Adjusting "fall away"
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 5
From: Templeton California
Adjusting "fall away"
Alright, I know this was discussed not too long ago but I wasn't paying attention because I didn't think mine was in need of adjustment so bear with me.I just had my bike in he shop last week for tires and they told me my "fall away" needed to be adjusted.What is it?Who's done it? How hard is it? enlighten me.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
RE: Adjusting "fall away"
Don't know much about it but I was told by a dealer mine was off after he test rode it after a dyno tune. A week before the tune I had it in for service at another dealer to have the fork stem washer replaced because of looseness in the front end. After the washer was replaced the front end seemed worse.
I paid the dealer that did the dyno tune and said I needed the fall away adjusted an hour of labor and the front end was much better. I recommend letting someone that knows what they are doing perform this repair. It is well worth it if your front end does not feel right to you. I'll never go back to the first dealer for service.
I paid the dealer that did the dyno tune and said I needed the fall away adjusted an hour of labor and the front end was much better. I recommend letting someone that knows what they are doing perform this repair. It is well worth it if your front end does not feel right to you. I'll never go back to the first dealer for service.
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 54
From: GA
RE: Adjusting "fall away"
ORIGINAL: SPECIAL ED
Alright, I know this was discussed not too long ago but I wasn't paying attention because I didn't think mine was in need of adjustment so bear with me.I just had my bike in he shop last week for tires and they told me my "fall away" needed to be adjusted.What is it?Who's done it? How hard is it? enlighten me.
Alright, I know this was discussed not too long ago but I wasn't paying attention because I didn't think mine was in need of adjustment so bear with me.I just had my bike in he shop last week for tires and they told me my "fall away" needed to be adjusted.What is it?Who's done it? How hard is it? enlighten me.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 2
From: By the "Betty water and the Wire"
RE: Adjusting "fall away"
ORIGINAL: Dynamite
I'm not exactly sure you couldn't solve any of those questions w/o Viagra. When I was a kid I heard "it" referred to it as a camaro pulling into the garage but if you want to call it a bike in the shop, that works I guess.
I'm not exactly sure you couldn't solve any of those questions w/o Viagra. When I was a kid I heard "it" referred to it as a camaro pulling into the garage but if you want to call it a bike in the shop, that works I guess.
[sm=icon_rofl.gif]Oh, man, I just wasted the better part of a good drink on my keyboard.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: SouthWest Iowa
RE: Adjusting "fall away"
OK So let me see If I can help you here. I have had a small prob on decel in 1st gear I get a little knock in the front end and I get a little pull to the right in my steering. I swear I can hear it but I know I feel it. Something loose? My dealer did all the workup including what I beleived was something like what you are talking about. They get the bike up and see which way the wheel turns/falls and so on and they can check for steering issues. There are certain HD variables that allows them to measure this "fall-away" or whatever and determine if an issue or not. Hope thatmde since
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 319
Likes: 1
From: Ventura, Ca.
RE: Adjusting "fall away"
"Fall Away' is described in teh shop manual (which everyone should own so one doesn't have to go to the stealer for everything).
i don't have the manual right in front of me but it goes like this.
Raise bike so front wheel is off ground and can travel full range
Line front tire straight with bike/frame and mark center on floor with tape
Ensuring the clutch cable is not an influence (removing it from handlebar is best way), carefully (slowly) move tire to either side and mark the point at which it starts to 'fall away' on its on.
Mark and measure both sides. it should around 4".
If less than 4", it's too loose - more than 4", it's too tight and you adjust the fork nut accordingly.
will have to go look up the torque value - pm me if you need it
i don't have the manual right in front of me but it goes like this.
Raise bike so front wheel is off ground and can travel full range
Line front tire straight with bike/frame and mark center on floor with tape
Ensuring the clutch cable is not an influence (removing it from handlebar is best way), carefully (slowly) move tire to either side and mark the point at which it starts to 'fall away' on its on.
Mark and measure both sides. it should around 4".
If less than 4", it's too loose - more than 4", it's too tight and you adjust the fork nut accordingly.
will have to go look up the torque value - pm me if you need it
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 1
From: MA
RE: Adjusting "fall away"
ed -
"fall away" is basically the effort that is required to push a neutral front end (centered on a lift) to one side or the other. If your stem is too tight - it will require too much effort - if your stem is too loose - it will flop over by itself.
the manual details the procedure.
you will need to remove your clutch cable from the left side as that influences the numbers.
it's a pretty wacky procedure - although you can certainly do it yourself in about 1 - 1.5 hours
"fall away" is basically the effort that is required to push a neutral front end (centered on a lift) to one side or the other. If your stem is too tight - it will require too much effort - if your stem is too loose - it will flop over by itself.
the manual details the procedure.
you will need to remove your clutch cable from the left side as that influences the numbers.
it's a pretty wacky procedure - although you can certainly do it yourself in about 1 - 1.5 hours
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 50
From: South Park, CO
RE: Adjusting "fall away"
I just finished doing my WG a week ago. Here is the procedure:
1) Loosen steering stem nut (may require you remove the bars and put them back)
2) Loosen the pinch bolts (top triple tree)
3) With bike off the ground, center up the front wheel
4) Now push the wheel to one side slowly until it falls away, if the front of the wheel moves less than 2" before fall away, it is too loose
5) Adjust the star nut below the top triple tree with a punch and hammer to adjust fall away to meet the 2" spec
6) Torque top steering stem bolt (70-80 ft-lbs on my WG)
7) Torque pinch bolts on top triple tree (32 ft-lbs on my WG)
1) Loosen steering stem nut (may require you remove the bars and put them back)
2) Loosen the pinch bolts (top triple tree)
3) With bike off the ground, center up the front wheel
4) Now push the wheel to one side slowly until it falls away, if the front of the wheel moves less than 2" before fall away, it is too loose
5) Adjust the star nut below the top triple tree with a punch and hammer to adjust fall away to meet the 2" spec
6) Torque top steering stem bolt (70-80 ft-lbs on my WG)
7) Torque pinch bolts on top triple tree (32 ft-lbs on my WG)