Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[cpm83]

Thanks for the info....I`m going to make an adapter ring out of abs plastic to try to adapt the polk for a three hole mounting.  I want these speakers in my fairing but I want to have a tight seal around the speaker perimeter for good bass response.

[Henrycm]

I am going to try to squeeze some 4" speakers in there.  That is my next project.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[cpm83]

Over the weekend I made some abs plastic rings to adapt the Polk 3 1/2 in speakers to fit in the fairing and replace the OEM made in China speakers.  It sounds good, but the Polks could use a bit more power to really come alive.  I ordered a small 50 watt digital amp from CycleSounds which should mount inside the fairing in place of the OEM 20 watt amp.  Once in place, the fairing will look completely stock but have the upgraded speakers and 50 Watt amp.  I`ll let you know how it goes when I get the new amp installed.........

[ejvette]

Over the weekend I made some abs plastic rings to adapt the Polk 3 1/2 in speakers to fit in the fairing and replace the OEM made in China speakers.  It sounds good, but the Polks could use a bit more power to really come alive.  I ordered a small 50 watt digital amp from CycleSounds which should mount inside the fairing in place of the OEM 20 watt amp.  Once in place, the fairing will look completely stock but have the upgraded speakers and 50 Watt amp.  I`ll let you know how it goes when I get the new amp installed.........

Post up pics on how this is done!

[cpm83]

I`m sorry I don`t have pictures,  but I got the new speakers and 50 watt amp in and here is what I did:
I bought an ABS plastic sheet from Autotoys.com (their #SKU_7435).  I cut out 2 rings using a 4 in and a 3 1/8 in hole saw.  My local hardware store had hole saws of this exact dimension.  Once I had 2 rings with an outside dia of 4 in and an inside dia of 3 1/8 in,  I drilled holes for the speaker mounting screws using the OEM speakers which I had out as a template.  There is a little notch to cut also.  Watch that the location of the notch and holes will result in the wire connection posts on the new speakers to be in the same postion as the original speakers.  I also cut 2 rings made of thin gasket material to match the plastic rings I made.  I glued the rings to the backside of the Polk DB351`s and glued the gasket material rings to the back side of the plastic rings.  The speakers will now fit with a little bit of pushing and playing around in place of the OEM speakers.  For the amp install,  it helps greatly to have the 2012 FLSTSE3 specific service manual which has exploded diagrams so you can completely disassemble the windshield and fairing which will give you access to the inside of the speaker box.  The 50 watt amp is from CycleSounds.com.  I cut the wires coming out of the OEM amp and removed it.  You also have to cut the wire bundle that goes to the OEM power/volume control.  NOTE:  after this new amp install the OEM power and volume control will not function.  The new amp has no power switch or volume controls.  You will have to control the volume directly on the GPS unit or Ipod if using an Ipod, and the amp is designed to be powered  on all the time whenever the bike is running.  (Cycle Sounds is going to make a volume control that mounts on the handlebar switch housing in a few months, which I will add later).  I then spliced and soldered the new amp power and speaker wires to the original wires.  Be careful to leave in place the connector and wires that power the GPS unit.  The new amp is a tad larger than the original and I was sweating it out as to whether the new amp would mount where the original was.  If you push the new amp with the wire bundle coming out of it aiming *down* into the space, you can get the new amp in as deep as possible and zip tie it in place through the original amp mounting screw holes. Just  zip tie around the body of the new amp and pull the zip tie tight.  Using the service manual and a helper,  reassemble the whole fairing and windshield in the reverse order of disassembly.
Once all is done,  the fairing will look completely stock and still use the original wire and connector that goes from the fairing to the bike.  I must say I like the improvement of sound and volume over the stock set up... when the handlebar switch housing volume control from CycleSounds is available, I`m going to install that and everything will be    Feel free to private message me if you need any more advice!

