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Dyna Glide ModelsSuper Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
Got an 09 superglide just turned over 13k miles
i last year chased the wobble and corrected it by going thru EVERYTHING including fallaway
last 200 miles I have noticed a creak when moving my handlebars when picking the bike off the kickstand. I also get a slight wobble only on decel every once in a while with my hands off the bars from around lets say 3300-2800 rpm its never did this before once I corrected the wobble.
so my question is whats the avg lifetime of neck bearings? Is it more of an age thing in my situation? (11years never repacked)
Mine on my '15 Road Glide Special was shot before three years were up. I did put 55k on it in that time, so mileage is definitely more important than how long the bike has been sitting on a battery tender.
Decelerating through 40 mph is where a lot of bikes like to start a head shake.
There is no average lifetime for steering neck bearings, I just changed a set out on my `89 Softail that had over 140,000 miles on them, they were behaving ok, but they looked discolored so they went into the scrap can.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Mar 15, 2020 at 12:54 PM.
Decelerating through 40 mph is where a lot of bikes like to start a head shake.
There is no average lifetime for steering neck bearings, I just changed a set out on my `89 Softail that had over 140,000 miles on them, and they were behaving ok, they just looked discolored to they went into the scrap can.
yea its usually where the shaking occurs. Doesnt hurt to take a look. Ive been meaning to powdercoat my trees so Ill buy new ones anyway.
My opinion is that neck bearing lifespan is completely dependent on how they're adjusted, how often adjustment is checked, how well they're packed (and possibly repacked, but I would just replace at that point), what grease is used, and which specific bearings are used. I realize you're probably asking how long they last after being factory installed, but I don't actually believe being "OEM" means that all the variables mentioned are identical and consistent.
My opinion is that neck bearing lifespan is completely dependent on how they're adjusted, how often adjustment is checked, how well they're packed (and possibly repacked, but I would just replace at that point), what grease is used, and which specific bearings are used. I realize you're probably asking how long they last after being factory installed, but I don't actually believe being "OEM" means that all the variables mentioned are identical and consistent.
Ditto F86...I would say if packed and adjusted properly and no excess moisture is present (direct spraying from hose or pressure washer around neck area) they should be good for decades.
I've had a lot of bikes of varying brands over the years, put well over 50k miles on all of them and never had to do anything with the neck bearings, at least not until the front end was taken out on my WG last year.
I pulled mine as a matter of course after a bad front end collision that bent the forks and rim but left the frame alright. They were 18 years old with 65k miles on them but were serviced twice in that time. Still looked fine after I cleaned them but the impact made me suspect them. Cost and effort to replace are minimal so it made sense to just do it.
Races were a little burnished but they rolled smooth as glass. I suspect the burnishing was from some miles spent out of adjustment (too loose and clunking when I bought it.)
These were 99 Timkens but an engineer I used to know that used to work at Timken around that time said their quality on some bearings had been cut so modern Timkens may or may not be as good as those of decades passed.
Last edited by cggorman; Mar 16, 2020 at 08:12 PM.
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Neck bearings lifespan.
