Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

steering head

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 17, 2018 | 06:13 AM
  #1  
pinn600's Avatar
pinn600
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: nc
Default steering head

96 Road King with 58000 miles-the steering head bearing adjuster is tightened down as far as it will go and there is no drag on bearings-thinking that adjustment might be needed since handling problem around truck turbulence has become an issue-wondering why there might be no adjustment left-instability seems to be in front endand have already replaced swingarm bushings
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2018 | 06:19 AM
  #2  
Kingglide549's Avatar
Kingglide549
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
Likes: 978
From: Viet Vet, crossroads
Default

A big truck will always give you a push or shove.
DO you have a 3rd link on of sorts?
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2018 | 07:13 AM
  #3  
Ed Ramberger's Avatar
Ed Ramberger
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 1,211
From: Then Wisconsin, now North Carolina
Default

Just making sure you're nut just trying to tighten the nut down thinking that is the adjustment.
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2018 | 08:29 AM
  #4  
larsfum's Avatar
larsfum
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 463
From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
Default

You need to conduct a fall away test as described in the service manual. Then you can make the adjustments from there. You are always going to get a but of turbulence from a truck.
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2018 | 04:06 PM
  #5  
pinn600's Avatar
pinn600
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: nc
Default

no third link but this problem just started recently
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2018 | 04:09 PM
  #6  
pinn600's Avatar
pinn600
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: nc
Default

thanks ed,no i'm trying to tighten the adjusting nut under the upper tree
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2018 | 04:10 PM
  #7  
pinn600's Avatar
pinn600
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: nc
Default

this is more than normal turbulence i have encountered on this bike
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2018 | 09:25 PM
  #8  
smat45's Avatar
smat45
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 3
From: Canton, MI.
Default

Kind of just went through this...

08 SG...58k

Replaced the swing arm bushings...bagger brace...new tires...Ohlins front and back...

Still did the hula hula in sweepers...

Loosened up the adjuster in the neck...(it would be a lot easier if there was a zerk fitting on the top...but it's only the bottom..) .but all the grease is gone...and you have to fill that whole neck to get grease up there...you can do it...butt it's a PITA! Not the work...just the inherent mess...all that frick'n grease ooz's out over time...so you have to be mindful of it catching on you lower tree and wiping it out from the inside...

It's almost impossible to get grease to go all the way up the tube before it starts squirting out the bottom... so a tip I got from a member here (can't remember his name...Thanks bro!) Tie a piece of small diameter rope around the bottom of your neck (where the grease squirts out) and force it all the way up there...(I went through nearly a whole tube)...turned the wheel while doing it...it was asking for more...it was messy...grease always is...

Then try your adjustment...should have a lil adjustment (mine did...world of difference)

Good luck...hope it works instead of having to replacing your steering neck bearings

smat
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 17, 2018 | 09:44 PM
  #9  
bikerlaw's Avatar
bikerlaw
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Default

There is so much wrong with this post......
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2018 | 05:47 AM
  #10  
pinn600's Avatar
pinn600
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: nc
Default

thanks smat,i will give that a shot before tearing it down
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:17 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE