I picked up a 1988 Springer Softail a couple of months ago for a good deal. Took care of a few issues; rear tire, clutch etc. Checked the headset at that time and all seemed fine, no play but not too tight according to manual. I put it on the jack recently to do some work and now notice steering has a detent dead center. I mean it's like it's supposed to be there, a slight detent when wheel is perfectly straight. Still no play though.

Done lots of steering head work on dirt bikes but I've never seen anything like this.

So should I plan on going ahead and getting a set of bearings and races before tearing apart?

Thanks

 

Sure it's not too tight. These tapered roller bearings do a lot better and fill a lot better with the fall off at a minimum. (unlike the old ball bearing ones) They can be run with .001 end play would be great but since there is no way to set them like that, free it up and set the fallaway to minimum. It will go away. They were probably set so tight, they squeezed the lube out and wore the bearings a little egg shape.

 

Pretty common for springers to hammer the bearings till they have a "detent"or notchly feeling...yep line up some bearings and races before you tear it down.

 

Agreed. Wouldn't surpise me if you got some brinelling on the rollers and races. The action of a springer makes it more likely than your typical hydraulic front end.