Crazy Front End Shake!
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1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
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Crazy Front End Shake!
I have a rediculous front end shake at 45 mph on my new to me 91 fxsts. I checked frontend for tight hardware (everything was tight). Neck bearings seem ok no slop or noise when rocking the bike with front brake applied. Front tire has lots of tread but shows some cracking due to age Im sure. Maybe its a wheel balance issue but it comes and goes very quickly so Im not confident of that. Think I might put new rubber on it and see what happens. Any advise from you old time springer guys have would be very welcome.
Brandon
Brandon
Last edited by catchaclue; Mar 17, 2010 at 10:12 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,595
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From: Vancouver Island British Colombia Canada
Jack up your bike so the front tire is off the ground. Slowly turn the handle bars left to right. as you cross the strait ahead point, do you feel a little click? if you do, you have flat spots on your neck bearings.
Next, grab your front forks with front tire off the ground. push/pull & feel for movement in your neck bearings. They might be too loose!
Next, with rear tire off the ground. Push & pull sideways on your swing arm. you are looking for free play, you want none here!
Next, measure from center of rear axle on both sides to center of swing arm cap's. the measurement should be the same!
Look for abnormalities in the tread wear of your front tire & finally, check your suspension for leaks etc, how much fork travel do you have in the front?
Keep us posted!
hatch.
Next, grab your front forks with front tire off the ground. push/pull & feel for movement in your neck bearings. They might be too loose!
Next, with rear tire off the ground. Push & pull sideways on your swing arm. you are looking for free play, you want none here!
Next, measure from center of rear axle on both sides to center of swing arm cap's. the measurement should be the same!
Look for abnormalities in the tread wear of your front tire & finally, check your suspension for leaks etc, how much fork travel do you have in the front?
Keep us posted!
hatch.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: ID Ho
Follow hatchetmans advise AND check the rockers, they are most likely quite loose as they are the least serviced part on a springer. There is a very specific adjustment proceedure for them that requires a Torqu-o-meter or beam type torque wrench.
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thanks for all the advise. put new rubber on it yesterday and still has the shake but interestingly shake comes in around 50 now lol. Put bike on lift, neck bearings seem tight and dont feel any clicks or binding while turning frontend. no slop whatsoever in swingarm. when i get home tonight i'll check the rockers as im starting to believe it is a springer issue. i have a factory manual now and it doesnt show an adjustment for the rockers just a torque spec but it does show bearings and races in there so im thinking i may need to replace a few parts. thanks again for the help
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
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I had an upper speed "wobble" on my springer some time ago, and it turned to be the rear wheel spokes. Some were a bit loose. Had local indy true up spokes, havent had a problem since.
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