Softtail front wobble
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 2
From: Cumberland, RI
the same thing happened to me. but it was at all speeds. check your spokes. my back one had at lease 8 loose and the front had 3 or 4. once i tightened them the wobble was gone. i have an 07 Heritage.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Western MD
Yep! I have gone through the same thing decel wobble at 40 down to 30 mph. I needed a new front tire at the time. So I tought maybe that was it.... nope. I did all the work on the tire swap except the mount and balance so I had myself paranoid thinking it was something I did on tire reinstall.... So to easy my mind I took the bike in and had them check the mounting and balance at a diffrent shop. they said everything was fine with mount and balance but I still had the wobble..... got the answer of "why are you being a daredevil taking your hands off the bars". I told them that it didn't do it why I bought the bike! why now.... ? they had no answer for me. My wife had gotten me the service manual for Xmas after reading the manual I knew what it was.... Fall away test ... then adjust the fork stem adjuster nut and torque all down to spec. Man ! I am not going back to HD for any more work.... Cost too much and they give you crap when you try and explain that if I could find out what it was why couldn't there "tech" find it...?
Anyway I will only order from Zanotti now and am doing all my own work! I am much happier and feel more confident in knowing that my bike is serviced correctly!
rant over-
Anyway I will only order from Zanotti now and am doing all my own work! I am much happier and feel more confident in knowing that my bike is serviced correctly!
rant over-
Last edited by 7aceshigh7; Aug 28, 2008 at 01:38 PM.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
Its not an uncommon problem for lot of bike's not just Harley's. When the bike is new everything is tight and greased up so no wobble. As they age and you put some mileage on it the normal bumps in the road seat the bearings tighter/better and grease moves out of the way, or leaks out on to your fender and tank.
So its not inconcievable for them to get a little (but not dangerously) sloppy on nearly any brand of bike.
But do not overlook other things like tires, tire pressure, spokes, and even wheel bearings. Any or all of them plus other things can also cause the effects you have noticed.
But my money is on the head bearing adjustment, especially on a relatively new bike.
So its not inconcievable for them to get a little (but not dangerously) sloppy on nearly any brand of bike.
But do not overlook other things like tires, tire pressure, spokes, and even wheel bearings. Any or all of them plus other things can also cause the effects you have noticed.
But my money is on the head bearing adjustment, especially on a relatively new bike.
Last edited by In Memoriam Citoriplus; Aug 28, 2008 at 02:06 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Spokane Washington
My used Fatboy had it when I first bought it. When I took the front wheel off to polish it the wobble was gone when I put it back on. I did not change the tire pressure at all. I think it was not centered correctly is my guess. I do agree that there are many different reasons for a front end wobble though.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 3
From: Bel Air Md
same exact thing happened to me in 06, decel from 40 to 30 had a wobble with one hand on the bars but not two, for me it was the front tire that only had 7000 miles on it, replaced it and it fixed the problem.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
My used Fatboy had it when I first bought it. When I took the front wheel off to polish it the wobble was gone when I put it back on. I did not change the tire pressure at all. I think it was not centered correctly is my guess. I do agree that there are many different reasons for a front end wobble though.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
I also get the same thing when the tire press is low in the ft. This time of year in the NE the temp goes from 40's in the morning to 80's so I give it a couple more lbs than in the summer.