Knock in the front end
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Stage II
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Evansville, IN
Knock in the front end
I have a 2008 Softail Custom with around 5,900 miles on it. I bought it last fall. I've owned dozens of bikes from dirt bikes to an 1800 Goldwing. This is my first Harley. (Bucket List) My question is, while hitting medium to heavy bumps, dips, etc., I hear a knock in the front end. I can find no looseness in the front suspension. I don't think I'm hitting anything hard enough to bottom out the front suspension. Could this noise becoming from inside the headlight housing? Thanks for any ideas or fixes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
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From: Farmington ,MS
Open the headlight and see...Has the bike been lowered?
You might try changing the oil in the front forks to a heavier grade.
+ 1..............check the neck, I have to lube the neck on my bike ever year......gets warn during the summer here in the Lone Star state!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Another vote for steering head bearings.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,578
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From: Northern California
You would be surprised to see what lube points are missed by the factory, or by an 18 year old "technician". It took around 30 hits from my grease gun to lube the neck. Could be they missed the fork lube as well. Good idea to do all when you acquire any bike. Another one they missed was the nipple at the rear brake pedal...nothing to do with your issue though.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
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From: Southern California
Steering Head Bearings for sure! . . . My 2010 Heritage did exactly the same thing. With exactly the same, couldn't find anything loose when I went over the front end. The solution is to torque the bolt which is in the Center/Top of the Triple Tree to 100 Lb/Ft. This bolt sets the pre-load on the steering head bearings. The weight of the front end is apparently enough to hide any free-play when on the ground or on a lift. It may seem like a lot, but at 70 Lb/Ft it'll come loose again in a few thousand miles. Harley revised the torque spec. It may have a chrome cover that is screwed into some threads that Harley put in the middle of the bolt. You'll need to remove the chrome cover (and maybe even the handle bars) to get a socket and a torque wrench on the bolt. The chrome cover should be hand tight, or use one of those rubber jar lid things to get a handle on it without marking it up.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,818
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From: Twin Cities
+1 take the stearing cap off then the nut bend tab down and just use a flat screwdriver and tap the nut with notch in it and tighten up ..rebend tap tighten nut replace cap.....then your golden