death wobble
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 2
From: Florida
Mine does it too, between the clutch cable ans the throttle cables, it just does it.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
It depends on the method you used to tighten the axel.
If you put a screwdriver in the axle hole to hold it steady then you shouldn't have to but if you used the cap nuts to hold the axle when you tightened the nut then you definitely have to.
If you used the cap nut to hold the axle steady while you tightened the axle nut then you have slightly pulled your forks together and they are no longer parallel.
I would do it just because it is easy and only takes a couple of seconds.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 2
From: Mo
I held it with a screwdriver then tightened it.. But I'll re-do and see if that helps. Planned on riding it to Florida here soon, But can't get it on the highway, around town it's fine, but I have 1000 miles to cover one way on that trip.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 641
Likes: 17
From: Daytona Beach
as far as i can tell the death wobble has more to do with the swingarm and frame than the front of the bike
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 2
From: Mo
What is weird, only thing I changed was tires, and then it started this.THOUGHT about putting the dunlops back on, just to eliminate tires or see if it stops. Doubt that will solve it,2 new sets of tires and it still is there. Wasn't before
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 342
From: Virginia Beach
While I never had the so called "death wobble" on any FL I have owned, (89,98,00,01,11,12) When they would be squirrely (it would ride like its all over the road) I would tighten the head nut anywhere from 1/8 to a 1/4 turn tighter. Wrong or not, it worked for me. No ill effects. YMMV.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 491
Likes: 10
From: ATX
i did have a slight wobble when i purchased my bike. as i was checking belt tension (among other things) i measured the distance between my rear axle and the swingarm pivot on both sides, and i was off by just over 1/8 inch. re-adjusted it and the wobble went away. might be something to double check.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 913
Likes: 5
From: indiana
as far as i can tell the death wobble has more to do with the swingarm and frame than the front of the bike
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
http://www.showmemotorcycles.com/har...ous-it-can-be/
fact is any 2 wheeled vehicle can experience this problem. not mainly Harleys and the main causes are lateral stiffness of the front tire (under inflated front tire or bad tires) height of bike center of mass(tall handle bars, fairings will amplify the problem) distance of bike center of mass from rear wheel (extended swingarms and frames) and the trail of the front end(installing to tall or to short of a rim and tire) the trail is very very important.
think of it this way look at a shopping cart when the front wheel gets bent back it throws the trail off and it wobbles.
those are just a few of the main reasons. there are a lot of other thing that will amplify the problem bad shocks, loose neck, alignment of front and rear wheels,and the list goes on.