death wobble
#12
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Haslet Texas
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It depends on the method you used to tighten the axel.
If you put a screwdriver in the axle hole to hold it steady then you shouldn't have to but if you used the cap nuts to hold the axle when you tightened the nut then you definitely have to.
If you used the cap nut to hold the axle steady while you tightened the axle nut then you have slightly pulled your forks together and they are no longer parallel.
I would do it just because it is easy and only takes a couple of seconds.
#14
#15
as far as i can tell the death wobble has more to do with the swingarm and frame than the front of the bike
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
#16
#17
#19
i did have a slight wobble when i purchased my bike. as i was checking belt tension (among other things) i measured the distance between my rear axle and the swingarm pivot on both sides, and i was off by just over 1/8 inch. re-adjusted it and the wobble went away. might be something to double check.
#20
as far as i can tell the death wobble has more to do with the swingarm and frame than the front of the bike
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
fact is any 2 wheeled vehicle can experience this problem. not mainly Harleys and the main causes are lateral stiffness of the front tire (under inflated front tire or bad tires) height of bike center of mass(tall handle bars, fairings will amplify the problem) distance of bike center of mass from rear wheel (extended swingarms and frames) and the trail of the front end(installing to tall or to short of a rim and tire) the trail is very very important.
think of it this way look at a shopping cart when the front wheel gets bent back it throws the trail off and it wobbles.
those are just a few of the main reasons. there are a lot of other thing that will amplify the problem bad shocks, loose neck, alignment of front and rear wheels,and the list goes on.