modern civilization no longer relies on true horse power for transportation, the need to ride has been satisfied by steeds of steel and chrome. The Dyna Wide Glide has been one of the most prominent steeds in Harley-Davidson's stable since its introduction in the late 1970s. However, the Wide Glide comes with few amenities in regard to luggage carrying capabilities. Luckily, Harley-Davidson offers several saddlebags for the Wide Glide, ranging from a simple throw-over type set to a more permanently installed saddlebag set. While the rigid bags offer more security, they also require the relocation of the motorcycle's rear facing turn signals, adding to the complexity of the installation process.
Instructions
Throw-Over Saddlebag Installation
1. Park the motorcycle on its side stand and lay the saddlebags over the passenger portion of the seat.
2. Tighten the adjustment laces or straps that bridge the saddlebags until the top of the saddlebags are above the rear fender supports. Each saddlebag should rest snugly against the side of the seat without touching the rear brake rotor, rear pulley or exhaust pipes. Reposition the saddlebags or tighten the adjustment laces if the saddlebags rest against any of these components.
3. Wrap the front saddlebag mounting straps around the upper rear shock absorber mounts. Pull the rear mounting straps toward the rear turn signal support at the end of the rear fender.
4. Pull the mounting straps taut until the saddlebags have no front-to-rear or side-to-side movement.
Rigidly-Mounted Saddlebag Installation and Turn Signal Relocation
5. Mount the motorcycle on a service stand or jack and lift the rear wheel off the ground. This provides more room to work under the rear fender.
6. Remove the screw from the bottom of the battery cover on the right side of the motorcycle, using a Phillips screwdriver. Lift the battery cover up and off the battery. Remove the black negative battery cable from the battery's negative terminal, identified by a minus symbol, using a Phillips screwdriver. Move the cable away from the battery and the motorcycle's frame.
7. Reach under both sides of the rear fender until you feel the rear turn signal wiring and the wiring clips. Work the wiring out of the clips, then pull the wiring down until you have exposed at least two inches of wiring. Cut both rear turn signal wires with wire cutters. Strip off a 1/2-inch of insulation from both ends of the cut wire, using a wire stripping tool.
8. Remove the rear turn signal mounting bolts from the inner edges of the rear fender, using an open-end wrench. Pull the turn signals out of the rear fender support struts. Pull the rear turn signals off their mounting stalks.
9. Pry the lenses off of both turn signals, using the tip of a flat-head screwdriver. Pull the bulb, reflector assembly and wiring out of the turn signal housing.
10. Remove the rearmost bolts at the tip of both rear fender supports, using a socket and a socket wrench. Screw the extended turn signal stalks, included in the relocation kit, into the fender support bolt holes. Tighten the stalks to between 12 and 18 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench fitted with a crowfoot wrench.
11. Screw the turn signal jam nuts onto the ends of both extended turn signal stalks. Screw the turn signal housings onto the stalks until they are level and pointing toward the rear of the motorcycle.
12. Push the turn signal wiring through the hole drilled into the center of the extended turn signal stalks until the wiring extends out from the inside of the rear fender. Push the reflector and bulb assemblies into the turn signal housings, then push the lenses into place.
13. Cut a length of electrical primary wire to bridge the gap between both ends of the cut turn signal wiring. Strip off 1/4-inch of insulation from both ends of the primary wire. Splice the turn signal wiring and the primary wire together, using a heat-shrink-type butt connector and a heat gun. Repeat on the opposite rear turn signal.
14. Reconnect the negative cable to the battery's negative terminal. Turn on the ignition switch and activate the turn signals. Check that the turn signal wiring and the primary wire are securely spliced if the turn signals do not illuminate. Turn off the ignition switch.
15. Remove the left fender support bolt nearest the seat, using a socket wrench. Place a spacer, included in the saddlebag kit, against the bolt hole. Push one of the kit's replacement mounting bolts and lock washers through the inside of the rear fender until the bolt threads extend out through the spacer.
16. Hold the saddlebag against the left side of the rear fender. Loosely thread the mounting bolt into the mounting point at the rear of the saddlebag. Pivot the saddlebag upward against the bolt until the remaining left rear fender support is accessible. Remove the bolt and install another spacer, lock washer and mounting bolt. Loosely thread the bolt into the remaining saddlebag mounting point. Tighten each bolt to between 25 and 40 foot-pounds. Install the right saddlebag, using the same method.
17.Remove the motorcycle from the service stand or jack and lower it onto its side stand. Reattach the battery cover to the right side of the motorcycle.
Tags: turn signal, rear fender, rear turn, turn signals, rear turn signal
