Steering Head bearings?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
Good to know lol. im just now going to be getting around to checking them, once i got the apes on the front feels loose and wobbly, im thinking the steering head bearings are my fix, just wanted to know how critical my adjustments are going to be. thought in tighten them just a hair and test ride to see what it does for my problem.
New tires, new wheel laced on last fall, wheel trued up and balanced, all thats left is those bearings.
New tires, new wheel laced on last fall, wheel trued up and balanced, all thats left is those bearings.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 30
From: Ashburn, VA
When I put my front end back together after all the powdercoating, I just snugged the neck adjuster up to what felt right and then torqued down the stem nut proper and while I was out for a test ride in the neighborhood, when I would come to a stop, it would make this bad shudder as the rpms came down to idle. I just loosened the stem nut and tightened the neck adjuster another half turn and it is now perfect.
Last edited by jmeiers; Mar 10, 2011 at 10:06 PM.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
Oh im going to follow the manual and do the fall away, I imagine the new heavier bars have changed the fall away and the bearings would have to be adjusted to get it back where it needs to be. anyhow im crossing my fingers.
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
When I put my front end back together after all the powdercoating, I just snugged the neck adjuster up to what felt right and then torqued down the stem nut proper and while I was out for a test ride in the neighborhood, when I would come to a stop, it would make this bad shudder as the rpms came down to idle. I just loosed the stem nut and tightened the neck adjuster another half turn and it is now perfect.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Rowlett, TX
My Superglide, purchased brand new at the end of January, needed the steering head bearings adjusted right out of the gate. I could tell on the ride home from the dealer that they were loose.
Be careful when you do it... you have to loosen the LOWER triple clamp fork tube clamps, so that when you tighten the stem nut it pulls the lower triple clamp up. I tapped mine with a plastic mallet as I'd tighten the adjuster, so that the clamp moved up. If you don't loosen the triple clamp, tightening the stem nut just binds the whole mess up.
To me, having worked on dirt bikes for years it seemed counter-intuitive to loosen the LOWER triple clamps... but that's the recommended procedure.
Be careful when you do it... you have to loosen the LOWER triple clamp fork tube clamps, so that when you tighten the stem nut it pulls the lower triple clamp up. I tapped mine with a plastic mallet as I'd tighten the adjuster, so that the clamp moved up. If you don't loosen the triple clamp, tightening the stem nut just binds the whole mess up.
To me, having worked on dirt bikes for years it seemed counter-intuitive to loosen the LOWER triple clamps... but that's the recommended procedure.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Missouri
Well, I adjusted the steering head bearings, by the book, first before I started the fall away was immediate, so it needed done. First thing I found was 2 of the screws for the fork clamps was far from tirade properly, so once I got done I double checked everything, got it off the jack and went for test ride, it's better, I can get up to 80 and cruise 70-75 very comfy. But starting at 80 or anything above it gets to feeling funky.
Last edited by Jeff W; Mar 12, 2011 at 05:39 PM.