front end misaligned?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, MD
front end misaligned?
03 FLHTPI, picked up a few weeks ago. 1st Harley, love it so far, rides great.
Got it up on my homemade woodblock jack the other night on a completely level floor, just checking some things out. After studying it perfectly level for a while, it looked like the batwing is cocked just a little off from the forks. Checked it a little more, and got a tape measure out. When I line up the front wheel what looks like exactly straight, the batwing looks to be aimed just a little (emphasis on little) to the right. I measured from the rear platform middle bolt (dead center over the rear fender) to each edge of the batwing, and it is off a little from left to right (batwing aimed right). Then I measured again, and moved the steering until I had the tape exactly the same to each side of the batwing. Then I go around to the front, back up, and eyeball line up the front wheel, and it looks to be aimed a little (again, just a little) left.
Could I need to to readjust the forks to the tripple tree? Could the inner fairing not be mounted straight on the forks? Or could there be another problem? I have the manual, and will study it some more. It is all a little intimidating at this point, just looking for any ideas any of you more experienced folks have. Don't want to take it in for an expensive service if it is something I can handle or if it is not a problem.
FYI, while riding, when I set the throttle lock and let go of the grips momentarily, it will drift slightly left. The drift is not noticable when I have my hands on the grips.
Thanks!
Got it up on my homemade woodblock jack the other night on a completely level floor, just checking some things out. After studying it perfectly level for a while, it looked like the batwing is cocked just a little off from the forks. Checked it a little more, and got a tape measure out. When I line up the front wheel what looks like exactly straight, the batwing looks to be aimed just a little (emphasis on little) to the right. I measured from the rear platform middle bolt (dead center over the rear fender) to each edge of the batwing, and it is off a little from left to right (batwing aimed right). Then I measured again, and moved the steering until I had the tape exactly the same to each side of the batwing. Then I go around to the front, back up, and eyeball line up the front wheel, and it looks to be aimed a little (again, just a little) left.
Could I need to to readjust the forks to the tripple tree? Could the inner fairing not be mounted straight on the forks? Or could there be another problem? I have the manual, and will study it some more. It is all a little intimidating at this point, just looking for any ideas any of you more experienced folks have. Don't want to take it in for an expensive service if it is something I can handle or if it is not a problem.
FYI, while riding, when I set the throttle lock and let go of the grips momentarily, it will drift slightly left. The drift is not noticable when I have my hands on the grips.
Thanks!
Tourer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 473
Likes: 8
From: Chelsea, AL
RE: front end misaligned?
Doch4m, my fairing on my Ultra seems to be cocked to the right slightly also. I'm goin to remove the fairing soon to see if I can adjust it straight. My handlebars have been slightly crooked since I've had the bike, and I thought that was what made the front end seem to be pointed a little to the right. I moved the bars to a straighter position and the fairing still looked cocked to the right.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,978
Likes: 34
From: Cedar Point, NC
RE: front end misaligned?
Never noticed on mine...
That being said, if I let go of the handlebars, I can move my head around a little, and get the bike to go straight...if I lean, I can get it to change lanes...
Mac
That being said, if I let go of the handlebars, I can move my head around a little, and get the bike to go straight...if I lean, I can get it to change lanes...
Mac
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 3
From: Southeast Wisconsin
RE: front end misaligned?
My '04 Wide Glide's triple trees were off by a 1/2 inch and the service manager at my dealer said that they find that on many bikes but usually correct it during set up. With his words, I would assume it happens on all models so that's where I would start.
If it bothers you, go ahead and fix it, it's your ride and you have to feel comfortable. Just ignoring it and pretending that it is "good enough" is the exact attitude that exsisted on the assembly line that led to the problem in the first place.
If it bothers you, go ahead and fix it, it's your ride and you have to feel comfortable. Just ignoring it and pretending that it is "good enough" is the exact attitude that exsisted on the assembly line that led to the problem in the first place.
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