Greasing steering head bearings?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 375
Likes: 8
From: Arizona
After reading this thread I pulled out the service manual and it involves removing the outer and inner fairing, pulling the whole upper triple tree/handle bar assembly, then your finally down to disassembling the steering stem/bearing assembly. Shouldn't take more than 15 to 20 minutes right?
What I'm talking about is just removing the outer fairing and adjusting the bearing preload using a 1/4" X 6" extension, and measuring the swing back of the forks. Literally 15 to 20 minutes.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 4
From: Arizona
My old bike had the zerk. Honestly, I wasn't that attentive, greasing it twice a year. 100s of thousands of miles, and even with some neglect, never replaced the neck bearings or had an issue.
I figured this new setup hasn't really been proven yet, so decided to stick to the schedule.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 504
Likes: 2
From: NE IOWA
Had it done at 25k and 50k.
My old bike had the zerk. Honestly, I wasn't that attentive, greasing it twice a year. 100s of thousands of miles, and even with some neglect, never replaced the neck bearings or had an issue.
I figured this new setup hasn't really been proven yet, so decided to stick to the schedule.
My old bike had the zerk. Honestly, I wasn't that attentive, greasing it twice a year. 100s of thousands of miles, and even with some neglect, never replaced the neck bearings or had an issue.
I figured this new setup hasn't really been proven yet, so decided to stick to the schedule.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 4
From: Arizona
50k is recent, $1100, with plugs and fuel filter, and I think a more accurate price. I was local, leaving it a few days, not seeing it apart.
edit-if I remember correctly, steering head bearing on its own, books as a 6 hour job
Last edited by riderideride; Feb 21, 2015 at 01:47 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,878
Likes: 164
From: Northern California
WOW!!! $1,100 for a 25k service. Sometimes I wonder if Harley designs the bikes so they are expensive.to service, just to keep the service department going...A new Corvette cost less to service.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 4
From: Arizona
Tires cost more on a bike too, when consider they have 1/5 the life as a Vette. Saying a bike is cheaper than a car, is only done to talk yourself or wife into it.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,878
Likes: 164
From: Northern California
Very true
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 328
Likes: 4
From: Arizona
Realized when I discussed what I paid, it was a clumsy answer. $1100 at 50k seems on target. With the steering head bearing lube, front forks also rebuilt at 50k. At 25k, no fork seals done, so they don’t get taken apart. 25k I would not expect $1100, but what I did pay on the 25k was not the average I believe.
My 25k did not go smoothly, but feel no reason to bad mouth those that did it, so earlier left out some details of how I paid what I did. I got a wrong write up quote of too little, and taking longer than agreed. As noted earlier, I also had them do the plugs, trans and primary fluid which factory schedule does not call for at 25k.
Here are a few of those details.
I paid $370, before tax, for my 25k, which I think is less than average. This included a $40 discount off of labor. So if that's the only discount, should have paid $420+tax. It was invoiced at 4 hrs of $85 per hr, so labor would have been $340, although with discount was $300 labor. So 300 plus $70 parts, that's how I paid $370.
It was 6 months ago so little foggy on these next details. I seem to remember they also removed 2hrs from the bill, and should have been billed 6hrs plus parts. If that is correct, I should have paid $580, without the discounts. Maybe I'm just sort of right, if they only removed one hour, I would have expected $495.
Don't know if that makes it more or less confusing, but 25k should not be $1100, although $50k, yes.
edit-at 50k, regarding front end rebuild which included steering neck inspect, invoice for that portion shows parts $99.75 (rebuild kit and fork fluid), and labor $399.96. Don't know if that is a matrix pricing or maybe 99.99hr x 4.
My 25k did not go smoothly, but feel no reason to bad mouth those that did it, so earlier left out some details of how I paid what I did. I got a wrong write up quote of too little, and taking longer than agreed. As noted earlier, I also had them do the plugs, trans and primary fluid which factory schedule does not call for at 25k.
Here are a few of those details.
I paid $370, before tax, for my 25k, which I think is less than average. This included a $40 discount off of labor. So if that's the only discount, should have paid $420+tax. It was invoiced at 4 hrs of $85 per hr, so labor would have been $340, although with discount was $300 labor. So 300 plus $70 parts, that's how I paid $370.
It was 6 months ago so little foggy on these next details. I seem to remember they also removed 2hrs from the bill, and should have been billed 6hrs plus parts. If that is correct, I should have paid $580, without the discounts. Maybe I'm just sort of right, if they only removed one hour, I would have expected $495.
Don't know if that makes it more or less confusing, but 25k should not be $1100, although $50k, yes.
edit-at 50k, regarding front end rebuild which included steering neck inspect, invoice for that portion shows parts $99.75 (rebuild kit and fork fluid), and labor $399.96. Don't know if that is a matrix pricing or maybe 99.99hr x 4.
Last edited by riderideride; Feb 25, 2015 at 06:52 PM.