Zerk grease fitting on steering head.....check yours!
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,272
Likes: 83
From: Southern California
Zerk grease fitting on steering head.....check yours!
While servicing my bike a couple days ago, I decided to do an overall inspection on the bike, besides changing my fluids. Among other things I checked the grease in the steering head and couldn't find any either at the top or bottom of the neck. This of course caused me some concern, because the steering head should have been properly greased before the bike left the factory, Dealer Prep and also checked at the 1000 mile service.
As I attempted to fit the grease gun on the Zerk fitting I noticed the angle of the fitting made it impossible to attach my grease gun because of the fairing/forks which were in the way. This got me thinking....unless HD has a special angle grease gun, how could they service the steering head? Hmm.....did they service the steering head? Since I couldn't attach me grease gun with the OEM zerk fitting, I replaced it with a 45 degree angle Zerk fitting. The fit was perfect and I was then able to attach my grease gun.
Nomally after attaching a grease gun to the Zerk fitting, it should only take 3-4 pumps before you begin to see grease at the top/bottom of the steering head (neck). Mine took so much grease, I stopped counting after 15-20 pumps. Darn thing must have been nearly dry/empty. I theorized that neither the factory or Dealer serviced it because it was empty/near empty and was impossible to reach.
A friend of mine who services his own Street Glide and also a mutual friend's Street Glide noticed the same problem. So now all 3 of us have 45 degree angle Zerks on our bikes. I suggest that everyone check their steering heads and consider replacing the Zerk with a 45 degree angle fitting.
As I attempted to fit the grease gun on the Zerk fitting I noticed the angle of the fitting made it impossible to attach my grease gun because of the fairing/forks which were in the way. This got me thinking....unless HD has a special angle grease gun, how could they service the steering head? Hmm.....did they service the steering head? Since I couldn't attach me grease gun with the OEM zerk fitting, I replaced it with a 45 degree angle Zerk fitting. The fit was perfect and I was then able to attach my grease gun.
Nomally after attaching a grease gun to the Zerk fitting, it should only take 3-4 pumps before you begin to see grease at the top/bottom of the steering head (neck). Mine took so much grease, I stopped counting after 15-20 pumps. Darn thing must have been nearly dry/empty. I theorized that neither the factory or Dealer serviced it because it was empty/near empty and was impossible to reach.
A friend of mine who services his own Street Glide and also a mutual friend's Street Glide noticed the same problem. So now all 3 of us have 45 degree angle Zerks on our bikes. I suggest that everyone check their steering heads and consider replacing the Zerk with a 45 degree angle fitting.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 695
Likes: 3
From: Kingwood, TX
Not sure why they even waste $$ putting that fitting there. I've disassembled numerous Harleys to the bare frame and have NEVER seen a steering neck bearing problem, not one. None of the necks were loaded with grease which is what happens when you pump grease into that fitting. Unless you drove your bike under water I see no need to grease that fitting, the bearings are packed at the factory before they are installed and should remain happily lubricated for the life of the bike.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 307
Likes: 1
From: Mission BC
it is possible to get a flex line to that grease fitting, takes a bit of bending and twisting but it will go on the zerk, did mine awhile ago since new and it made a big difference on how easy the forks turn from side to side now, I too wonder if there was ever grease in there
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 3
From: The "Quay", Norf Cack
Interesting thread. So the factory puts zerk fittings on the neck and never fulls them and the dealer ignore these as well. Texas SG states they are a waste of space/money to have in the first place and he speaks from experience (I assume an HD technician). FXDSEWANNABE says you can overfill these fittings and get it all over the tank and frame during hot days.
Not sure what to do at this point...
Not sure what to do at this point...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
Mine too around 20 shots of grease too. Must have been NO grease in there from the factory!
On the RK the stock grease fitting was easily accessed and used with a flexible hose on my grease gun. It must be the bikes with fairings that have problems with access.
On the RK the stock grease fitting was easily accessed and used with a flexible hose on my grease gun. It must be the bikes with fairings that have problems with access.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: UK
I found on my FLHT that if you remove the 4 bolts that hold the crome cover and passing lamp bracket you can get on the factory grease nipple ( zerk fitting ). I just need to figure out how too on my Road Glide now
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,646
Likes: 40
From: Midtown Tulsa
Just think of your car's wheel bearings. They go 40K or so miles (and maybe more) without getting any 'extra' grease, just what was packed in them....and they do a heck of a lot more work than neck bearings. Just my thoughts...
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 12
From: Parkton, Maryland
As someone else said, they are the same type of bearing used in car wheel bearings that spin at high speed for 40,000 miles with the weight of a car, without repacking, so the head bearings that should last forever.
