The crooked handle bars and leaning to the right when I let go of the bars has been driving me crazy. I've read every single post on HDF and most concur that it's normal.

I had read that the front forks might be a possible source so I loosened the fender bolts, lower triple tree pinch bolts and upper tree cap bolts and tried to twist the forks into proper alignment. I tightened everything back up and there was absolutely no change whatsoever.

I started thinking about the front forks and concluded that there is no way to adjust them. In fact the service manual doesn't even mention alignment. Reassembly is merely bolting everything back together. As I started reasoning these parts can only go back together in one position. They're basically self-aligning.

Next came rear wheel alignment. I concluded that my rear wheel was cocked to the right which was forcing the front forks to turn to the right to compensate.

I made a tool out of a brazing rod and some tygon fuel tubing so I could measure the rear axle to pivot point accurately. The manual states that both sides should measure +/- 1/32". I found that my wheel was indeed cocked to the right a tiny amount. I then cocked it to the left + 1/32" and drove the bike. A good amount of the cocked to the right handlebars was gone. I did a second adjustment taking it out of spec to + 1/16" and it's not perfect but way better. I can now let go of the handle bars and lightly push on the right footboard and it tracks perfectly.

I'm going to take it out of spec a bit farther to get it right because the bike should track perfectly. Think about it, all of those cool police videos we've all seen where the guy stands on the seat and does all kinds of stuff we'd never try. You need a Harley that tracks straight.

My only conclusion to all of this is tolerance stack up. A main frame a tad out and a swing arm also off.

It does gripe me though that I have to figure it out because the dealer is only going to bring the bike into spec and send you off.

As an aside I do know that my previously owned Honda 1100 American Classic also pulled to one side. I had a custom laced 18" rear wheel made and put on a 160 Metzler tire. That bike tracked perfectly after that. Since there was no way to adjust the shaft drive alignment everything went back the same way.

My Dunlop tire could be causing the problem forcing me to go out of spec. I'm not about to try a new tire on a in warranty bike but if I can't get this right to my liking I'll try it out of warranty for sure.

A long post but something that has been on my mind for some time.

Maybe a HD Tech will chime in...?

 

I've got the same problem on my 08 X-Bones... took it in and got the same BS... there is nothing wrong with your bike... I asked about the frame... Of course they tell me they have no specs on frames... Like that was an answer... WTF?

I told them I've been riding a Harley for over 40 years... its not my imagination... The only thing they could say was... Sorry, but everything checks out...

I get off my X-Bones... straddle the Sportster and take off... no matter the speed I can let go of the bars and that puppy goes straight as an arrow... even with a chopper kit on the front... which by the way I installed... Go figure...

I feel your pain brother... Almost $18000.00 for a crooked bike... a Harley at that... it pisses me off to no end...

I am waiting for a wear patteren to develop in the tires to show that it is not tracking correctly... but I know they will have an excuse for that too...

Oh and I have a little bit of a wobble in the front tire... but they can't see that either...

I guess if it isn't an accessory they don't know how to fix it...

Charlie D.

 

Not sure about you guys but my 07 custom has a built in offset on the front wheel. The fender attach lug on the lowers is thicker on the left than the right. With the spacers and this the wheel is 5/16" offset to the right. This makes the bike want to fall to the left when hands off. While riding, you can detect a slight right list when going down the road straight. Tried the alinement thing with marginal success and gave up. They should have put the wheel in the center. By removing the heavy stock exhaust from the rt side and going with a lighter setup it made it worse. With rear wheel alignment I was able to make it acceptable in stock form, but now being lighter on the right it would put the rear wheel out of spec in order to make it track straight again.
Ron

 

When I let go, I have to lean to the right too, but I always just figured it's because the primary's on the left side.

 

Just a thought here, How does the belt ride in the rear pulley (sprocket) now? Is it off to one side after all that adjustment?

 

I have to agree with you. Which begs the question WTF were they thinking by offseting the wheel the wrong way?
Ron

 

I just went back over the belt tracking and right now at +1/16 to the left on the rear tire my belt is riding the left side of the rear sprocket. This is telling me I need to keep going in the direction I've been going.

 

i just went through the same thing. my bike drove straight, but then after the lowering kit it did not. i adjusted to the manual specs, the measurements were dead on. it pulled to the left worse. so i ignored the specs and adjusted so the wheel was cocked to the right, approx 1/16th of an inch as well. now it runs straight and the wear pattern on the tire is in the middle.

 

kylant, you bring up a good point here. If I'm not mistaken you didn't alter your wheel alignment when you installed the lowering kit correct?

If that's the case could the problem be from each shock not having the exact same preload? It's something I've been pondering for awhile.

Unfortunately I can't adjust my shocks because the knuckleheads at the factory soaked the adjusting plate with loctite. I can break the jamnut but there's no way in hell the adjusting plate will turn freely on the stud.

At any rate I still think you bring up a good point. How do we know the preloads are exactly the same on each shock? All we have to go on is how many threads are showing but that has nothing to do with each individual spring inside the can. If they aren't exactly the same the swing arm will twist throwing out rear wheel alignment.

I will get to the bottom of this because having to look at crooked handlebars on an expensive new bike ain't cuttin' it. The bike should track straight period.

 

Do a steering neck adjustment. My 06 Springer was pulling to the right. I adjusted the neck and it rides straight as hell. I didnt use the fall away method either. I adjusted It by tightening it down, until there was resistance, then backed off on it (loosened it) Kind of like you would do wheel bearings on a car.