Steering head nut - Help.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 412
Likes: 1
Steering head nut - Help.
I have a 2007 Ultra that developed a slight wobble at speeds between 35 and 40 when I have light pressure on the handlebars. I think it is a loose steering head nut. The bike has 13,500 miles on it. I did a search and found limited info on the actual process for re-torque on the nut. I have a service manual, but dont have it in front of me. Are there any tips or special tools that I will need? Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Is your bike still under warranty? My 07 did that and it took the dealer 2x to adjust it right. Been 15k now and new tire no more issues. Setting the fallback especially on a dresser is almost an art or science to get it right. Most dealers use new unskilled pdi mechanics to to set ups. Take it back, thats what I would do
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 1
From: Texas
It could be the steering head bearings, but with the amount of miles on your bike, I would be willing to bet it's the front tire. First check your air pressure and tire condition. I replaced my front tire, even though it still had tread and didn't appear cupped, and the problem vanished.
The worst part about adjusting the head bearing on the Ultra is getting to it. Remove the outer fairing the the radio. remove the clutch cable from the lever end out of the fairing.Remove any other non-stock items from the handlebars and or fairing, pouches, G.P.S. etc.) Loosen the pinch bolts, raise the rubber stoppers on the forks. You don't do a fall away on touring bikes like the other poster stated, you do a swing count. urn the handlebars all the way to the left, let go and count the swings, a properly adjusted bearing will just start the 3rd swing, if it starts the 4th or more, it's to loose, less than 3 = to tight. If it needs adjusted, loosen the nut and adjust the star type nut. The best tool for this I found is ginding 1 end of a welding rod flat and putting a bend in it to fit into the tight area. Remember to torque the top nut before you check the swing. I don't have a manual in front of me but I am sure it's 80 ft. lbs.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Mass
Had same problem let me make this short and sweet, my 08 ultra did this from first day, took dealer one year to fix. did steering head three times,motor mounts, lined up back wheel,tire pressure, even had harley rep come out. finally I asked dealer to take off front tire and mag and put one on from another bike. that was it wobble was gone, hey try it.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
The worst part about adjusting the head bearing on the Ultra is getting to it. Remove the outer fairing the the radio. remove the clutch cable from the lever end out of the fairing.Remove any other non-stock items from the handlebars and or fairing, pouches, G.P.S. etc.) Loosen the pinch bolts, raise the rubber stoppers on the forks. You don't do a fall away on touring bikes like the other poster stated, you do a swing count. urn the handlebars all the way to the left, let go and count the swings, a properly adjusted bearing will just start the 3rd swing, if it starts the 4th or more, it's to loose, less than 3 = to tight. If it needs adjusted, loosen the nut and adjust the star type nut. The best tool for this I found is ginding 1 end of a welding rod flat and putting a bend in it to fit into the tight area. Remember to torque the top nut before you check the swing. I don't have a manual in front of me but I am sure it's 80 ft. lbs.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 1
From: Texas
The worst part about adjusting the head bearing on the Ultra is getting to it. Remove the outer fairing the the radio. remove the clutch cable from the lever end out of the fairing.Remove any other non-stock items from the handlebars and or fairing, pouches, G.P.S. etc.) Loosen the pinch bolts, raise the rubber stoppers on the forks. You don't do a fall away on touring bikes like the other poster stated, you do a swing count. urn the handlebars all the way to the left, let go and count the swings, a properly adjusted bearing will just start the 3rd swing, if it starts the 4th or more, it's to loose, less than 3 = to tight. If it needs adjusted, loosen the nut and adjust the star type nut. The best tool for this I found is ginding 1 end of a welding rod flat and putting a bend in it to fit into the tight area. Remember to torque the top nut before you check the swing. I don't have a manual in front of me but I am sure it's 80 ft. lbs.
I removed the cable on mine because it is a little on the short side and runs out of slack when the bars are moved to the far left. Still after hooking it back up, I get the same swing, just not to the same degree.
