Steering Head
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 132
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From:
Steering Head
I wanted to check the torque on my stem nut recently and while I had it loose I lifted up the tree just to look around. The star adjust nut under there was very tight. I didn't move it any but should you be able to turn it by hand? It felt like it was welded in place. I checked the fall-away to be sure it was within limits and it was.
Novice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 18
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RE: Steering Head
The star wheel shouldn't adjust with hand pressure.
I would suggest not messing with the neck/steering head bearings unless the bike starts handling bad.
I've had some bad experience with steering head bearings. Like an idiot, I took my bike to a Harley dealer for the 10,000 mile service. Shoulda done it all myself like I usually do. They had one of their $2.00 beginner hacksmiths do the service. Overfilled oil, underfilled primary, 50 psi in the front tire, dinged the air cleaner, and he overtorqued the steering head bearings. The bike handled like a little red wagon on greased ice.
New bearings and $200.00 later , it's right again. From now on I'll never let a tech touch the neck unless there's a problem with it. That goes for anything else on the bike too.
I would suggest not messing with the neck/steering head bearings unless the bike starts handling bad.
I've had some bad experience with steering head bearings. Like an idiot, I took my bike to a Harley dealer for the 10,000 mile service. Shoulda done it all myself like I usually do. They had one of their $2.00 beginner hacksmiths do the service. Overfilled oil, underfilled primary, 50 psi in the front tire, dinged the air cleaner, and he overtorqued the steering head bearings. The bike handled like a little red wagon on greased ice.
New bearings and $200.00 later , it's right again. From now on I'll never let a tech touch the neck unless there's a problem with it. That goes for anything else on the bike too.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Steering Head
Thanks for the reply. I'm not going to mess with the star wheel. I just had the 1000 mile service done and was looking around to make sure everything was OK. As far as I can tell they did everything OK. I didn't see any grease under the stem cap and the cables don't look like they were lubed unless they were very neat. The fluid levels were all fine. I did find 10 pounds of extra pressure in the front tire and 5 in the rear! I had complained about a knock in the front end when going over railroad tracks or a bump. I still have it. I have tried the re-torque of the stem nut as mentioned on here too. It didn't help so I set it back to factory setting.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 536
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From: AUSTRALIA
RE: Steering Head
Your service would not have included greasing the head stem bearings as there is no grease fitting on 06 Dynas,to do this they need to remove the tripple trees. the reason they dropped this on the Dynas is there is a casting hole in the head frame casting that would allow the grease to escape into the downtubes. It is important that these bearings are pumped with grease regulary to push out any water or dirt that workes it's way in as there are no dust seals.
The knock you are getting is olso a result of dry bearings.
What I have done is plug this casting hole and installed a grease fitting.
The knock you are getting is olso a result of dry bearings.
What I have done is plug this casting hole and installed a grease fitting.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 449
Likes: 1
From: Ventura, CA (So Cal)
RE: Steering Head
You are supposed to remove the bearing i think every 15-20k and repack them. You can use a standard automotive wheel bearing packer that you can get at any auto parts store. I plan on pulling the front end apart around then and changing the fork oil and packing the bearings and adjusting everything.
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