Bike still pulls left......
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 499
Likes: 1
From: Herrin, Illinois
Bike still pulls left......
So I have been chasing down why my bike is pulling left so bad. Its bad enough that my left hand will cramp up bad after ten minutes or so on the highway if I am not constantly readjusting my grip. I have adjusted the rear wheel to try and straighten it out. As of right now I have 1/4" difference in the rear axle ends, with the right side closer to the front of the bike than the left. It has helped some but not completely. Could my neck bearings or clutch cable be causing this issue? Or something in the forks?
So far I have adjusted the rear alignment, replaced the front and rear spacers, bearings, and axles. I had a deuce wheel on as well and swapped it back out for stock, no difference. Do I need to keep adjusting the rear axle until it doesnt pull anymore? I am getting to the point I want to sell it and say F it.
So far I have adjusted the rear alignment, replaced the front and rear spacers, bearings, and axles. I had a deuce wheel on as well and swapped it back out for stock, no difference. Do I need to keep adjusting the rear axle until it doesnt pull anymore? I am getting to the point I want to sell it and say F it.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 536
Likes: 7
From: California
Bike pulling ?????
So I have been chasing down why my bike is pulling left so bad. Its bad enough that my left hand will cramp up bad after ten minutes or so on the highway if I am not constantly readjusting my grip. I have adjusted the rear wheel to try and straighten it out. As of right now I have 1/4" difference in the rear axle ends, with the right side closer to the front of the bike than the left. It has helped some but not completely. Could my neck bearings or clutch cable be causing this issue? Or something in the forks?
So far I have adjusted the rear alignment, replaced the front and rear spacers, bearings, and axles. I had a deuce wheel on as well and swapped it back out for stock, no difference. Do I need to keep adjusting the rear axle until it doesnt pull anymore? I am getting to the point I want to sell it and say F it.
So far I have adjusted the rear alignment, replaced the front and rear spacers, bearings, and axles. I had a deuce wheel on as well and swapped it back out for stock, no difference. Do I need to keep adjusting the rear axle until it doesnt pull anymore? I am getting to the point I want to sell it and say F it.
I personally do not think that adjusting your rear wheel is the answer, you will just get a bike that ride's down the highway crooked ....... Which will impact tire wear on both end's..........
The reason for asking how old the bike is you may have a bad fork spring, low on fork oil or something in the front fork's that is causing this problem.
I would back off from what you have done and focus on the front fork assembly, I notice on my bike that if my pre-load adjuster's were not set the same I ended up with the same condition you are experiencing. Once they were set to the same pre-load the issue went away..........
If the fork spring's and oil amount's are not equal to each other they will react differently under braking thus causing the bike to pull one way or the other.
Hope this help's ....... Let me know what you end up doing and if it in fact cure's your problem........
Live Free = Ride Free........
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,465
Likes: 15
From: Corona, Ca
you need to start over and checking everything by the book (repair manual). You need to reset your rear axle so that it is even with each other... and do the alignment procedure, check steering head bearings, wheel bearings, are the wheels balanced, spokes all tight etc.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 499
Likes: 1
From: Herrin, Illinois
Its a 2008 FXDC with 13,500 miles on it. A couple other threads here have said that adjusting the rear wheel was the way to go. The belt tracks the pulley straight down the center. Its not an issue during braking, its while Im headed down the road. If I pull my hands off the grips it immediately dives to the left. The spokes should be good, I checked them 1000 miles ago. I am using dyna beads to balance, and it rides smooth as glass on the street. As much as I dont want to it looks like I am going to do a full fork rebuild this weekend, just to rule it out.
Last edited by milesvdustin; Jul 14, 2014 at 12:00 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 499
Likes: 1
From: Herrin, Illinois
Its a 2008 FXDC with 13,500 miles on it. A couple other threads here have said that adjusting the rear wheel was the way to go. The belt tracks the pulley straight down the center. Its not an issue during braking, its while Im headed down the road. If I pull my hands off the grips it immediately dives to the left.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 678
Likes: 15
From: OHIO
sounds like it needs the adjustment under the tank for the motor alignment, can't remember what its called. I doubt that it's the forks.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Make sure your fall off adjust of the head bearings is correct.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jul 15, 2014 at 06:43 PM.
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
Its a 2008 FXDC with 13,500 miles on it. A couple other threads here have said that adjusting the rear wheel was the way to go. The belt tracks the pulley straight down the center. Its not an issue during braking, its while Im headed down the road. If I pull my hands off the grips it immediately dives to the left.
Are you hearing any noise, like bearing noise from the front or rear? Kinda hard to hear it from the rear, maybe jack it up and (VERY carefully) turn the wheel and listen for bearing noise.
Could the rear axle be cocked?
I understand that Harleys have an unusual alignment.... That the rear wheel is slightly offset.
It has GOT be in the rotating assembly. Otherwise, I would think you'd notice a humungous difference in handling and cornering.
It could be something as mundane as bad belts in the new tire....
Stuff happens..... Even on new My drive belt hugs the outside lip of pulley, not the center.
But that would be associated with alignment, IMHO.
It will turn out to be something stupid. Usually does.
Good luck
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,384
Likes: 12
From: Out on Deranged
There shouldn't be any difference in the rear wheel alignment. It should be set up so thatthe space from center of rear axle to the alignment hole in the rear fork be identicle on both sides. Of course your bike is going to pull left the right side of your wheel is pointing left!