[ejvette]

I`m sorry I don`t have pictures,  but I got the new speakers and 50 watt amp in and here is what I did:
I bought an ABS plastic sheet from Autotoys.com (their #SKU_7435).  I cut out 2 rings using a 4 in and a 3 1/8 in hole saw.  My local hardware store had hole saws of this exact dimension.  Once I had 2 rings with an outside dia of 4 in and an inside dia of 3 1/8 in,  I drilled holes for the speaker mounting screws using the OEM speakers which I had out as a template.  There is a little notch to cut also.  Watch that the location of the notch and holes will result in the wire connection posts on the new speakers to be in the same postion as the original speakers.  I also cut 2 rings made of thin gasket material to match the plastic rings I made.  I glued the rings to the backside of the Polk DB351`s and glued the gasket material rings to the back side of the plastic rings.  The speakers will now fit with a little bit of pushing and playing around in place of the OEM speakers.  For the amp install,  it helps greatly to have the 2012 FLSTSE3 specific service manual which has exploded diagrams so you can completely disassemble the windshield and fairing which will give you access to the inside of the speaker box.  The 50 watt amp is from CycleSounds.com.  I cut the wires coming out of the OEM amp and removed it.  You also have to cut the wire bundle that goes to the OEM power/volume control.  NOTE:  after this new amp install the OEM power and volume control will not function.  The new amp has no power switch or volume controls.  You will have to control the volume directly on the GPS unit or Ipod if using an Ipod, and the amp is designed to be powered  on all the time whenever the bike is running.  (Cycle Sounds is going to make a volume control that mounts on the handlebar switch housing in a few months, which I will add later).  I then spliced and soldered the new amp power and speaker wires to the original wires.  Be careful to leave in place the connector and wires that power the GPS unit.  The new amp is a tad larger than the original and I was sweating it out as to whether the new amp would mount where the original was.  If you push the new amp with the wire bundle coming out of it aiming *down* into the space, you can get the new amp in as deep as possible and zip tie it in place through the original amp mounting screw holes. Just  zip tie around the body of the new amp and pull the zip tie tight.  Using the service manual and a helper,  reassemble the whole fairing and windshield in the reverse order of disassembly.
Once all is done,  the fairing will look completely stock and still use the original wire and connector that goes from the fairing to the bike.  I must say I like the improvement of sound and volume over the stock set up... when the handlebar switch housing volume control from CycleSounds is available, I`m going to install that and everything will be    Feel free to private message me if you need any more advice!

I ordered the polks from crutchfield they were on sale $29 free shipping and the ABS material to make the mounting ring adapters going to tackle this in a few weeks.  So sick of the distorted sound from the OEM speakers willing to try anything right now.

[cpm83]

Hi ejvette...Something to try if you want...I was not happy with the ABS  plastic rings I made because their thickness made using the stock grills and chrome trim rings impossible to put back on.  What I ended up doing and am very happy with is this - I pulled the tweeters off each of my Harley stock speakers (they just pull off from the main speaker and you cut the wires to them) and very slowly carefully used a dremel tool with a circular disc cutting tool to cut around the edge of the speaker on the *back* side.  I went around and around a little at a time, rotating the speaker  holding it by the magnet  until the outer ring separated from the speaker.  Now you have the original ring which you can epoxy to the back side of the Polks.  It is actually faster than fabricating rings using ABS plastic.  Be careful to get the little notch in the right location.  Now the Polks mount just like the stock speakers and everything is beautiful.  Feel free to private message me if you have questions...I am very pleased with my results, but it took a lot of trial and error that I may be able to spare you of.  Good luck!

[ejvette]

Hi ejvette...Something to try if you want...I was not happy with the ABS  plastic rings I made because their thickness made using the stock grills and chrome trim rings impossible to put back on.  What I ended up doing and am very happy with is this - I pulled the tweeters off each of my Harley stock speakers (they just pull off from the main speaker and you cut the wires to them) and very slowly carefully used a dremel tool with a circular disc cutting tool to cut around the edge of the speaker on the *back* side.  I went around and around a little at a time, rotating the speaker  holding it by the magnet  until the outer ring separated from the speaker.  Now you have the original ring which you can epoxy to the back side of the Polks.  It is actually faster than fabricating rings using ABS plastic.  Be careful to get the little notch in the right location.  Now the Polks mount just like the stock speakers and everything is beautiful.  Feel free to private message me if you have questions...I am very pleased with my results, but it took a lot of trial and error that I may be able to spare you of.  Good luck!

