Front end wobble
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: DAGO
Front end wobble
I noticed this morning on my way to work, that here and there my front end wobbles a bit back and forth. I checked to make sure everything was tight, axle, risers, etc..checked the brake pads and those are ok. Could it be that my front tire just needs to be balanced? I have about 6,500 miles on her and have the original tire and rim on. Any ideas would be appreciated...
03 Softtail FXST
03 Softtail FXST
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RE: Front end wobble
I have heard a few people with fxst/fxstb bikes switch to heavy weight fork oil, but I think that was for a "bouncy feeling", mostly at highway speeds. They say it helps cornering also, only drawback was an clunk at quick stops.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Gold Coast, Australia.
RE: Front end wobble
I found with the Dunlop front tyre that was on my bike wore very uneven....the sides wore out before the middle from a lot of mountain riding and cornering and I changed it at 5,500ks.
It got the wobbles up going through corners something shocking but after fitting the Metzler tyre and progressive suspension and a heavier fork oil it made a huge differance to the handling.....but that's my experiance only! If you are not sure what's wrong with your bike get someone to check it out for you.
It got the wobbles up going through corners something shocking but after fitting the Metzler tyre and progressive suspension and a heavier fork oil it made a huge differance to the handling.....but that's my experiance only! If you are not sure what's wrong with your bike get someone to check it out for you.
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Road Captain
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From: DAGO
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: DAGO
RE: Front end wobble
Well of course it wobbles when a truck blows by
It's a side to side motion, and from the other replies I received I'm going to check the neck bearings and look into a heavier fork oil.
It's a side to side motion, and from the other replies I received I'm going to check the neck bearings and look into a heavier fork oil.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: DAGO
RE: Front end wobble
Thanks for the input everyone. I'm going to get her up on the lift tonight and double check everything especially the neck bearings. I'll give the fork oil a try as well. Thanks again..
Rubber Side Down
Rubber Side Down
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Front end wobble
Check the tire pressure, tire condition, wheel bearing sideplay, and neck bearings.
The adjustment on the front end fall-off as described in the service manual is mumbo-jumbo to most folks. Here's a different way to check it I found on another forum awhile back. Guy who described it is an old time HD mechanic.
I had to go to about 15 - 20 foot-pounds on my Sloptail. And I added a grease fitting to the neck post to help keep fresh grease in it.
The adjustment on the front end fall-off as described in the service manual is mumbo-jumbo to most folks. Here's a different way to check it I found on another forum awhile back. Guy who described it is an old time HD mechanic.
Jack the front end of the bike off the ground. Tighten the adjusting nut until the front end is hard to turn. Next turn the handlebars back and forth, from stop to stop, through several cycles. Notice the front end becomes easier to turn. Back off the adjusting nut to a slightly loose fit, then tighten to about 9 ft-lbs torque. If the front end still wobbles after this (tire pressure good and tire in good condition, with no cupping, etc.) and the wobble occurs during deceleration, tighten the adjusting nut a bit more.
If you get a shimmy and more tightening does nothing to help, then suspect that the steering head bearings have shifted and the races are no longer parallel to the axis of the steering head. This is not unusual in HD bikes as they are relatively heavy. Modern bike head bearings tend to shift back and forth in the frame, especially on the heavier bikes, and this causes the bearings to become non-parallel. Any free play in the head bearings will compound this situation. This sets up torque forces that constantly try to correct themselves resulting in a shimmy, or head shake. The cause is not looseness; the bearings have shifted, and things ain't parallel. Pull the front end off and try to reseat the races in the frame neck.
Check the head bearings frequently IAW the service manual. Since these bearings do not move around like those on an axle, they tend to stay in one spot in relation to the race. Therefore every blow on the front end from road conditions tends to flatten the individual rollers or ***** ever so slightly. Over a period of time these flat spots can cause a condition whereby you point the forks straight ahead, and they tend to fall back onto the flat spot, causing a weave as you go down the road. If tightening the preload does nothing to correct the situation, suspect flat spots in the neck bearings.
By Alpha Samuel
If you get a shimmy and more tightening does nothing to help, then suspect that the steering head bearings have shifted and the races are no longer parallel to the axis of the steering head. This is not unusual in HD bikes as they are relatively heavy. Modern bike head bearings tend to shift back and forth in the frame, especially on the heavier bikes, and this causes the bearings to become non-parallel. Any free play in the head bearings will compound this situation. This sets up torque forces that constantly try to correct themselves resulting in a shimmy, or head shake. The cause is not looseness; the bearings have shifted, and things ain't parallel. Pull the front end off and try to reseat the races in the frame neck.
Check the head bearings frequently IAW the service manual. Since these bearings do not move around like those on an axle, they tend to stay in one spot in relation to the race. Therefore every blow on the front end from road conditions tends to flatten the individual rollers or ***** ever so slightly. Over a period of time these flat spots can cause a condition whereby you point the forks straight ahead, and they tend to fall back onto the flat spot, causing a weave as you go down the road. If tightening the preload does nothing to correct the situation, suspect flat spots in the neck bearings.
By Alpha Samuel