Zerk grease fitting on steering head.....check yours!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
the reason why it takes so much grease to fill it up is not because they (the factory) didn't grease it, it is because they just use packed bearings when they assemble the front end. now you come along and pump a whole tube of grease into the zerk fitting and fill up the neck.
i did this on my sportster and it oozed grease for the next 6 months, until i sold it (probably still oozing). on my road king, i figure rather than have grease oozing, at around 50k, i will pull the front end apart, repack the bearings, and put it all back together again. and no, i didn't pull this strategy out of my a$$, i have heard it recommended by some top names in the maintenance field.
i did this on my sportster and it oozed grease for the next 6 months, until i sold it (probably still oozing). on my road king, i figure rather than have grease oozing, at around 50k, i will pull the front end apart, repack the bearings, and put it all back together again. and no, i didn't pull this strategy out of my a$$, i have heard it recommended by some top names in the maintenance field.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 244
Likes: 3
Anybody got any ideas on why the engineers continue to design and install a zerk fitting if it never really needs to be greased?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 27
From: florida swamp
Anybody know why the engineers didn't put 2 fittings near the bearings and design the neck so just a couple of pumps would lube the bearings?
questions, questions
Maybe it was so people would let dealer service do it (or not) and they would also be charged for a tube of HD grease.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 27
From: florida swamp
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 244
Likes: 3
Anybody know why the engineers made the thing so hard to access?
Anybody know why the engineers didn't put 2 fittings near the bearings and design the neck so just a couple of pumps would lube the bearings?
questions, questions
Maybe it was so people would let dealer service do it (or not) and they would also be charged for a tube of HD grease.
Anybody know why the engineers didn't put 2 fittings near the bearings and design the neck so just a couple of pumps would lube the bearings?
questions, questions
Maybe it was so people would let dealer service do it (or not) and they would also be charged for a tube of HD grease.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,272
Likes: 83
From: Southern California
When greasing the neck, I don't recommend pumping it so full that the grease oozes out of the neck. Just pump enough until you begin to see the very beginning of grease coming to the surface, then stop. That's it. Yes it may expand with heat, but it should be minimal, because remember the moving parts are also wearing down the grease from friction. So this should keep the mess to a minimum. Anyway, it's been pretty hot here with tmeps in the high 90's...nearing 100, so I'll keep you posted on any future developments.