Chasing this bagger wobble
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 894
Likes: 69
From: Ca
Got home, lossened the belt and gave the swing arm a tug and sure enough, theres play. Not a bunch, but maybe a tenth of an inch but probably a little less. But I could obviously see what looks like a 1/8 inch movement at the back of the tire. Going to get me some new bushings and see what happens. If I start dumping any more money into this thing, I'm going to start selling my body, which would be an upgrade since I give it away normally 🤣
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Got home, lossened the belt and gave the swing arm a tug and sure enough, theres play. Not a bunch, but maybe a tenth of an inch but probably a little less. But I could obviously see what looks like a 1/8 inch movement at the back of the tire. Going to get me some new bushings and see what happens. If I start dumping any more money into this thing, I'm going to start selling my body, which would be an upgrade since I give it away normally 🤣
Anyhow, you can machine new bushings yourself, if you've a lathe, or you could do what I did, and fix it with shim stock. I wrote up a bit about doing that, no pictures, here: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...shing-fix.html
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
The stock design is intentional to minimize vibration. Fix one and you will cause the other. The 09 frame is better, but certainly not perfect. One must consider their style of riding when purchasing a bike so they can get the best bike for the style.
Beary
Beary
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 4
From: southington
Fwiw, I found the replacement bearings had the same excessive clearance as the old ones. The old ones weren't worn, Harley makes them wrong. Or has them made wrong.
Anyhow, you can machine new bushings yourself, if you've a lathe, or you could do what I did, and fix it with shim stock. I wrote up a bit about doing that, no pictures, here: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...shing-fix.html
Anyhow, you can machine new bushings yourself, if you've a lathe, or you could do what I did, and fix it with shim stock. I wrote up a bit about doing that, no pictures, here: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...shing-fix.html
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Bearings weren't the problem, it was the inner bushing that goes between the bearing and the swing arm axle. I found them to be over bored. Shim stock between them and the axle, loctite to hold it in place. Brass sure would have been easier to work with, but I wanted the hardness of steel. Brass may well work fine, many a brass bushing lives on for decades. With the bearings free and lubricated, they're what moves anyhow.
I didn't find any problems with lateral deflection, so I didn't find any need to shim that on either side. I'll be curious if you do. Go with caution on that. As I recall, the torque down of the axle nuts is what seats and partially compresses the frame bushings. If those are left loose because they are shimmed outwards, bad things will happen.
I didn't find any problems with lateral deflection, so I didn't find any need to shim that on either side. I'll be curious if you do. Go with caution on that. As I recall, the torque down of the axle nuts is what seats and partially compresses the frame bushings. If those are left loose because they are shimmed outwards, bad things will happen.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 894
Likes: 69
From: Ca
I have some .001 and .002 brass shim stock I'm going to use to make sure I have no play anywhere. Also, I have a bunch of copper washers I could use as well, just sand them down to the proper thickness. I got a complete swing arm rebuild kit from V Twin Manufacturering, couldn't find much for better or stronger bearings for the newer swing arms, just complete kits that include the same swing arm I already have for the pre 2002s. I'll be working on it tomorrow when the kit comes in
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 308
From: coastal sc
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 894
Likes: 69
From: Ca
It didnt say change the pivot points it said get rid of the isolators with rubber in them and make the metal on metal so theres less give
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
Op before you start making parts
Call Kevin at Sta bo, his products work and will cure most bagger wobbles.
http://www.sta-bo.com/products
look at ED 16.
I have them in my 04 road glide and it's stable in any curve as fast as I have the nerve to take it.
Just a thought. Perhaps you have already considered
Call Kevin at Sta bo, his products work and will cure most bagger wobbles.
http://www.sta-bo.com/products
look at ED 16.
I have them in my 04 road glide and it's stable in any curve as fast as I have the nerve to take it.
Just a thought. Perhaps you have already considered
Last edited by bigskyroadglide; Jun 20, 2019 at 06:54 PM.