I picked up a set of HD polyurethane riser bushings because I really didn't like the sloppy "loose" feeling handle bars on my Wide Glide any more. After installing them and a short ride, the vibration was more than I could bare. I took them back out. I still can't get used to the mushy feeling risers, any suggestions ? How about the torque setting ? Does anyone have a service manual and wouldn't mind sharing the ft/lb setting for the riser bolts ? I'm at a loss at how to fix my problem.

 

35 to 40 ft-lbs.

 

dude if you do a search about two weeks ago i did a complete how to write up... just search it you will find it, pics , torque specs, everything you need

 

Hi Joe, decent write up, and good info. I know how to do the swap, actually I just loosen up both sides, remove one bolt, swing the bars away from the risers, change out the bushings, and repeat for the other side. Easy job. I didn't have the torque settings, I am wondering if this will make an improvement with the vibration ? Also I got the Harley D. chrome riser bushings, not the same as the ones you got from Dennis Kirk. HD's have two pc. sleeves that push together into the urethane bushing, and bolt onto the bike with out the washer that was used from the factory. With this set up, there was INTENSE vibration. So much so that my mirrors actually spun loose driving down the road, and nearly flew off ! I have a set of the red ones from J&P now, that are nearly as squish as the stock rubber ones. What to do ?

 

do they make a one piece upper riser for your bike? this is more than likely more solid feeling than the two piece ones...just gotta find one for a 1 1/4 " bar.... (they definately have em for 1" bars as they are stock on the FXDC).

 

Solid feeling isn't the problem, they are very rigid, it's the vibration.

 

put the original bushings back in (to eliminate the vibrations from these new ones) and get a 1 piece riser and you should no longer have the " sloppy loose feeling".

 

I did the same thing with my Wide Glide, jaysonL... i couldn't stand the vibration.... went back to rubber... I have no problem with it

for some reason, i thought that the polys would be better suited, but they weren't.... they actually vibrated my apes loose and when i took off from a standstill one time, they landed in my lap

rubber for me, all the way

 

I put the Polly's in mine, with the 18" apes and love it...

Not sure what kind of bars you have, but another option may be to try moving the vibration to a different RPM..Everything has its own frequency and will vibrate. You can move that vibration if you really want to. Try taping some weights to the bars, near the grips, and see if you can find a weight that works for you. Essentially, your making the vibrating bar heavier and requiring more input to make it vibrate (your goal is to move that input out of your driving range)..From there, I've heard of many guys putting rolled(and taped) nickles in the bars (grip end). It sounds a little entailed, but its pretty much how any vibration is removed (actually moved to a different RPM range). Good luck..

 

I love my polys. Been in there for almost 4 years with 4" risers. Will never go back to the rubber. Yea more vibration at idle, but at speeds not much difference. Would rather have vibes than mush.