Cured my wobble
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 1
From: Orem Utah
Cured my wobble
I posted on another thread about a wicked wobble I got on some 80 mph corners in a local canyon (Provo Canyon, Utah). Yes, that's a fast speed but when I'm following 3 other baggers and they are fine, I should be able to keep up. The bike had always felt squirly on any uneven or change in road surface and it seemed to be getting worse.
One contributing factor was an almost worn rear tire. When I took it off I noticed it had begun cupping a bit. The new tire helped some, but I still had problems. Both the HD shop and an Indy suggested products like the Bagger Brace, but that seemed like a band aid to me. After doing some research I found the biggest problem was that my steering head bearings were loose. When I jacked up the bike I was supposed to get 3 turns out of the steering if I pulled the bars to a full left turn and let them go. I was getting 6 and almost 7. The cool part was I was able to do all the work myself.and now know much more about mechanics of the bike.
WOW, what a difference, it rides like a completely different bike. I'm leaving on a 10 day, 6000 mile ride in a few days and feel much better about it now. Just thought I'd pass this along.
One contributing factor was an almost worn rear tire. When I took it off I noticed it had begun cupping a bit. The new tire helped some, but I still had problems. Both the HD shop and an Indy suggested products like the Bagger Brace, but that seemed like a band aid to me. After doing some research I found the biggest problem was that my steering head bearings were loose. When I jacked up the bike I was supposed to get 3 turns out of the steering if I pulled the bars to a full left turn and let them go. I was getting 6 and almost 7. The cool part was I was able to do all the work myself.and now know much more about mechanics of the bike.
WOW, what a difference, it rides like a completely different bike. I'm leaving on a 10 day, 6000 mile ride in a few days and feel much better about it now. Just thought I'd pass this along.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
Rear tires rarely cup unless your pressure or alignment was off. Your bike will still "rear steer" under those conditions (sweepers). The braces are far more than a bandaid, but they won't compensate for maintenence issues like tires and head bearing adjustment. Being that loose, you probably ruined them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 39,382
Likes: 2,111
From: Central, Ca.
Worked on mine today since I had time, kind of a half *** way of adjusting the spanner nut under the triple crown anyway I torqued the stem nut to 90 ft lbs, all feels better. My Sportster was much easier
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 104
From: Prescott, AZ
. When I jacked up the bike I was supposed to get 3 turns out of the steering if I pulled the bars to a full left turn and let them go. I was getting 6 and almost 7.
I'm leaving on a 10 day, 6000 mile ride in a few days and feel much better about it now. Just thought I'd pass this along.
interesting post - can you explain (ok, iam slow today) the 3 turns if you pulled the bars to the far left..
and 6000 miles in 10 days = 600 a day. I am impressed..
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,498
Likes: 19
From: East Alton, IL
I've got mine apart now and am trying to find some tool to turn the adjuster. If I had a machine shop instead of a garage I'd go to the pile and grab some 1/4 drill rod and machine the end to the dimensions shown in the service manual and go to town. Since I don't have a machine shop, what do I use to turn that damn adjuster? I tried a long screwdriver but it just slips off.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 39,382
Likes: 2,111
From: Central, Ca.
I started with a piece of welding rod but ended up bending a small screwdriver and tapping it with a hammer, that's what I meant by 1/2 assed. Also bungeed my bars to one side to be able to see the spanner nut. Not sure about the swing test thing I just tried to set it so it didn't feel so loose and when I tightened the stem nut it felt good. It is a vague process for an important bearing preload. Remember to loosen the bottom clamp pinch bolts first