Hey Guys, I would like to try to tighten my steering head bearings on my 2010 FLSTF due to a slight wobble. I was hoping someone could walk me through the procedure as I do not have a service manual.
If anyone has the torque specs for the pinch bolts and head bearing nut
That would be helpful also. Thanks in advance.

 

Procedure:

Walk into the Harley Davidson Dealership, buy a service manual.

 

Yes, what he said. Best money you will spend if you do ANY wrenching yourself.

 

BWAAAHAHAHAHA .... well ill try


I have the 2011 manual for the FLSTF

Mine says 25- 30 ft-lbs for the pinch bolt and

120 - 144 ft-lbs for the head bolt retaining final torque

but def buy a manual .. i continually use mine

 

ADJUSTMENT: FLST, FLSTC, FLSTF, FLSTN Bearing Adjustment (Fall-away)
1. Support motorcycle in an upright position so the front end is completely suspended and the vehicle is level.

2. Remove all accessory weight, such as a windshield, that may influence the way the front end swings. If clutch cable is routed so it pulls the front end one way or the other, disconnect it.

3. Place a suitable marking material, such as masking tape, over the fender tip.

4. Install a pointer so the base is stationary on the floor and the pointer indicates the center of the fender. The front end should be straight ahead, however the balance point may be slightly off center.

5. Check steering head bearing tension.
a. Rotate the front end from steering stop to steering stop three times and then center the front end.

b. Tap the fender on one side until the front end begins to "fall-away" by itself. Label this point on the marking material.

c. Repeat the previous step in the other direction.

d. Repeat until marks are consistent. If marks vary, use the average.

e. Measure distance between marks.

6. The distance between the "fall-away" marks must be 1.0-
2.0 in. (25.4-50.8 mm).
a. If the distance is more than 2.0 in. (50.8 mm), pro- ceed to step 7.

b. If it is less than 1.0 in. (25.4 mm), proceed to step 8.

7. Distance is more than 2.0 in. (50.8 mm).
a. See Figure 1-54. Loosen the upper fork stem pinch bolt (4).

b. Loosen lower fork stem pinch bolts.

c. Loosen the fork stem bolt (2) slightly.

d. Tighten the upper fork stem pinch bolt to 25-30 ft- lbs (33.9-40.7 Nm)

e. Tighten the lower fork stem pinch bolts to 30-35 ft- lbs (40.7-47.5 Nm)

f. Repeat procedure to determine if fall-away is within specifications.

8. Distance is less than 1.0 in. (25.4 mm).
a. See Figure 1-54. Loosen the pinch bolt (4). b. Loosen lower fork stem pinch bolts.
c. Tighten the fork stem bolt (2) slightly.

d. Tighten the upper fork stem pinch bolt to 25-30 ft- lbs (33.9-40.7 Nm)

e. Tighten the lower fork stem pinch bolts to 30-35 ft- lbs (40.7-47.5 Nm)

f. Repeat procedure to determine if fall-away is within specifications.

 

The steering head bearings on a Fatboy are adjusted using the "fall away" method, not just by torqueing the bearing. Some have done it this way but you risk damaging the bearings if you torque them too much and will also induce a different kind of instability. The bike will tend to weave down the road because the front wheel will no longer track correctly. Get the manual and do it the right way.

 

Some Harleys do use torque, and I do not have manual for your bike. 04 Fatboy is fallaway. If it is fallaway, do not be fooled into setting it tight or to the high side. Set it to the minimum. The modern Harleys have tapered roller bearing and unlike the ball bearings of old do not need a lot of preload. On my bike, there is a bent tab washer to keep nut from ever coming loose. Be sure to go by manual and correctly release the pinch bolts if applicable to your system since it lets the tree float and not put a twist on the bearing. I personally doubt the bearings are your problem. The would have to be very loose, and then on a rough road. A rough uneven road will make a Harley wobble filling. With a tapered bearing, even with the ones you do by torque, if you have any measurable fallaway, they are not loose but need to be set to minimum.