Wednesday, April 2, 2014
How to Install F150 Electric Brake Controls
The Ford F-Series is a family of full-size pickup trucks in continuous production since 1948. The F150 pickup has a rated carrying capacity of 3/4 ton, although modern versions of this truck can carry much more than that. The braking system on late-model F150s includes an anti-lock braking system, or ABS, as standard equipment. This feature allows a vehicle to stop during an emergency without locking the wheels. The brake controller on an F150 is also known as the hydraulic control unit, or HCU.
Instructions
- 1
Remove the negative cable from the battery with a socket wrench to ensure the engine doesnt start during the procedure. Disconnect the air cleaner assembly.
2Disconnect the four fittings that connect the brake lines to the HCU with a socket wrench, and detach the brake lines from the HCU. Remove the three bolts that attach the HCU bracket to the vehicle frame, and disconnect the HCU bracket.
3Remove the two nuts that attach the HCU to its bracket with a socket wrench, and disconnect the HCU from its bracket. Detach the ABS module from the HCU.
4Attach the ABS module to the new HCU. Install the HCU to its bracket, and tighten its retaining nuts to 80 inch-pounds with a torque wrench. Connect the HCU bracket to the vehicle frame, and tighten the mounting bolts to 18 foot-pounds. Attach the brake lines to the HCU, and tighten the fittings to 13 foot-pounds.
5Connect diagnostic tool Worldwide Diagnostic System 418-F224 to the vehicles data link connector. Bleed the ABS, and use the diagnostic tool to clear any ABS faults. A qualified mechanic typically performs this step.
Friday, January 31, 2014
How to Install Sportster Forward Controls
Harley motorcycles are usually designed to let you ride with your hands up and feet stretched out in front. One exception is the Sportster, which was born as a dirt track bike, and still usually locates the foot pedals, rear brake and shift lever right under the riders knees. However, most Harley riders think the feet forward, lay back position is a more comfortable position to ride in for long distances. The usual way to achieve that lay back position on a Sportster is with a forward control kit. Numerous vendors sell these and installation is straightforward.
Instructions
- 1
Remove the shift lever retaining screw on the left side of the bike with an Allen wrench and pull the shift lever off the shifter shaft. Unscrew the shifter peg from the lifter and save.
2Remove the two socket head screws that hold the footrest bracket to the frame with an Allen socket and a socket wrench and remove the footrest. Plug the two screw holes with the plugs in the forward control kit.
3Pull the retaining ring from the footrest clevis with a pair of pliers. Remove the clevis pin and the footrest from the footrest support. Save the footrest.
4Remove the right footrest retaining ring with a pair of pliers. Remove the clevis pin, footrest and the spring washer. Save the footrest.
5Remove the brake rod cotter pin from the brake rod clevis with a pair of pliers. Pull the brake rod out of the clevis and unscrew it from the rear master cylinder with your hands.
6Unscrew the two right footrest/brake pedal screws with an Allen wrench. Pull the support bracket with attached brake assembly off the motorcycle.
7Plug both of these screw holes with plugs from the forward control kit. Unscrew the J-clip from the bottom of the right front down tube with an Allen socket and socket wrench and save the J-clip and the two J-clip mounting screws.
8Slide the new brake pedal assembly onto the footrest mount clevis. Insert the clevis into the footrest/brake pedal support bracket.
9Align the holes in the clevis and support bracket tighten the locking screw with an Allen socket and a torque wrench to 20 foot pounds of torque. Reinstall the J-clip with two the mounting screws and an Allen socket and socket wrench.
10Thread one end of the new, longer, rear brake rod into the rear master cylinder. Slip the other end of the brake rod into the clevis on the brake pedal support bracket and secure the connection with a new cotter pin from the kit.
11Insert the male mount of the old foot peg and a new spring washer from the kit into the female mount of the brake pedal assembly. Push the clevis pin from the top down through the hole in female clevis mount. Lock the clevis pin in place with a new retaining ring from the kit.
12Mount footrest/shifter pedal support bracket to the frame on the left side of the bike with an Allen socket, socket wrench and the screws included in your kit. Tighten the screws to 50 foot pounds of torque with an Allen socket and a torque wrench.
13Slide left foot pedal onto the shifter side clevis. Mount the clevis on the footrest/shifter pedal support bracket.
14Align the holes in the clevis and the support bracket. Thread the locking screw through the hole and tighten the screw to 20 foot pounds of torque with an Allen socket and a torque wrench. Push the retaining ring included with the kit onto the end of the clevis.
15Screw the far end of the shifter rod to the shifter shaft with the Allen screw included in the kit. Screw the opposite end of the shifter to the shifter arm. Tighten both screws to 150 inch pounds of torque with an Allen socket and a torque wrench.
16Spin the shifter peg into the new shift lever and tighten by hand. Insert the male end of the left foot peg and a new spring washer in the left female clevis.
17Align the holes and push the clevis pin from the top down through the clevis hole. Lock the clevis pin in place with a new retaining ring
