Make sure your forks are actually locked.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Make sure your forks are actually locked.
The other day I went out the the bike...the ignition switch was locked in the fork lock position.
I wasn't paying much attention lifted the bike off the stand and turned the handlebar to the right. Then I looked down and realized it was supposed to be locked. I swung the handle bars to the left and sure enough they locked in place. (of course then I had to go get te key...[&:]).
Evidently the key lock will lock in the fork lock position withoutthe forks actually being lock! With a softail if your forks are not over far enough you can't lock the forks...I just assumed (and you know what assume means[:@]) that the same holds true wth this bike.
I figured out I do that more often then not...now I have to make it a habit to verify I am turned all the way left before locking it (or check it again after it's locked). At least fork locking it gives it some defense against just rolling up a ramp.
I wasn't paying much attention lifted the bike off the stand and turned the handlebar to the right. Then I looked down and realized it was supposed to be locked. I swung the handle bars to the left and sure enough they locked in place. (of course then I had to go get te key...[&:]).
Evidently the key lock will lock in the fork lock position withoutthe forks actually being lock! With a softail if your forks are not over far enough you can't lock the forks...I just assumed (and you know what assume means[:@]) that the same holds true wth this bike.
I figured out I do that more often then not...now I have to make it a habit to verify I am turned all the way left before locking it (or check it again after it's locked). At least fork locking it gives it some defense against just rolling up a ramp.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 965
Likes: 1
From: Shreveport,La.
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
yeah, Bluerose, I noticed that on my '07 the first day I got it. Did pretty much the same thing you did, and made a mental note to always give the bars a tug after I lock 'em now.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 845
Likes: 4
From: ID ho
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
Bluerose, check to see if your clutch cable gets caught between the frame and the rubber doughnut on the fork tube. If it does the forks cant turn all the way left to let the lock pin drop into the hole on the frame. if that is the case, reposition the cable to clear or raise the rubber to clear. When you turn the ign to lock then the bars left you should hear the pin drop and you wont be able to turn the bars back!
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
From: Burleson, Tx.
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
Yeah I caught onto this on 04 UC pretty soon after I bought it. Also this one time at (band camp) wallyworld I locked bike and went in, came out and actually turned ignition to on and then realized I never unlocked it. Hasn't happened since but have always checked for handle lockand switch lock.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
I have a 2008 Street Glide and was surprised the first time I turned the front wheel when I had thought I had locked the fork. So now I always check after I've locked it by trying to turn the handle bars. If they move then I turn them all the way to the left and try again.
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
ORIGINAL: hogdoc
Bluerose, check to see if your clutch cable gets caught between the frame and the rubber doughnut on the fork tube. If it does the forks cant turn all the way left to let the lock pin drop into the hole on the frame. if that is the case, reposition the cable to clear or raise the rubber to clear. When you turn the ign to lock then the bars left you should hear the pin drop and you wont be able to turn the bars back!
Bluerose, check to see if your clutch cable gets caught between the frame and the rubber doughnut on the fork tube. If it does the forks cant turn all the way left to let the lock pin drop into the hole on the frame. if that is the case, reposition the cable to clear or raise the rubber to clear. When you turn the ign to lock then the bars left you should hear the pin drop and you wont be able to turn the bars back!
Just seems that "Fork Lock" should mean just that...if the bars are not in the correct position it should not lock that way.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
Mine is the same, forks will not lock unless cranked all the way to the left. The KEY will go to that LOCK position but forks are not locked unless all the way over.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 859
Likes: 0
From: Morton IL
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
i did the same thing...went to roll bike forward a little and forks werent locked. as others have said....now i always give the bars a tug after locking them.
hogdoc....would it cause any harm to lock forks with wheel pointing straight forward then turning bars to left locking the forks or should you always turn forks to the left before locking them?
hogdoc....would it cause any harm to lock forks with wheel pointing straight forward then turning bars to left locking the forks or should you always turn forks to the left before locking them?
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Joe Kucinski
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
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From:
RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
I've seen the same thing. The fork stop (rubber ring) is hitting the wiring harness which is fastened to the frame in the exact position where the fork stop should bottom out. As you pull harder to lock the strg. it pushes harder against the harness and eventually locks. I've since removed some material from the fork stop to eliminate this problem. Good luck!
Streeter
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Streeter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
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RE: Make sure your forks are actually locked.
Found the same thing on my 08 UC, but its already become second nature for me to double check it is actually locked. Also, you can lock your fork without actually using the key in the switch....just flip the ignition tumbler to the lock position with the handlebar cranked all the way to the left. I do this frequently when I'm lifting or working on the bike when its lifted and don't want the front wheel moving side to side....kind of handy not having to go get the key.