Fork spring question
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,880
Likes: 17,998
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Have the steering head bearings been checked?
That has been something that needs messing with on mine more often than I would like. Not often, but more often than they should.
Thread Starter
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
The torque is good on the nut and the handle bars move back and forth smoothly.
I don't think he has a problem there.
I don't think he has a problem there.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Good question. However with a high mileage and with what we know I'm inclined to suggest chucking them in a bin and replacing with new. Use matched single-rate springs such as Race Tech and get back more fork travel. Set sag at the correct level, bearing in mind most if not all aftermarket springs are shorter than stock and will require apacers.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
UPDATE:
He took it for a ride today and the clunks are gone!!!!!!!
My friend also noted how the front end is higher than it used to be and he will have to get used to the change.
He took it for a ride today and the clunks are gone!!!!!!!
My friend also noted how the front end is higher than it used to be and he will have to get used to the change.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
You have to have the spacer to get the ride height correct.
If you didn't have the spacer on your FLST then your frontend would be 3.25" shorter than it's supposed to be.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 546
From: Wayne County, PA
Glad to hear. Sounds like what happened to mine, maybe mine wasn't sitting for as long a time as I thought to cause the springs to give up.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Upstate New York
That would have never occurred to me. I've had the same set of Progressive fork springs in my FLSTN for 22 years/200,000 miles and the ride height is just the same as when I installed them. Rides just as well, too.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Poolville
Springs will collapse over time and not have the same rebound.
If you use the progressive set up you will have to use the spacer provided. They recommend 3" but i went with 3 1/2". love it...
As for the fork oil, you really should be replacing/changing as recommended @ 10k mile intervals. Sludge will build up and the dampers will not work as they should and will clunk. Always check the neck bearing fall away every 10k as well...
If you use the progressive set up you will have to use the spacer provided. They recommend 3" but i went with 3 1/2". love it...
As for the fork oil, you really should be replacing/changing as recommended @ 10k mile intervals. Sludge will build up and the dampers will not work as they should and will clunk. Always check the neck bearing fall away every 10k as well...