Tightening the Fork Stem Bolt on a 2004 FB
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Cruiser
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Tightening the Fork Stem Bolt on a 2004 FB
Hi, I posted this in the tech forum Frame/Suspension/Front End/Wheels/Tires/Brakes yesterday but did not get any response maybe due to low viewing?
When I purchased my 2004 FB in July this year it only had 1900 miles on it.
I brought it from a fellow out of Utica , NY, were the roads are smooth.
I live in Quebec and the roads are rough and I now have 3000 miles on it.
I have recently developed a front end clunk and having read a lot of the threads it is quite possible that I just need to tighten the fork stem bolt.
I do have the FSM but still not sure of:
1) the appropriate torque I should apply to the fork stem bolt. I have heard 5 lbs. all the way up to 120lbs. But the 120lbs could have been for other softail models?
2) I don t have a lock washer on my bike but do have a pinch bolt . Is it necessary to undo the pinch bolt first before tightening the fork stem bolt?
3) How much torque do I apply to the pinch bolt after ( 35lbs?) and is it necessary to use some lock tight?
4) what size socket is the fork stem bolt ?
I guess I am looking for a little hand holding......
Thanks
Fred
When I purchased my 2004 FB in July this year it only had 1900 miles on it.
I brought it from a fellow out of Utica , NY, were the roads are smooth.
I live in Quebec and the roads are rough and I now have 3000 miles on it.
I have recently developed a front end clunk and having read a lot of the threads it is quite possible that I just need to tighten the fork stem bolt.
I do have the FSM but still not sure of:
1) the appropriate torque I should apply to the fork stem bolt. I have heard 5 lbs. all the way up to 120lbs. But the 120lbs could have been for other softail models?
2) I don t have a lock washer on my bike but do have a pinch bolt . Is it necessary to undo the pinch bolt first before tightening the fork stem bolt?
3) How much torque do I apply to the pinch bolt after ( 35lbs?) and is it necessary to use some lock tight?
4) what size socket is the fork stem bolt ?
I guess I am looking for a little hand holding......
Thanks
Fred
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,727
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From: North Carolina
RE: Tightening the Fork Stem Bolt on a 2004 FB
My dealer said that it is the nature of softails to "clunk"
That being said, what I take the service manual to say is to tighten the nut on the stem until there is no play (this being done with the bike level and the front wheel off of the ground). Then you adjust fall away by using a pointer across the center of the front fenderand making a mark(on a piece of tape at the fender front edge I suppose)where the fork assembly "falls away" on it's own for each side. The marks should be no less than one and no more than 2 inches apart. Tighten the stem nut if the marks are too close and loosen if too far apart. I could very well be wrong but that's what I understood the manual to say.
That being said, what I take the service manual to say is to tighten the nut on the stem until there is no play (this being done with the bike level and the front wheel off of the ground). Then you adjust fall away by using a pointer across the center of the front fenderand making a mark(on a piece of tape at the fender front edge I suppose)where the fork assembly "falls away" on it's own for each side. The marks should be no less than one and no more than 2 inches apart. Tighten the stem nut if the marks are too close and loosen if too far apart. I could very well be wrong but that's what I understood the manual to say.
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Cruiser
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RE: Tightening the Fork Stem Bolt on a 2004 FB
Am I missing something?
When I try the 7/8 socket on the fork stem bolt on my 2004 FB it is too small but when I try the 15/16 ths it feels a little too big.
It can't be a metric size 23mm?
When I try the 7/8 socket on the fork stem bolt on my 2004 FB it is too small but when I try the 15/16 ths it feels a little too big.
It can't be a metric size 23mm?
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
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RE: Tightening the Fork Stem Bolt on a 2004 FB
Well , I finally got the fork stem bolt torqued and no more clunk.
Front end feels really nice going over rough patches.
For all 2004 FB
the fork stem nutfits a 23mm socket.
You need to loosen the upper pinch bolt before attempting to tighten the fork stem bolt.
The fork stem bolt needs less than 30 ft lb of torque.
I tightened the bolt until I felt the a little bit of resistence in the front end fall away and then backed off a little until there was no resistence. ( front end off the ground)
Lastly retighten the pinch bolt to 28 ft-lbs
Front end feels really nice going over rough patches.
For all 2004 FB
the fork stem nutfits a 23mm socket.
You need to loosen the upper pinch bolt before attempting to tighten the fork stem bolt.
The fork stem bolt needs less than 30 ft lb of torque.
I tightened the bolt until I felt the a little bit of resistence in the front end fall away and then backed off a little until there was no resistence. ( front end off the ground)
Lastly retighten the pinch bolt to 28 ft-lbs
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sundancewind
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Oct 17, 2007 12:25 PM
