Front end clunk
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 2
From: SC
Front end clunk
I have an ’07 Softail Custom, with 2000 miles on it. I have a slight problem and curious if any one else has the same issue. When I come to a moderate stop, the front end clunks. Had it back to the dealer, they tightened the neck bearing and greased it. That seemed to have taken the hard clunk out of it, but, it’s still there. The dealer seems to be trying, they said they will contact HD for advice and I guess the OK to tear it down. Any one else have this problem???
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 503
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From:
RE: Front end clunk
I have an '06 Heritage with 4,500 mi. I have had the same problem (coupled with a sound that is like taking a screwdriver to a piece of sheet metal) but only when I hit bumps. The dealer did the same fix as you described (and at first, it helped for a little while) but now it's back. I don't friggi'n know.........
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,592
Likes: 6
From: Florida
RE: Front end clunk
I had the same clunk with my 05 wide glide front end. The fix is to torque the neck bearings to the high side....110!
Another fix is this:
This front end is available from HD in black or chrome. It's a little pricey but looks and handles great. It's the beefiest front end HD has ever put on a bike and comes standard on one of the SE 110 CI bikes.
Another fix is this:
This front end is available from HD in black or chrome. It's a little pricey but looks and handles great. It's the beefiest front end HD has ever put on a bike and comes standard on one of the SE 110 CI bikes.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Front end clunk
The problem is not in the bearings.
The adjuster nut for the bearings is below the top plate of the triple tree.
The problem stems from to much free play around the steering stem nut that tightens on top of the top plate and when that nut does not have enough tension placed on it it allows the stem to move and hits the sides of the hole on the top plateandcauses the clunking sound you hear.
You can check out some of these post from HTT to see some of the remedies...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1326831/tm.htm
The adjuster nut for the bearings is below the top plate of the triple tree.
The problem stems from to much free play around the steering stem nut that tightens on top of the top plate and when that nut does not have enough tension placed on it it allows the stem to move and hits the sides of the hole on the top plateandcauses the clunking sound you hear.
You can check out some of these post from HTT to see some of the remedies...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1326831/tm.htm
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,525
Likes: 4
From: Montreal, Canada
RE: Front end clunk
I'm with Mopar on this one. I tried torquing at 75 lbs. Still clunked a little. Went up to 90 lbs and now it's ok. If you
torque by the book. It WILL clunk...
torque by the book. It WILL clunk...
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Front end clunk
I had a similar situation on my train but It ended up being normal. It was the handlebars. everytime I go over a pot hole it clicks, I didnt know that. Its my first bike. Just wanted to share my experience, Not sure if its useful. By the way its the bushings that bolt to the risers.
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Front end clunk
Get the socket to fit the nut and torque the damn thing to ~90lbs the clunk will go away.. Worked for me.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Front end clunk
ORIGINAL: HawgFoot
The problem is not in the bearings.
The adjuster nut for the bearings is below the top plate of the triple tree.
The problem stems from to much free play around the steering stem nut that tightens on top of the top plate and when that nut does not have enough tension placed on it it allows the stem to move and hits the sides of the hole on the top plateandcauses the clunking sound you hear.
You can check out some of these post from HTT to see some of the remedies...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1326831/tm.htm
The problem is not in the bearings.
The adjuster nut for the bearings is below the top plate of the triple tree.
The problem stems from to much free play around the steering stem nut that tightens on top of the top plate and when that nut does not have enough tension placed on it it allows the stem to move and hits the sides of the hole on the top plateandcauses the clunking sound you hear.
You can check out some of these post from HTT to see some of the remedies...
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1326831/tm.htm
This was a big subject about a year ago.
David
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