Wag while cruising

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Jul 24, 2020 | 06:34 PM

#41

Sam Childress

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Jul 2019

Posts: 42

Likes: 32

From: NOVA

I did ride it but not at those speeds. The Tires date code was 2000 so I put new ones on ASAP. The Shinko HD 777. They had good reviews but they could have sidewall flex. The front feels fine. I have Dunie America Elites on my Softail. Its a 98. I wonder if I could swap it over to test. There the same size.

Last edited by Sam Childress; Jul 24, 2020 at 07:27 PM.

Jul 24, 2020 | 11:22 PM

#42

Mattbastard

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 4,315

Likes: 1,663

From: Tampa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Childress

Yes the alinement is perfect. New HD front motor mount. The isolators are new HD also. The head bearings are smooth as silk, I did snug them up just a tad. No play in the front end. The bushings in the swing arm are Drag Specialties. I will pull the rear tire and disconnect the shocks then see if the swing arm can be moved. If so, I think I will go back in with the radial bearing setup. The Heim joints felt smooth but that's a very good point. Thank you. The bike is much better up to 60MPH.

When I say alignment, I'm not just talking about the axle in the swingarm. I'm talking about the whole chassis. Most people don't realize that aligning the rear tire with the front requires a LOT of fine tuning and adjustment in the heim joints at the top and the front of the engine along with lasers or straight edges from the back to the front wheel to get things within 1/16".

Jul 25, 2020 | 04:03 AM

#43

grbrown

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 45,429

Likes: 2,896

From: Bedford UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Childress

Update and question. I have done all of your suggestions but replacing the swing arm bushings. The wag has moved from 45MPH to almost 70. I ordered a set of Drag Specialties swing arm bushings. Are they as good as HD or should I cancel the order and get the HD ones? Again. Thank you all. Mountainkowboy's post and picts. was spot on. I can not move my swing arm by hand either.

It sounds as if you have got on top of things at last, so well done! Time to introduce my 'oldie-but-goodie' thread from way back, as some light reading, on the subject of the 'wobble':

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...e-exposed.html

I don't recommend that you read the whole thing, but do consider getting a True-Track kit. Our models are the very ones targetted by their original design and I can heartily recommend them. You can expect a significant improvement in the way your bike handles and feels. There are other products claiming the same benefits, but they tend to be cheap copies or miss the purpose of such a thing.

Aug 7, 2020 | 07:38 PM

#44

Sam Childress

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Jul 2019

Posts: 42

Likes: 32

From: NOVA

THANK YOU ALL!!! She is good to 80. With all the help you all provided I was able to get the rear to stay put. The last piece of the puzzle was the swing arm bearing conversion. Getting rid of the rubber swing arm bushings helped to get that last 20MPH. The Drag Specialties bushings must be on the soft side. I could not move the swingarm sideways by hand after installing the bushings. So I tried them. Not good enough.
With much Respect,
Sam

Aug 7, 2020 | 07:52 PM

#45

t150vej

HDF Community Team

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 5,369

Likes: 2,563

From: NC USA

Thanks for the update and my hat's off to you for your determination and all the work you invested.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the benefits and pleasure of a great handling tour bike.