Now you tell me after i ordered the ABS lol thanks sounds like you saved me some agrivation!

[cpm83]

sorry you ordered the ABS...when I made my post it was what I used,  and later I took the speakers out again.  This project was a *LOT* of trial and error!  I must have had the speakers in and out again 4 times before I found what I think is the best way.  Hopefully the ABS didn`t cost you too much........message me if you have questions....

[Charlie]

I'm watching this post with great anticipation! after fitting the Rinehart Crossbacks i cant hear the stock sound system at all!!!

[ejvette]

I installed the polk speakers tremendous sound improvement.  The stock speakers look like pieces of crap against the polks.  But this install is by no means clean and easy. The polks are a little smaller in diameter hence theres no longer a moisture seal.  To fit the right speaker I had to hack out a small piece of the internal compartment for the larger magnet to fit. I trimmed the tabs on the polks just enough to snugly fit them in the opening.  You can align 1 tab with a screw hole and use the speaker cover basically to secure it with the other 2 screws.  Kinda jury rigged but it works. Looks completely stock when finished but huge improvement in sound.

[cpm83]

You will not have a good bass sound if you have space around the speakers where they mount....I found this out the hard way too.  Did you think about cutting the surrounding rings off the stock speakers and epoxying them to the back side of the polks like I ended up doing?  This worked well for me.  I didn`t have to cut anything to allow room for the magnets,  but I did manipulate the internal wire harness for the GPS and it was tight....

[Charlie]

I installed the Polk speakers tremendous sound improvement.  The stock speakers look like pieces of crap against the Polk's.  But this install is by no means clean and easy. The Polk's are a little smaller in diameter hence theres no longer a moisture seal.  To fit the right speaker I had to hack out a small piece of the internal compartment for the larger magnet to fit. I trimmed the tabs on the Polk's just enough to snugly fit them in the opening.  You can align 1 tab with a screw hole and use the speaker cover basically to secure it with the other 2 screws.  Kinda jury rigged but it works. Looks completely stock when finished but huge improvement in sound.

Do you have any photos of the install?
Is it still running off the HD amp or did you change that also?

[cpm83]

I`m sorry I don`t have photos of my install.  It looks completely stock after finished.  Cutting the surrounding rings off the OEM speakers and epoxying them to the Polk speakers was something I wish I had thought of earlier (in fact, I screwed up once and had to purchase a new OEM speaker from Harley just so I could cut the outer ring off of it!).  I replaced the OEM amp with the Cycle Sounds digital amp.  It is very close to the dimensions of the stock amp but more power.  I used a zip tie to secure it through the original amp mounting holes.  It was a really tight fit but I did manage to squeeze it in there.  The only thing some folks may not be happy with is that I had to cut the wires to the OEM power and volume controls, so they do not function now.  I control the volume with the IPOD or with the GPS unit when I`m using it. You also get EQ/tone control on the ipod this way also.  I put velcro on the back of the ipod and on the plastic cover for the GPS mount so I can place the Ipod on the Gps mount when I want music but no GPS...works great.  If I can be of any help don`t hesitate to contact me.  This job took me several attempts to finally figure what would be best and I had the fairing and the housing for the stereo system off and on several times before I was finally happy.  Frankly I got so tired of doing and re-doing it that I didn`t have the patience to take photos, but I am very happy with the results.  PM me if you need to talk more......good luck!

[ejvette]

Do you have any photos of the install?
Is it still running off the HD amp or did you change that also?

No I kept the stock amp just the speaker change alone was a great improvement but cpm is right the bass is lacking with the gap around the ring.