Simple to do

You look in the center of the tripple tree where the steering head is (where it pivots), there's a chrome smoothe cover there, you grab it with your hand and unscrew it (counter clock wise), there's the nut, you bend down the lock tab so you can turn the nut and torque it to 70 ft/lbs , bend the tab back up to lock the nut ,screw the cover on and ride it. Just make surt that the little finger that seats in the hole from the lock tab is still in the hole.

 

I'll even make it easy on you, here's some suggestions for torque wrenches at sears
TOOL # 8000733592- 1/2 inch drive- foot lbs- MODEL #44597 Digital unit, real nice to work with

Tool # 4030681248- 3/8 inch drive- inch lbs. - MODEL #44595
Both made by craftsman, good units, both are the clicker types

 

Ok then... I'm off to sears...The other guy made me alittle nervous with that story about the 02 fatboy heading off to kiss the front end of a truck

 

Thanks for all the help......I LOVE THIS SITE!!!!!!!

 

Let us know how you make out! The 1/2 " torque wrench is the one you need for this job.

 

Hey my 05 Heritage does the same thing! I checked the service manual but it gives no torque on the steering head nut. It just tells you how to check for fall away and adjust from there. anyways i checked the steering head nut and it was loose so i tightened it "45 degree arc" steering is not binding,, test rode it and the sound is gone. "can i torque my 05 Heritage steering head nut to the same specs as the fatboy?"

 

Sure can!

 

TCSTD, mine does not have a lock tab but does have a washer under the nut. Does it have to have a lock tab?

 

I believe it does unless your model has a locking nut of sorts, do you see a small hole below the nut at the 6 oclock position? That's for the tab on the locking washer

 

Nope, no holes at the six. I'm looking at the service manual and the lockwasher is for the FXSTD/FXST/FXSTB and just the washer for FLSTC/FLSTF. i physically checked it and thats all i have is the fork stem cap,fork stem bolt, washer and the pinch bolt. the pinch bolt is torqued to 30-35 ft-lbs as far as the fork stem bolt goes, it says "tighten the fork stem bolt until the bearings have no noticeable shake. fork stem must turn freely from side to side". and of course your caution "Overtightening stem bolt will cause the bearings to wear excessively leading to the need for premature bearing replacement" Warning:"Properly adjust fork stem bearings. Improper adjustments affect stability and handling, which could result in death or serious injury".