Riser Question
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 990
Likes: 8
From: CALIFORNIA
Riser Question
I went out to ride my fat boy this morning and I noticed that my handlebars felt like they were loose. After I looked at it I determined that there is some play in the riser bolts where they bolt through the triple tree. I just rode my bike to work yesterday, and everything was solid. The bolts seam to be tight, but I can barely get at them because of the tins on the fat boy fork.
The weather in my neck of the woods changed overnight from 85-90ish down to about 55 and raining.
Have any of you guys experienced this problem due to a temp change??? I am thinking maybe the bushings shrunk down when it got cold. I am stumped and slightly worried that maybe the integrity of the bolts have been compromised. I would hate for my bars to snap off at the riser while I am going down the road.
The weather in my neck of the woods changed overnight from 85-90ish down to about 55 and raining.
Have any of you guys experienced this problem due to a temp change??? I am thinking maybe the bushings shrunk down when it got cold. I am stumped and slightly worried that maybe the integrity of the bolts have been compromised. I would hate for my bars to snap off at the riser while I am going down the road.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 673
Likes: 19
From: Folsom, CA
You may want to maked the move to polyurethane bushings...could be that the rubber ones are going south on you. Also if it would make you feel better purchase some new riser bolts from the dealer or from an online Harley dealer like Kutter (cheapest I have found online). You will need to take the tens off as well is loosening up your clutch cable (most likely) as so to remove the risers and handlebars just so you can get at the bolts and replace the bushings.
Not a hard task to accomplish but it can be a little time-consuming...probably somewhere along the lines of two hours maybe. Just make sure that you tore up the bolts back down to spec. I would also advocate if you are not looking at replacing your risers or bars ever you may want to use some red Loctite
Not a hard task to accomplish but it can be a little time-consuming...probably somewhere along the lines of two hours maybe. Just make sure that you tore up the bolts back down to spec. I would also advocate if you are not looking at replacing your risers or bars ever you may want to use some red Loctite
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 7
From: tomball tx
You may want to maked the move to polyurethane bushings...could be that the rubber ones are going south on you. Also if it would make you feel better purchase some new riser bolts from the dealer or from an online Harley dealer like Kutter (cheapest I have found online). You will need to take the tens off as well is loosening up your clutch cable (most likely) as so to remove the risers and handlebars just so you can get at the bolts and replace the bushings.
Not a hard task to accomplish but it can be a little time-consuming...probably somewhere along the lines of two hours maybe. Just make sure that you tore up the bolts back down to spec. I would also advocate if you are not looking at replacing your risers or bars ever you may want to use some red Loctite
Not a hard task to accomplish but it can be a little time-consuming...probably somewhere along the lines of two hours maybe. Just make sure that you tore up the bolts back down to spec. I would also advocate if you are not looking at replacing your risers or bars ever you may want to use some red Loctite
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 375
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
This is something I definitely have to revisit myself. I changed out my bushings too,And I believe to Poly, torqued them properly, but the handle bars have always had a lot of movement / play. It's really kind of a front to back movement, not loose bolts but a lot of movement just the same. Something I've been very aware of and have gotten used to, to where I really don't think much about it, but I'll revisit just the same. Funny, with the apes, I really don't pull back on them much (or try not to) because they always seem to want to creep down within the riser clamp and I end up Loosening, repositioning and then tightening down again. Anyone know of a way to keep them from rolling within the riser clamp ? Anything to add to give it more friction ?
I've heard you can cut up a beer can and wrap it around the bars under the clamp. Increases the diameter enough to improve the clamping force of the riser caps.
This is something I definitely have to revisit myself. I changed out my bushings too,And I believe to Poly, torqued them properly, but the handle bars have always had a lot of movement / play. It's really kind of a front to back movement, not loose bolts but a lot of movement just the same. Something I've been very aware of and have gotten used to, to where I really don't think much about it, but I'll revisit just the same. Funny, with the apes, I really don't pull back on them much (or try not to) because they always seem to want to creep down within the riser clamp and I end up Loosening, repositioning and then tightening down again. Anyone know of a way to keep them from rolling within the riser clamp ? Anything to add to give it more friction ?
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 375
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
Thanks for the Suggestion.....I'm not sure it's a Diameter issue though as the Riser clamp has some gap so it can be tightened down more, but I don't want to strip or snap the bolts or the riser clamp itself. It really seems to be more about "Bite", I need something that is going to give it some Bite when tightened. I may even try a small piece of Sanding Screen but that may increase the diameter too much. I'll give it a shot this weekend coming up and let ya know what happens.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 673
Likes: 19
From: Folsom, CA
One thing I found as I was installing my 12" apes last month was the order of torquing down the riser screws on the clamp. The instructions I had said to tighten down the front (the ones away from you as you ride), torque to spec, then the back ones (nearest the tire/headlamp side), torque to spec, then re-do the front.
Not sure if this will help, but I am finding as I do my own wrenching, there is a specific order to tightening stuff...
Not sure if this will help, but I am finding as I do my own wrenching, there is a specific order to tightening stuff...
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 375
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
One thing I found as I was installing my 12" apes last month was the order of torquing down the riser screws on the clamp. The instructions I had said to tighten down the front (the ones away from you as you ride), torque to spec, then the back ones (nearest the tire/headlamp side), torque to spec, then re-do the front. Not sure if this will help, but I am finding as I do my own wrenching, there is a specific order to tightening stuff...
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