Wobble
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
Wobble
Ok, Just bought a 2008 fatboy with 9300 miles on it.
Took it home and changed the oils, checked it over and took off for a ride.
The tires were 12yrs old but looked good so I thought I would try to make em last ,brake pads were 40% or so.
I put 600 miles on in good shape , Last week I had to lockup the brakes when a car pulled out , Then the wobble started. both ends
I figured it was tire failure so I had the local Harley Dealer replace both , still wobbles.
I spent an hour looking at all the nuts and bolts and trying to rattle anything I could find, on and off the jack , no problems I could find.
Anybody got an idea,?
Thanks
Took it home and changed the oils, checked it over and took off for a ride.
The tires were 12yrs old but looked good so I thought I would try to make em last ,brake pads were 40% or so.
I put 600 miles on in good shape , Last week I had to lockup the brakes when a car pulled out , Then the wobble started. both ends
I figured it was tire failure so I had the local Harley Dealer replace both , still wobbles.
I spent an hour looking at all the nuts and bolts and trying to rattle anything I could find, on and off the jack , no problems I could find.
Anybody got an idea,?
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,537
Likes: 6,412
From: Honah Lee
Solid engine mounted TCb Softails are not wobblers.
Be sure they installed correct size quality tires and they are dynamic balanced (no beads or ride on BS) and the air pressure is what is called out in the owners manual.
I personally think Mitchlins are better then Dunlops.
Once tires wear a flat especially if someone does not ride over on the chicken strips (like me
) they will wobble in turns when you transition from the flat to the radius of the tire.
Be sure they installed correct size quality tires and they are dynamic balanced (no beads or ride on BS) and the air pressure is what is called out in the owners manual.
I personally think Mitchlins are better then Dunlops.
Once tires wear a flat especially if someone does not ride over on the chicken strips (like me
) they will wobble in turns when you transition from the flat to the radius of the tire.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
I assumed the dealer would have looked a t the wheel bearings, do they need to be replaced at 10000 mile already? No movement side to side or up or down when on the jack.
Stock size and tires were installed and again I assumed the dealer would have balanced them, weights are glued to the rims.
The "wobble" is more noticeable in the front at first acceleration , you can actually see the handle bars shake.
The rear is noticeable between 40 and 60 mph , it actually is OK when cruising , nothing in the front , just feels like side to side in the rear.
Stock size and tires were installed and again I assumed the dealer would have balanced them, weights are glued to the rims.
The "wobble" is more noticeable in the front at first acceleration , you can actually see the handle bars shake.
The rear is noticeable between 40 and 60 mph , it actually is OK when cruising , nothing in the front , just feels like side to side in the rear.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,537
Likes: 6,412
From: Honah Lee
I assumed the dealer would have looked a t the wheel bearings, do they need to be replaced at 10000 mile already? No movement side to side or up or down when on the jack.
Stock size and tires were installed and again I assumed the dealer would have balanced them, weights are glued to the rims.
The "wobble" is more noticeable in the front at first acceleration , you can actually see the handle bars shake.
The rear is noticeable between 40 and 60 mph , it actually is OK when cruising , nothing in the front , just feels like side to side in the rear.
Stock size and tires were installed and again I assumed the dealer would have balanced them, weights are glued to the rims.
The "wobble" is more noticeable in the front at first acceleration , you can actually see the handle bars shake.
The rear is noticeable between 40 and 60 mph , it actually is OK when cruising , nothing in the front , just feels like side to side in the rear.
Keep in mind, Softail is a look. (Looks like old shockless Harley but has a shock. They still ride pretty rough and you can fill the little bumps till you get some speed up. Especially with Dunlops. Why I like Mitchlins.
Did you check rear TP? Is belt on rear tracking pretty good. It's normal for it to be to one side or the other. If it's right, it will switch to other side if you back it up pretty far.
Do the belt tensioners look pretty equal on both sides?
Really need a belt gage to check but laying across seat, belt should turn slightly . About 3/8 movement up and down with a ten lb push.
Softails alignment in rear is mainly axle to swing arm axes but you can get it close enough just doing belt with a dial caliper on adjusters stops..
If rear is right, the bars align the front.
Sorry about a book of details in a few inches. If it doesn't make sense, you need to carry it back and pay them to get it right.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jul 4, 2022 at 09:34 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
Ddi you tell them about the wobble before they changed tires.....??
If you did, a good shop would have been on the lookout for things that could be amiss, while removing & reinstalling the wheels.. So I'm sure they would have checked the bearings, and been particular about wheel balancing and wheel alignment...
In any case, tell them now about the wobble, and when you first noticed it... ask about wheel bearings and what else they think it could be... Then let them do a proper diagnosis..
It could be many things...
If you did, a good shop would have been on the lookout for things that could be amiss, while removing & reinstalling the wheels.. So I'm sure they would have checked the bearings, and been particular about wheel balancing and wheel alignment...
In any case, tell them now about the wobble, and when you first noticed it... ask about wheel bearings and what else they think it could be... Then let them do a proper diagnosis..
It could be many things...
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Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 31
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
OK , the problem was the rear wheel bearings , took it out for a spin yesterday and the rear wheel started going sideways so bad I scratched the rim ?
! got it going in for repair , thanks for the feedback
! got it going in for repair , thanks for the feedback
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
I wouldn't have been riding that bike with 12 year old tires or the wobble you described.... So I gotta ask....
You are pulling the wheels or trailering the bike to the shop...... right... ????