Need help...question
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 4,892
From: Missouri City,TX
My 2012 Heritage does the same thing...it's not bad, but noticeable.
My '09 Street Bob did the same until I had aftermarket wheels and also changed from the stock mini ape handlebars to some Nightster (more of a flat track style bar)handlebars and then it tracked nice and straight with no pull at all.
HD techs always say it's "normal", but I still it has to do with aligning the rear wheel and the belt properly...
My '09 Street Bob did the same until I had aftermarket wheels and also changed from the stock mini ape handlebars to some Nightster (more of a flat track style bar)handlebars and then it tracked nice and straight with no pull at all.
HD techs always say it's "normal", but I still it has to do with aligning the rear wheel and the belt properly...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,695
Likes: 6,474
From: Honah Lee
Be sure your're fall away setting is to the minimum. I think a lot of times, old school mechanics set them up like the old ball bearing type of preload required. The tapered roller bearing sets require little if any preload. Set to the high side will even produce a clunk. These bikes unlike the older lighter bikes that had manual tensioner on the tree do not need to be stiff. It makes you oversteer. Set to minimum, even on the interstate in among buffeting wind from big rigs, the bike will go straight and true with only body English. The rear is very simple on a Softail. You align the rear so axle is equal distance from the milled flats on the swing arm. This will cause the belt to track just with a slight rub to the outside of the large pulley. It will be well within the +/-1/32 tolerance to the swing arm bearing which is secondary anyway to the procedure. I put two locknuts on my adjuster so the faces are equal distance to the end faces. Makes it easier to check it with my inside measurement on my dial calipers. Alignment from the rear of a Softail has little to do with a bike giving the appearance of a pull since even jacked around a LOT, you would still correct with the bars. It would just be going down the road like a crab. If it's not that, it's your front tire. A worn angled flat will make it walk or really feel like crap in the twistys. Just like trying to roll a nutty buddy cone straight.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 14, 2018 at 11:08 AM.
Thanks for all the input guys.
I did find the rear wheel a bit out of alignment and corrected that. It does not drift near as strongly to the left now.
I even "over-corrected" it, but it is still drifting to the left, just not as strongly.
I have no unusual wear on the front tire, so not sure what is next.
Will be going on the Hot Bike Tour later this month. I am going to load all the heavy stuff in the right bag and see if that makes any difference.
I did find the rear wheel a bit out of alignment and corrected that. It does not drift near as strongly to the left now.
I even "over-corrected" it, but it is still drifting to the left, just not as strongly.
I have no unusual wear on the front tire, so not sure what is next.
Will be going on the Hot Bike Tour later this month. I am going to load all the heavy stuff in the right bag and see if that makes any difference.
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