pulling to the left
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
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pulling to the left
need some ideas here when im riding the wife's 93 sportster and take both hands off the handle bars it pulls to the left noticeably unlike when i do the same on my softtail she flys straight down the rode and my oringal 05 sporty would fly straight what could be causing this and how to fix thanks guys for any help
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 164
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From: NoVA
Either:
-the steering head bearings are bad and have a 'detent' in them,
-the rear axle isn't installed straight
-the front end is 'tweaked' (can fix by having someone turn to the opposite lock and hold the bike there while you kick the tire)
-or, you have a wheel issue.
most likely.
-the steering head bearings are bad and have a 'detent' in them,
-the rear axle isn't installed straight
-the front end is 'tweaked' (can fix by having someone turn to the opposite lock and hold the bike there while you kick the tire)
-or, you have a wheel issue.
most likely.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 68
From: Big Bear City, CA
Hmmm, personally the first thing I'd check is the rear wheel alignment. It's free and easy to adjust. Being that its pulling to the left you'll want to move the front of the rear wheel to the left as well. Just loosen the rear axle nut, then turn the left adjustment nut a half turn to tighten the belt. Then take it for a ride on level ground, let your hands off the bars and see how it tracks. If it's tracking better but still not perfect, loosen the axle nut again and loosen the right adjuster nut a have turn. When you get it tracking right, be sure to check to see if your drive belt is tracking right on the pulley.
You might want to mark the adjuster nuts prior to changing the adjustment, so you can put it back where it was if it fails to improve.
You might want to mark the adjuster nuts prior to changing the adjustment, so you can put it back where it was if it fails to improve.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
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thanks guys and thanks PanHeadRich on the detailed procedure on the rear wheel alignment will do that next wkend, for now just got to settle and ride the softail, now i dont know how it rode before i redid the sporty as when i picked it up it had sat for 13 years i did have to pull the forks off to get the fork seal replaced but i reinstalled according the repair manual if the rear alignment doesnt take care of it ill try the fall away test next, but as far as riding goes she rides like a dream for sitting that long like a said its a 93 and only has 2700 original miles on her
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 207
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From: Germany
Hi flicksport,
Wait a sec - your work done doesn't list new tires on a bike that has been sitting for over 13 yrs!
If you haven't replaced those, I would consider doing that the veeery first item on the list. Old tires degrade, get brittle, hard, and dangerous. They may even contribute to your initial problem. Tech folks and industry recommend to replace tires older than, say, 6 years. You should not entrust your - or your wife's - life on tires 13+ years IMO.
Wait a sec - your work done doesn't list new tires on a bike that has been sitting for over 13 yrs!
If you haven't replaced those, I would consider doing that the veeery first item on the list. Old tires degrade, get brittle, hard, and dangerous. They may even contribute to your initial problem. Tech folks and industry recommend to replace tires older than, say, 6 years. You should not entrust your - or your wife's - life on tires 13+ years IMO.
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Cruiser
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sorry, I did replace the front tire as it was dry rotted , did not replace the rear as it was not dry rotted and had plenty of tread on them, as far as being brittle the tire seems pliable but im no tire expert but thanks for the heads up o that will check into getting that rear replaced in the near future, not to worried about it quite yet as she has not gotten her permit yet and i only ride it a little here and there to circulate the fluids i normally on my fxst
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Cruiser
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mostly all i did was a lot of cosmetic work powder coated a lot of pieces and had the carb rebuilt, upgrade the peanut tank to a king tank , new front fender, new handle bars, grips, that sorta thing i need to post before and after
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