Greasing steering head bearings
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Greasing steering head bearings
Okay, I'm tired of the $300 oil changes, so this is my first time. 2002 FLHTCI. I have the service manual.
How in the heck do you get a grease gun on that zerk fitting? Do I need a 90° zerk elbow to get to it? Is there such a thing? My gun does NOT have a rubber hose, it's good old 1950s American engineering.
BTW, best $700 I ever spent on the bike was the Corbin seat. What a difference. I clearly have a 60 year old Corbin butt.
Thanks for the how to help, ride safe.
How in the heck do you get a grease gun on that zerk fitting? Do I need a 90° zerk elbow to get to it? Is there such a thing? My gun does NOT have a rubber hose, it's good old 1950s American engineering.
BTW, best $700 I ever spent on the bike was the Corbin seat. What a difference. I clearly have a 60 year old Corbin butt.
Thanks for the how to help, ride safe.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Steering head bearings should really be done by hand.If the bike very seldom gets wet or sits inside all the time don't worry about it.The problem with using a grease fitting is you will more than likely be pushing old grease through the bearings not to mention the mess you deal with after your done pressure feeding the steering head.that stuff will liquify and drip all over everything.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Thanks for that quick response, but here's what the service manual says:
Turn handlebar full right to access the grease
fitting at the left side of the steering head. Connect grease
gun to fitting and inject grease until it exudes from top and
bottom of steering head.
My question remains... how do those of you who do this access the fitting?
Turn handlebar full right to access the grease
fitting at the left side of the steering head. Connect grease
gun to fitting and inject grease until it exudes from top and
bottom of steering head.
My question remains... how do those of you who do this access the fitting?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,731
Likes: 100
From: Delafield,Wi. 53188
greasy mess
Steering head bearings should really be done by hand.If the bike very seldom gets wet or sits inside all the time don't worry about it.The problem with using a grease fitting is you will more than likely be pushing old grease through the bearings not to mention the mess you deal with after your done pressure feeding the steering head.that stuff will liquify and drip all over everything.
My motorcycles don`t stay out in the elements, does any body not garage theirs?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 726
Likes: 1
From: Metropolis
There was a big thread about this a while back. Some say you can mix the factory grease with whatever you have on the shelf, others say you can't and that you should use the same grease with the same properties.... I went to the dealer and got the harley special purpose grease and just put about 20 pumps in when I did mine. I have the flexible hose 12" extension. You can get those just about anywhere. Do what the manual says and turn your wheel to the right.. the zerk fitting is pretty accessible. At least it was on my 09. I'd hear of others getting the 90 degree fitting and changing it, but I didn't have to on my model year
Last edited by Harley_RN; Jun 19, 2010 at 08:59 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
Go to walmart and buy a small grease gun with a rubber hose on it. Be careful, I over lubed mine a couple of years ago, when it gets hot, I am still cleaning it off everything.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: Eaton, OH
On my '09 I can get to it by just turning the handlebars all the way to the right. If you can't get to yours like that then I would suggest changing the fitting to a 45° or 90° or whatever would work for you.
I bought the HD grease recommended in the service manual. Maybe it was not necessary but it minimizes any possibility of any issues.
I had to pump mine quite a bit until the grease started coming out. It did ooze out for while but it seems to have stopped now.
The service manual says to do it so I did it. Others choose not to...their bike, their choice.
I bought the HD grease recommended in the service manual. Maybe it was not necessary but it minimizes any possibility of any issues.
I had to pump mine quite a bit until the grease started coming out. It did ooze out for while but it seems to have stopped now.
The service manual says to do it so I did it. Others choose not to...their bike, their choice.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 11
From: TN
Service manual???????????????
Up until 2003 the service manual specifically said, "Do not use synthetic oil in a Harley davidson engine"! Then HD came out with their own synthetic oil. KACHING KACHING! Don't believe everything you read. Pumping grease in to the neck until it comes out the top and bottem is BS.
Bwana
Up until 2003 the service manual specifically said, "Do not use synthetic oil in a Harley davidson engine"! Then HD came out with their own synthetic oil. KACHING KACHING! Don't believe everything you read. Pumping grease in to the neck until it comes out the top and bottem is BS.
Bwana
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 6
From: Oregon City, OR
Depending on the year and model you either need a 90 deg or a straight on gun. I set mine up with a quick disconnect (using air hose fittins) so I can swap out the hose in 3 seconds.