Steering Head Bearings question
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 154
From: Lake City, Florida
Their's no need to disassemble the triple tree to grease the bearings at the 1000 or the 10,000 mile services. Just shoot high temp grease into the zerk fitting until it starts to come out. When you got the bike up in the air, (usually when I'm changing tires), before removing the tire I just shake the front tire and feel if it feels too loose. When you get about 50,000 miles, or if you have any handling problems, or a wobble in the turns feeling, you could take the front end apart and inspect the head bearings and races, hand pack the grease, tighten head nut adjustment.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
I had to remove the chrome piece below the head light to get a greese hose on the fitting. It took most of a tube of HD special purpose greese. I'm glad I did it as it obviosly didn't get done at the 1,000 mile service. Next time I'll change the zerk to a 45 degree one but I didn't want to run after the part when I did it.
Same here.......they neglected to do it at my 1K service as well......
can you add grease while on the jiffy stand? I can see where the zerk is........this is new to me, where can I get everything I need to do this service?
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 13
Doesn't the steering head bearings need to be adjusted as well @ the 10k service? I am doing my 10k myself, but have never done a steer head so I called the dealer to have that done and they want 1.5 hrs to adjust and grease. Can grease be picked up at local dealer?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Red & Tacky
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 335
Likes: 14
From: Baltimore
I just did my 10K service before leaving on a 1700 mile trip. Checked the play in the head bearings per the manual while on the jack stand. No adjustment was needed. Changed all three fluids, cleaned and lubed the air filter, checked the tread wear and air pressure in the tires, and rode it. After 1700 miles in the mountains I need to check the level of my brake fuild. When you look at the service required for the 10K and then what a dealer charges you it is easy to justify doing it yourself. If I think the drive belt is to loose I'll take it to the local indy for adjustment. They didn't grease the head bearings when I had the 1K service done for $300. I filled the head with grease myself using a high temp synthetic wheel bearing grease. Doing any of the required maintenance yourself will allow you to spend the $300+ for a good jack to make the work easier.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
