I have a friend who has a 2006 FXDI, like mine. He is having some front end issues.

He just had the dealer install the new washer to correct the front end clunk. Afterwards, he continued having the clunk and found his steering stem nut could be loosened by hand. Another quality job by the dealer's service department. I have adjusted the adjustment nut and torqued the steering stem nut to correct this.

The issue he is still having is the front forks and bars begin to wobble during deceleration from speeds above 50 mph. You can definitely feel the wobble, as well as see it if you let go of the bars as you decel. The whole front end begins to shimmy. His problem has existed since before the dealer installed the steering head washer.

There is no wobble during acceleration. There is no vibration as if a tire is not balanced or bad. He has a had a new front motor mount.

Any ideas?


Thanks,

John

 

You've gone over everything I was going to suggest. However, how do you KNOW the tire/wheel is balanced? I would definitly have that checked out. I would also suggest that you go over the engine mount balancing sequence as descibed in the service manual. It may be twisted on the mounts and since they're rubber it's easy to get twisted. I wouldn't worry too much about the top mount just the front and rear. Also if he hasn't shimmed the front mount to take out the stretch of the front mounts rubber then I'd really suggest doing that. My bike made all the difference in the world once I shimmed mine. The attached pictures show the process of shimming that front mount. These are not my pictures, I got them from another forum member who wrote up the process so I am taking no credit. What I can take credit for however is stripping out my front mount because I didn't check the torque values before I started so I had to buy another mount...in other words be careful and always follow torque values.

 

I would definately check engine alignment if the same dealer replaced the mount that did the steering head god knows whats wrong Also check to make sure the other mounts are tight. Does the wobble change if down shifting or in N?

 

My 06 did exactly as you described. Turned out to be the fall away was out of adjustment, had some loose spokes and the tire was badly cupped.

 

Had the same problem except mine would happen at specific speeds and were not dependent on acceleration or deceleration. Took it to a dealer and their solution was to put more air in the front tire. Inflated it to 40 psi. It worked but I was not a happy camper.

 

i would say it is the fall away... if he was having it before and the dealer did not do their job (big supprise!) then that is most likely the cause... PowerCobra GREAT WRITE UP!!!! i saved that sucker! nice work!

 

I've got a dumb question, I,m giving some love to my bike so I'm trying this.
And what the f**** I can jack my motor until the rear rocker touches the frame so I get a 1 to 1.5 inch gap so I know I wont be shimming this much but what I'm I doing wrong ?

 

My '01 FXDXT required <1/4 turn extra on the steering stem to cure the same problem (past factory spec) This was a tip from a grey haired tech.

 

My Sportster had this problem but it was cured with a new front tire.

 

You need to follow the instructions that PowerCobra98 put out...Have someone sit on the bike to keep it level or use a wheel chock. Jack the engine till the bolts are free turning (after the torque has been broken). When they are free turning, that is when you measure the gap. You don't have to take the bolts all the way out...you just need to make sure the mount is unloaded so it is not supporting the engine.
This may or may not cure your problem...as said before, fall away, tires, front and rear tire alignment, rear motor mount, etc.