Springer front end
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 103
From: St. Louis, MO
Attachment 509976
Just got my baby back from the shop with FX springer installed. Looks good, rides ok. Although it sounds like a bucket of marbles when riding slow; lots of shaking rattling and roiling.
My guy says that's normal for springers. I find it hard to believe that anyone buying a new spinger Harley would accept that.
What say ye?
Another question: are the springer forks adjustable? Sure looks like they should be.
Any insight into care and maintenance would be appreciated.
pv
Just got my baby back from the shop with FX springer installed. Looks good, rides ok. Although it sounds like a bucket of marbles when riding slow; lots of shaking rattling and roiling.
My guy says that's normal for springers. I find it hard to believe that anyone buying a new spinger Harley would accept that.
What say ye?
Another question: are the springer forks adjustable? Sure looks like they should be.
Any insight into care and maintenance would be appreciated.
pv
But they ride great and make no noise in my experience so I'd be checking yours out if I was you.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
That's not normal. I would not ride it until you sort the problems. Here's service info in addition to the service manual. This is for the FL fork but should pretty much be the same for the FX.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame...d-service.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame...d-service.html
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Thanks Joe. Good to hear it's not normal to make a racket. I'll be going back to my guy, however I am trying to gather info first.
>These are detailed in the service manual and I can link up a instructional video if you are interested.
Yes, I would be very interested in the video.
I'll be posting pictures of what my situation looks like; even being a novice, I see some things that don't look right.
>These are detailed in the service manual and I can link up a instructional video if you are interested.
Yes, I would be very interested in the video.
I'll be posting pictures of what my situation looks like; even being a novice, I see some things that don't look right.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Thanks GT. I will take a look.
Good to hear it's not normal to make a racket. I'll be going back to my guy, however I am trying to gather info first.
I'll be posting pictures of what my situation looks like; even being a novice, I see some things that don't look right.
Good to hear it's not normal to make a racket. I'll be going back to my guy, however I am trying to gather info first.
I'll be posting pictures of what my situation looks like; even being a novice, I see some things that don't look right.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Spring has sprung...
..., but seem to have a problem(s).
Thanks for the input guys, I may have missed thanking some personally - fell behind in correspondence.
It seems the consensus is that springer forks shouldn't sound like a bucket of bolts when going down the road.
Even as a novice I have made some observations:
1. Looking from riding position, the right upper spring does not align with the bottom spring.
2. Bottom springs don't look as tight as I have seen on others.
3. The dog bone; short arm connecting the fender mounting bracket to the fork, on the right side, attaches to the fork with what seems to be a non-factory stainless steel element. Where on the other side it is factory clean.
4. There are several other what I am assuming minor issues, but wont bore you with those.
Any feedback welcome. And I will be checking the service video you guys mentioned. Thanks.
Thanks for the input guys, I may have missed thanking some personally - fell behind in correspondence.
It seems the consensus is that springer forks shouldn't sound like a bucket of bolts when going down the road.
Even as a novice I have made some observations:
1. Looking from riding position, the right upper spring does not align with the bottom spring.
2. Bottom springs don't look as tight as I have seen on others.
3. The dog bone; short arm connecting the fender mounting bracket to the fork, on the right side, attaches to the fork with what seems to be a non-factory stainless steel element. Where on the other side it is factory clean.
4. There are several other what I am assuming minor issues, but wont bore you with those.
Any feedback welcome. And I will be checking the service video you guys mentioned. Thanks.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Tom: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
>Looks like he mounted your fender on a springer bracket...post a close up of that please.
Yes, he took the bracket out of the fender I got with the FX springer, and mounted in my original fender. Was able to use two original rivit holes, and needed to drill two new holes; leaving one pair of unused holes to plug. He had to rotate the fender a couple inches to the rear to accommodate that retro-fit. It worked out pretty well. He did a good job on that. Since I apparently cant post picture here, I will on new post.
>Looks like he mounted your fender on a springer bracket...post a close up of that please.
Yes, he took the bracket out of the fender I got with the FX springer, and mounted in my original fender. Was able to use two original rivit holes, and needed to drill two new holes; leaving one pair of unused holes to plug. He had to rotate the fender a couple inches to the rear to accommodate that retro-fit. It worked out pretty well. He did a good job on that. Since I apparently cant post picture here, I will on new post.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Retrofit springer fender bracket
>Looks like he mounted your fender on a springer bracket...post a close up of that please.
Yes, he took the bracket out of the fender I got with the FX springer, and mounted in my original fender. Was able to use two original rivit holes, and needed to drill two new holes; leaving one pair of unused holes to plug. He had to rotate the fender a couple inches to the rear to accommodate that retro-fit. It worked out pretty well. He did a good job on that. Since I apparently cant post picture here, I will on new post.
Yes, he took the bracket out of the fender I got with the FX springer, and mounted in my original fender. Was able to use two original rivit holes, and needed to drill two new holes; leaving one pair of unused holes to plug. He had to rotate the fender a couple inches to the rear to accommodate that retro-fit. It worked out pretty well. He did a good job on that. Since I apparently cant post picture here, I will on new post.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 497
Likes: 187
From: Dallas area
The spring assemblies should be symmetrical side to side both the rebound (upper) and compression (lower) springs. Do all of the parts belong to the fork assembly or did they come from different places? Look at the figures in that tech tip for the exploded view of all of the parts. Does your fork have all of those parts? For example the compression springs are made up of outer and inner springs.
With the fork disassembled, the corresponding springs from each side should be the same height.
With the fork disassembled, the corresponding springs from each side should be the same height.
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