Head Shake

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Sep 19, 2019 | 09:25 AM

plongson

Thread Starter

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 1,151

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From: Southern Utah, USA

Head Shake

Damn, I'm glad I bought the service manual...Just rolled up on 8500 miles on the CVO and it suddenly and unexpectedly displayed head shake...within a single long ride. Not violent but there nonetheless. I went to the service manual and thought "what a PITA"...I'll call the dealer, they said it was normal maintenance and it was a couple of hours at the shop rate. What's that now...$150/hr...

So out comes the service manual again and...in a couple of hours I had it done. It's not brain surgery, just a PITA but be ready, it needs to be done precisely and accurately or you'll wish you never started. The hardest part is getting to and loosing the pinch bolt on the top of the stem. I had to cut off a 5/16" hex key and move cables and wire bundles but in the end it wasn't so bad...

If you wrench, you MUST purchase the service manual...

Sep 23, 2019 | 10:20 AM

Ddieselsmoke

Tourer

Joined: May 2017

Posts: 443

Likes: 75

From: Xenia OH

So what maintenance did you do ? Fall away test and head bearing adjustment?

Sep 23, 2019 | 10:35 AM

plongson

Thread Starter

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 1,151

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From: Southern Utah, USA

Yes, both...

Sep 23, 2019 | 11:29 AM

strych9

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2017

Posts: 7,322

Likes: 11,741

From: Omaha,NE

@ 8500 miles? That's not normal for that few miles. Per maintenance schedule it's not even checked until 25K miles.

Sep 23, 2019 | 11:31 AM

plongson

Thread Starter

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 1,151

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From: Southern Utah, USA

What can I say...It shook, I fixed it...Meh.

Sep 23, 2019 | 12:59 PM

hvacgaspiping

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 32,851

Likes: 17,886

From: Newcastle, OK

Quote:

Originally Posted by plongson

What can I say...It shook, I fixed it...Meh.

Good on you, bad on HD for having that issue on a brand new CVO that you paid extra for........

Sep 23, 2019 | 03:30 PM

strych9

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2017

Posts: 7,322

Likes: 11,741

From: Omaha,NE

Quote:

Originally Posted by plongson

What can I say...It shook, I fixed it...Meh.

I wasn't clear, but I was mainly concerned that the dealer claimed that it was a maintenance issue. It is, but they should have taken care of it under warranty since it was premature. I've read where other guys had no problem getting that covered.