Need help adjusting the steering head bearing
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
Need help adjusting the steering head bearing
So yesterday I had new tires installed at a m/c tire shop and the guy told me there was something wrong with the steering head bearings. He felt it was more than just an adjustment but I took the front end apart (fairing etc.) to get at the nut. I found the main stem nut easy enough but it wasn't tight. I was able to simply remove the nut with my fingers once the metal tab was bent back. So that seems to be problem no. 1.
Regarding the swing check per the manual, I am not getting enough swing. From left to right I only get a swing back to right then back to center. Should be getting 2.5 swings per the manual. So I thought I would loosen the star washer one notch per the manual and see if the swing pattern improved. Problem is I can't find the star washer. The manual says it's located under the fork bracket but I'll be damned if I can find it.
Also, there is a slight amount of play if I grab the front fender and rock back and forth (forward and aft of the bike). Is this normal? The manual doesn't really address this. BTW even tightening the main stem nut didn't noticeably change this amount of play.
2007 FLHTCU
Regarding the swing check per the manual, I am not getting enough swing. From left to right I only get a swing back to right then back to center. Should be getting 2.5 swings per the manual. So I thought I would loosen the star washer one notch per the manual and see if the swing pattern improved. Problem is I can't find the star washer. The manual says it's located under the fork bracket but I'll be damned if I can find it.
Also, there is a slight amount of play if I grab the front fender and rock back and forth (forward and aft of the bike). Is this normal? The manual doesn't really address this. BTW even tightening the main stem nut didn't noticeably change this amount of play.
2007 FLHTCU
Last edited by danzio; Jun 16, 2013 at 10:37 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 983
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
The adjuster you are looking for is probably under the nut you have already removed. I think the nut you have removed is just a lock nut and the actual adjuster is directly below it.
Item 20 in the attached picture.
Look up the parts breakdown on Ronnie's
http://www.shopronniesharleydavidson...partfinder.htm
Item 20 in the attached picture.
Look up the parts breakdown on Ronnie's
http://www.shopronniesharleydavidson...partfinder.htm
Last edited by vzts4q; Jun 16, 2013 at 11:01 AM.
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 600
From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
The adjuster you are looking for is probably under the nut you have already removed. I think the nut you have removed is just a lock nut and the actual adjuster is directly below it.
Item 20 in the attached picture.
Look up the parts breakdown on Ronnie's
http://www.shopronniesharleydavidson...partfinder.htm
Item 20 in the attached picture.
Look up the parts breakdown on Ronnie's
http://www.shopronniesharleydavidson...partfinder.htm
Also I did grease it up good. Put a full tube of grease in there and flushed out all the old stuff.
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
Yes I did and moved the rubber fork stops up as instructed.
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Your results are counterintuitive. Not enough swing, yet loose play.
You got to get your hands on that spanner nut and see what gives. Remember, when you tighten the lock nut it will add some preload to the spanner so leave the preload a tad shy before you lock it down. It sounds like you've got serious bearing problems, but you need to attempt an adjustment first
You got to get your hands on that spanner nut and see what gives. Remember, when you tighten the lock nut it will add some preload to the spanner so leave the preload a tad shy before you lock it down. It sounds like you've got serious bearing problems, but you need to attempt an adjustment first
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 600
From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
Your results are counterintuitive. Not enough swing, yet loose play.
You got to get your hands on that spanner nut and see what gives. Remember, when you tighten the lock nut it will add some preload to the spanner so leave the preload a tad shy before you lock it down. It sounds like you've got serious bearing problems, but you need to attempt an adjustment first
You got to get your hands on that spanner nut and see what gives. Remember, when you tighten the lock nut it will add some preload to the spanner so leave the preload a tad shy before you lock it down. It sounds like you've got serious bearing problems, but you need to attempt an adjustment first
Thanks