Manky Monkey Motors

Has any one got any pictures of a harley service car without the body on it, i would like to see the leaf spring layout. I am thinking of other ways of fitting the axle. With the way my back is going im looking at other ways apart from hard tail

Found this Merv. try searching Harley service car.
Its the back end of one

It looks like it is just the box that's on springs ???

Thanks Terry
Some of them are on actual leaf springs, i just cant find an open picture of one

Like I said Merv,go the adjustable shocks route..much better than clunky heavy leaf springs :)

It's definitely working on the leaf springs,but by Christ it's Fugly ? :-\

Cheers Stinkey
Im just looking at options

Your not wrong :D

If you want help you know where I am

The service car was tested with spring but didn't handle well so they used a hard tail setup.

Thanks to the both of you

The seat on my hard tail is far more comfortable shock wise than any bike I have had (that includes Harley). Four inches plus of vertical movement. Adjustable spring preload and fully damped. Easier than mounting the axle on springs.
If you want to spring the axle have you thought about quarter-elliptics
Just an idea.

Thanks Olds
Could you explain  quarter-elliptics, thats a new one on me

Quarter-eleptics...you use the springs as radius rods as well as suspension basically ?

Yup.
Basic problem with traditional leaf springs ( semi elliptic) is you need the frame to finish quite some distance behind the axle for the rear shackle mounting.
Quarter elliptic are like semi elliptic cut in half with one end firmly mounted to the frame and the other end to the axle.
Usually used with a radius rod (each side) but I have seen setups where the springs are doubled up. That is they are fitted top and bottom of the axle so no radius rods are needed.
Quarter elliptic springs can be splayed, meaning that the mounts are wide apart at the axle but narrow at the frame. Another setup is to use them as transverse springs, in conjunction with four radius rods where the springs are solidly mounted to the frame above the diff.

Sorry about the picture quality Merv ? Just google quarter-eleptics (images) and you will see much better..some good ideas,but can be quite heavy ? And you'd also have to fit some sort of shocks as well ? So it's going to look busy ?

thanks for the information, i think its back to the drawing board 

But you can't beat this for simple beauty and all from the factory once taken from it's cage ?

That is nice Mr S.

If only I had the money to chrome it ? ;D

Doesn't need chrome, it looks great.

She's right :) Polish or powder-coat it.