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Like Dan89 and WP50 stated already, you're right there to check the steering bearings, races, and cups. If none of this maintenance has been done then it's been 34 yrs and needs it.
I just did the steering bearings on my 94. They were in better shape than I expected but with over 100k miles it was time. The races were a bitch to remove as well as the bearing on the lower tree. I installed the Progressive cartridges and love they way the bike rides now. Major improvement!
I just did the steering bearings on my 94. They were in better shape than I expected but with over 100k miles it was time. The races were a bitch to remove as well as the bearing on the lower tree. I installed the Progressive cartridges and love they way the bike rides now. Major improvement!
I will take a look at mine, I really hate tearing apart things that aren't broken though. The steering passed the fall away test, and is smooth from lock to lock. I guess while I am this far, I might as well...
It could be thought of as a maintenance thing.
Kinda like cleaning and repacking wheel bearings on older cars and trucks.
They had recommended service interval's.
I think HD even has a recommended service time for steering head bearings
I will take a look at mine, I really hate tearing apart things that aren't broken though. The steering passed the fall away test, and is smooth from lock to lock. I guess while I am this far, I might as well...
You are most of the way there, they likely only need to be repacked. I keep the risers attached to the upper tree. Take the fork stem nut off and remove upper tree and handle bars as an assembly, I just hang them from the ceiling with a ratchet strap. Remove upper bearing, then remove the lower tree and fork stem. At this point the bearing are right in front of you. If they need to be replaced, they are cheap. Likely they just need to be cleaned up and repacked. I repacked bearings on my Wide Glide at 25K miles per the FSM, everything felt fine but once in there the grease was like dry chocolate cake batter.
If the need replacing, the lower bearing can be a bitch. I take the whole thing to my local machine shop, $20 and they remove and install the new bearing on the fork stem. The top one is loose, easy to replace if needed. I have never changed races, never found any pitting or damage. You have most of the work done, at this point it is over due maintenance, just get her done. Good luck.
I got this far and stopped, I get that the top tree should come off next, but just not seeing it move right now. Ill walk away and come back. Found a stripped cowbell bolt so far. Good news is, forks are rebuilt with progressive springs and chrome lowers!
Everything on an FLT is an adventure!! Top trees off, good thing I went this far,replacing the riser busing was also on my list of things to do and the old bushings would not have come out on the bike, they were molded into the tree. So, lots of cleanup in here, I'll be getting to the bearings soon enough, just touching up everything as I go!
For all of the corroded and rusted in bolts I had to go through to get to the bearings, they look really good. Someone has been here at some point and repacked them. I will obviously repack them now that I am this far in, is there a method to getting the bottom bearing off to repack it? The manual says to chisel it off...
Last edited by ShrinerRider; Mar 22, 2023 at 09:58 AM.
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