Steering head grease
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
There was a thread about this just the other day. To prevent the bottom leakage and back-splatter on the gas tank, one guy found that Lucas high temp grease would not liquify in hot weather and leak around the bottom bearing...dripping all over everything it shouldn't. There were a few other brands mentioned that seemed to resist melting and running.
In my opinion, this is another example of poor design. Knowing that down the road the owner should re-grease these bearings, HD should have incorporated some grease chambers and two zerks...one for each bearing/chamber. But no, again a cheap and elementary design, with no focus on practicality. Its absolutely ludicrous that we have to fill up this chamber with most of a tube of grease to accomplish this benign task.
In my opinion, this is another example of poor design. Knowing that down the road the owner should re-grease these bearings, HD should have incorporated some grease chambers and two zerks...one for each bearing/chamber. But no, again a cheap and elementary design, with no focus on practicality. Its absolutely ludicrous that we have to fill up this chamber with most of a tube of grease to accomplish this benign task.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
There was a thread about this just the other day. To prevent the bottom leakage and back-splatter on the gas tank, one guy found that Lucas high temp grease would not liquify in hot weather and leak around the bottom bearing...dripping all over everything it shouldn't. There were a few other brands mentioned that seemed to resist melting and running.
In my opinion, this is another example of poor design. Knowing that down the road the owner should re-grease these bearings, HD should have incorporated some grease chambers and two zerks...one for each bearing/chamber. But no, again a cheap and elementary design, with no focus on practicality. Its absolutely ludicrous that we have to fill up this chamber with most of a tube of grease to accomplish this benign task.
In my opinion, this is another example of poor design. Knowing that down the road the owner should re-grease these bearings, HD should have incorporated some grease chambers and two zerks...one for each bearing/chamber. But no, again a cheap and elementary design, with no focus on practicality. Its absolutely ludicrous that we have to fill up this chamber with most of a tube of grease to accomplish this benign task.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 67
From: USA
To take it even a step further, if there were seals in the neck we'd never have to add grease. Think about it - wheel bearings that are always under load and constantly rolling have no grease provisions. Why do neck bearings that do see load, but relatively minor movement, need to be routinely greased.
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
Likes: 16
From: N.E. Wisconsin
The steering head bearings only need enough grease to lubricate the minimal amount of movement they have. The bearings are designed to carry the load, overgreasing just opens up the neck seals for exposure to dirt and moisture. They should'nt have even put a zerk there, unless they just want to F__k with paranoid riders !
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
The steering head bearings only need enough grease to lubricate the minimal amount of movement they have. The bearings are designed to carry the load, overgreasing just opens up the neck seals for exposure to dirt and moisture. They should'nt have even put a zerk there, unless they just want to F__k with paranoid riders !
So you don't grease yours?????
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
Likes: 16
From: N.E. Wisconsin
I put about 8 shots in when I first bought the bike, just to make sure they didn't forget. Over greasing bearings cause alot more failures. IMO.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 477
Likes: 8
From: Kennedale,Tx
The 01 sporty manual says to pump neck bearings till grease oozes out top and bottom.
The manual on the 08 sporty says at 20 k tear apart steering head, clean bearings and just repack bearings.
Ended up pulling down the 01 steering head and cleaned up my mess and just greased bearings. Wife is much happier now. No more grease on her pants.
IMHO-the necks with the zerts were never filled properly at the factory, If you had to put 1/2 to 3/4 tube in to fill then where did all the original grease go? It didn't evaporate.
The manual on the 08 sporty says at 20 k tear apart steering head, clean bearings and just repack bearings.
Ended up pulling down the 01 steering head and cleaned up my mess and just greased bearings. Wife is much happier now. No more grease on her pants.
IMHO-the necks with the zerts were never filled properly at the factory, If you had to put 1/2 to 3/4 tube in to fill then where did all the original grease go? It didn't evaporate.
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