- Joined
- Sep 25, 2009
- Messages
- 2,560
- Age
- 69
- Location
- West Des Moines, IA
- Bike
- 2022 Kymco AK 550
- 2024 Miles
- 005929
Rather than continue to lurk with any more comments on another thread (hijacking?) I figured I should have my own thread on the adventures of installing a DenRay hitch on my ST1100.
Here is where I am to date:
I have looked into the possibility of using an available Bushtec hitch but found out that the pin that is welded on does not have a ball adapter from Bushtec to use with the trailer I was looking at. So I had to pass on that one. Instead I did go ahead and buy a new hitch from Total Marketing Concept. The hitch arrived a week ago. This weekend I "tried" to install it.
I found that the muffler bolts are not long enough to mount both the hitch and muffler. I removed one muffler mount bolt and tried the hitch mounting there but determined that I need to get longer bolts, by about 5 mm at least. The factory mount bolts are 50 mm long and have 1-2 threads showing (maybe 2 mm). The hitch mounting bracket is a firm 5 mm thick. I was thinking of just leaving off the 2 mm thick factory washer on the outside of the mount but that is really needed to keep the rubber insert for the muffler mount from pulling through. The instructions that came with the hitch says to "Take off the rubber shim to install aluminum braces, put them back after installation." What rubber shim? I don't think this is the main hitch hoop since that is chrome (steel?) and the only obvious aluminum are the hangers. But then again, what rubber shim?
I did find stainless 60mm x 8mm m-8 button head cap bolts to replace the stock hex head muffler bolts, which are 50mm x 8mm m-8 bolts. These I found at True Value.
I will be posting some photos when I have time to try the install again.
Here is where I am to date:
I have looked into the possibility of using an available Bushtec hitch but found out that the pin that is welded on does not have a ball adapter from Bushtec to use with the trailer I was looking at. So I had to pass on that one. Instead I did go ahead and buy a new hitch from Total Marketing Concept. The hitch arrived a week ago. This weekend I "tried" to install it.
I found that the muffler bolts are not long enough to mount both the hitch and muffler. I removed one muffler mount bolt and tried the hitch mounting there but determined that I need to get longer bolts, by about 5 mm at least. The factory mount bolts are 50 mm long and have 1-2 threads showing (maybe 2 mm). The hitch mounting bracket is a firm 5 mm thick. I was thinking of just leaving off the 2 mm thick factory washer on the outside of the mount but that is really needed to keep the rubber insert for the muffler mount from pulling through. The instructions that came with the hitch says to "Take off the rubber shim to install aluminum braces, put them back after installation." What rubber shim? I don't think this is the main hitch hoop since that is chrome (steel?) and the only obvious aluminum are the hangers. But then again, what rubber shim?
I did find stainless 60mm x 8mm m-8 button head cap bolts to replace the stock hex head muffler bolts, which are 50mm x 8mm m-8 bolts. These I found at True Value.
I will be posting some photos when I have time to try the install again.