Hi all, one for the sidecar chaps. Just finished fitting a leading link fork from a well known British maker.
Have had a number of issues with the forks and the manufacturer over the last two years. Problem now is that the LL forks seem to be about 30-40mm shorter than the bmw forks I took off. Can anyone tell me, is this normal for a LL swap? As the chair is now sloping toward the bike, what can I do to remedy this. Having lost all faith in the supplier, I'm putting the question out to the masses. The sidecar by the way is an HRD double adult. Many thanks, Dave.

G'day Dave,
I'd like to see some pics if you can upload them. Sounds strange. There should be some reduction in height of the whole outfit but it shouldn't make the chair lean into the bike?
The lean in is fixable providing you have the adjustability to straighten the bike up. How many mounting points do you have?
I'm unsure what you mean by the LL forks?
I know what it's like to lose faith in a manufacturer... having had a myriad of issues with the sidecar on my Triumph, but perseverance will sort it in the end. Does Highway Sidecars over your way still exist? They're in Mt Gambier I think.
Anyway. post some pics so we ie:  ( People who know more than me) can have a good look at it.
Cheers
Sean.

Who's the supplier? Name-and-shame . Seriously though, if I know who it is I may be able to help.

LL = leading link.

Regards Martin.

Morning Shaun and Dai, thanks for your replies. Highway sidecars no longer exist, stopped doing outfit stuff a couple of years ago. I'm fairly certain the whole outift; body, chassis and 4 mounting points are all HRD. When I say sloping toward the bike, what I should have said was that previously, with the standard bmw forks, the sidecar chassis was level. Now with the lower front, it slopes toward the bike. In Adelaide, there is the well known BMW chap, Lea McPeake, but as I'm in the Clare Valley, some distance from him, i'd like to try and remedy the issue myself if I can. Dai, If I said the fork came from a supplier with the same name as something which tends to spoil picnics in the UK (not bad company or lions) would that give it away? 
Anyhow, I ordered the forks, told them exactly which model, sent some pics of the outfit as well and as far as I can tell they supplied me with a set to fit an 8 valve not 16 valve. The wheel spacers they sent were all wrong, the caliper brackets would only accept the 2 piston calipers and so on. They then told me that dimensions that I sent them were for no BMW they had done before. I pointed out that at that very time, there were two K100rs 16v outfits for sale in the UK with their forks on them. One was a red and yellow K1, and one a white RS 16v. The only difference being that they were both abs and mine wasn't, which I told them when i first ordered the forks. They finally sent caliper brackets that would take the 4 piston calipers, but one was so badly made that when fitted, the huge amount of play in the axle bearing at the bottom of the bracket allowed the caliper to wobble around about a centimeter when fitted up. I had to get a local engineering firm to fix that at a cost of $500.
What I should have done is had the forks made here in Oz, but you live and learn. I thought with the suppliers previous good reputation that all would be well. Famous last words. 
I'll try to get some pics up later on today. Thanks again, Dave.

I wonder if the front mounted shocks are shorter than whats needed ?

or the pivot point behind the fork legs , to the horizontal suspension arm is misplaced ...leading to a reduced height ?
or the wrong profile size of tyre is fitted ?

just thoughts that come to mind ...without pics to see

Hello Charlie, thanks for your thoughts. I'm using the original 17inch front wheel which at the moment has a 70 profile tyre on it, so I could gain a little extra height by changing that to an 80 or 90 profile if there's anything available in 17inch. Not sure about the other suggestions. I put the forks together as stated by the supplier, but I guess its something else to check. Thanks again, Dave.

I'm surprised... If you'd have said 'Hedingham' I'd have possibly had some good news for you, but I have no contacts at Wasp.

MartinW I have an LL on my Triumph. :-) These days at my age I'm quite keen on an LLD in the arvo after lunch... but that's another story.
What I meant was that I am not sure what he meant by the forks in relation to the shocks: my fault for being inarticulate.
Still, it's impossible to make any suggestions until we can see some photos of the outfit.
How many mounting points and where do they attach to the bike? Is the nose of the chair leaning in and down?
Is the chair leaning in or is the bike leaning in?
Where does the front top mount go to? Just as far as the engine mount or up to the steering head?
How much adjustment is available on the mounts for toe-in and lean out etc?
Enquiring minds wish to know.
Sean.

Dave,
I have a HRD outfit ( mine is 11/2 but that does not matter)
My LL (also HRD) has the front axle 335mm off the ground
I also have another outfit and the LL front axle is 330mm
I measured another K100 basic (standard solo) I have and that front axle is 305mm off ground
I have the standard front wheels on all the bikes
If it is any help I would be quite happy to come up for a ride so you can have a look at my setup and maybe take measurements and see where the difference in the LL's are
Just PM me if you want to arrange something

Hi Sean, hope to have some pics up soonish, Packo, thanks for the offer. I'll check some of your measurements with mine and let you know what I find. Thanks again, Dave.

Hi again, been away for a few days, have taken some pics of the outfit with the LL forks fitted. Also measured the distance from the middle of the axle to the ground=290mm. I've also dropped the forks through the triple clamps by 9mm so the top of the stantion is now 9mm below being level with the top of the triple clamps. 
Another problem now to add to the list. Engine won't fire. Turns over no problem, pump powers up, but no fuel coming through to the injectors. Is a new pump and filter. Used a non standard filter recommended on the forum which is slightly longer than the standard one. Did wonder if the fuel line from the pump might be kinked so no fuel is getting through, but seem ok. Once again, any thou
ghts are welcome, cheers, Dave.

Dave,
Don't quite know how to address the issue of the chair sloping towards the bike as I cannot see much from the photos. But I am sure that you mentioned at one stage (I cannot find the post again) that you have had the outfit a couple of years and that it was setup OK and the only thing you have changed was the recent addition of the LL and the mounts have all remained the same as original. Is this correct???
However, you have a HRD subframe the same as mine and just for comparison I have taken a couple of further measurements - ground to centre of front top mount (near top front engine mount) 550mm
                        ground to bottom of lower triple clamp 810mm
                        ground to centre of front lower mount 225mm
My bike sits reasonably level (15'' rear wheel with K1100 shocker)
Is your bike sloping down at the front or level???
If the new LL has lowered the bike the chair may now be "higher" in relation to the bike than it was previously and the mounts may need adjusting to allow the chair to "sit" correctly and keep the chassis level. Until that happens it may make it look like the chair is leaning towards the bike.
Suggest you record any adjustments you make to any of the mounts so you can always return to your start point if unsuccessful
Might pay to check ECU plug under the seat for non firing issue and maybe a clean with deoxit' also make sure  the in tank fuel line is connected

Thanks Packo, i'll check those measurements when I get a chance. As you say, it now looks like the chair is leaning or sloping from the outside down toward the bike. The bike itself is certainly lower at the front at the front as I can't get the oil drain tub underneath the sump any more. Anyhow, i'll do some measurements and get back to you. Thanks again, Dave.

Have you managed to get this sorted yet

Hello Packo, thanks for your message, yes, it would seem I have. I had a spare k1100 front wheel, tried that without a tyre and it fitted nicely, even some of the spacers I got with the LL kit fitted better. Had a square section sidecar tyre fitted (continental I think) and so far on the few trial runs i've had all seems to be ok. The bike itself needed a new water temp sensor to start, apart from that it seems ok. It's even rideable with the chair empty, previously, with the standard k11 forks it would tank slap like mad. Thanks again for your suggestions, if you ever feel like popping up to Auburn one weekend, let me know. Thanks again, Dave.