Softail shaking @ 70+ mph
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Softail shaking @ 70+ mph
I just joined the forums here and I am looking for some help. I have a 1997 Softail Custom with just over 63k miles on it. When I purchased the bike in January of 2012 from a good friend I replaced the Avon tires that were in decent shape with Dunlop's simply because that was what I had ran on my Sportster for years. This year I decided to try something different so I had a Shinko SR 777 140/90-16 rear tire put on. The only time it rubs the belt is when I am backing it up. Anyway after having this tire put on the started getting some shaking in the front end around 75 mph, and the faster I went the worse it got. My mechanic and I decided to go ahead an replace the front tire as well. So we installed a Shinko SR 777 90/90-21 on the front. He took it for a run up the road and got up to 85, with no shaking on the front end. I rode it the rest of that day and the next with my wife and no shaking. Today I was heading up to Columbus and the shaking started up again at about 75 mph. I have checked the air pressure in both tires and it is fine. The belt is not out of alignment either.
I could really use some help in figuring this out.
I could really use some help in figuring this out.
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Thanks for the quick reply, I have went through the other posts concerning steering heads and bearings and will discuss this with my mechanic on Tuesday. Can someone state specifically which grease from auto zone will work for this. I may try greasing the neck myself as long as I can get the correct grease at auto zone as well. Is it the same as what is used for the steering head?
Last edited by lone rider ohio; Aug 3, 2013 at 10:18 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 9
From: Sedro Woolley, Washington
The service manual states "Special Purpose Grease". Fill gease fitting on steering neck until grease begins to come out the top and bottom of the streering head. done every 10,000 miles. As per the Service Manual.
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Since my last post I have had the neck greased, there is no fwd/back play on the forks, both tires were balanced, and the back tire was replaced, also the wheel bearings were replaced bout 10k miles ago and we repacked them.
After replacing the back tire today the wobble isn't as bad as it was but it's still significant.
After replacing the back tire today the wobble isn't as bad as it was but it's still significant.
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Here's a pic of my daughter on the Softail, I'm not sure why this pic will upload but newer ones won't.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/membe...-daughter.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/membe...-daughter.html
Last edited by lone rider ohio; Aug 10, 2013 at 12:50 AM.
Trending Topics
Stage III
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Mass
Its Still The Tires, My 2010 had A Wobble From Day One That Never Got Fixed Untill I Replaced The TireS At 9K.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 1
From: SC
did you have the wheels checked to see if they were true. Also check the tires, make sure the dot is positioned with the valve stem. Thats why it has a dot, they are made to be aligned to reduce amount of weight needed to balance. Other than what you have already checked if nothing else works you can take any weights off the wheels and put dyna beads in them.. hope you get it right
there was a period of time that the dunlops were cupping real bad and causing a shimmy.
there was a period of time that the dunlops were cupping real bad and causing a shimmy.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: USA
i had the same problem.
is what i had to do minus the swingarm bearing. i sure i am going to have to do that some time soon. the other thing that you can check is the rear axle to see if its tightened enough. that was one of the problems that i ran into after i redid the front end. hope you get it done perfect. NO reason for a death wobble, i have seen some bad things happen with that. good luck.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post