Steering head bearings
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 20
From: NE Pennsylvania
Steering head bearings
I'm preparing to do the 10k maintenance on my XL. Nothing on the maintenance schedule looks very daunting, but I really want to grease the steering head bearings.
The shop manual doesn't explain it very well, it just lists the lube to use (HD brand of course), but it gives no step by step instructions on how to "open up" the steering head and perform the process.
So I'll ask the forum members. How is this best accomplished??
The shop manual doesn't explain it very well, it just lists the lube to use (HD brand of course), but it gives no step by step instructions on how to "open up" the steering head and perform the process.
So I'll ask the forum members. How is this best accomplished??
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 656
Likes: 2
From:
I don't know what the recomondations were for your bike. But the maintnance schedule for my year simply required lubrication of the bearings at 10000 miles without disassembly. On my bike it's got a zirk grease fitting, and simply pump new grease in, and i'll ussually do it long enough that I see the new grease pushing out after the majority of old grease is pushed out first. I got 80k miles on my bike now and never had to take the stearing stem apart.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 20
From: NE Pennsylvania
I'll have to look for a grease fitting. Seems like it would be odd to have to pull the front end apart to grease it. Guess it's time to look a little closer at the manual. 
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 11
From: TN
First of all, sportsters do not have a zirk/grease fitting in the neck.
About 10 - 15 years ago, HD found some extra zirk fittings and decided to install them in all big twins to justify a $1000 per bike increase.
The bearings in the neck are tapered timkin bearings identicle to bearings in the hubs of all trailers. The bearings are packed (not the neck) prior to assembly just like on a trailer. Pumping the neck full of grease is a waste of good grease. Probably why HD doesn't do it at the factory along with the fact that it makes a mess on the fins of the front cylinder. If you have ever repacked a bearing in the palm of your hand, forcing the old grease out as the new grease goes in, you will understand that packing that neck does not repack the bearing.
let the flaming...
check 6
Bwana
About 10 - 15 years ago, HD found some extra zirk fittings and decided to install them in all big twins to justify a $1000 per bike increase.
The bearings in the neck are tapered timkin bearings identicle to bearings in the hubs of all trailers. The bearings are packed (not the neck) prior to assembly just like on a trailer. Pumping the neck full of grease is a waste of good grease. Probably why HD doesn't do it at the factory along with the fact that it makes a mess on the fins of the front cylinder. If you have ever repacked a bearing in the palm of your hand, forcing the old grease out as the new grease goes in, you will understand that packing that neck does not repack the bearing.
let the flaming...
check 6
Bwana
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
Very interesting. I've seen the grease drip out of bikes' necks on the show-room floor. It does melt and make a mess. Maybe it's the melting grease that lubes the outside of the bottom bearing. No idea about the top one.
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Ultimate HDF Member
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From: Landrum, SC , elevation 986'
My 96 has them as well on the neck and swingarm.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 20
From: NE Pennsylvania
According to the Maintenance Schedule in the manual, the 10k service suggests to "adjust and lubricate" the steering head bearings.
The Clymer manual I have doesn't mention the steering head bearing lubrication process either. If it does I haven't yet seen it. The section on the front suspension and steering describes the removal of the forks and triple trees. Seems a bit excessive to lube the bearings.
There's no mention about this in the "lubrication" section of the routine maintenance section either.
Seems a bit contradictory...
