What is "fall-away"?

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Jun 26, 2013 | 01:01 PM

EasTexUltra12

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From: Waskom, TX

What is "fall-away"?

Reading through this post on Road Glides.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ont-end-2.html

They talk about "head shake" and "fall away". So I did some looking and figured out what the decel head shake was, but I cannot figure out what fall away is? Can someone please explain what it is, and how it affect the handling of our bikes?

Thanks

David

Jun 26, 2013 | 01:06 PM

KCFLHRC

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From: Jayhawk Country

Jun 26, 2013 | 01:10 PM

jeffreydsilver

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From: WPB, FL

When you're with your significant other, after you get done making love and you climb off -

Jun 26, 2013 | 01:22 PM

EasTexUltra12

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From: Waskom, TX

Both, excellant answers. Although KCFLHRC your answer is probably a little closer to what I was looking for

Thanks for taking the time to post the YouTube link.

Ride Safe

David

Jun 26, 2013 | 01:26 PM

msbova

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From: Green Bay

reminds me of one of my favorite toasts....

"Here's to honor
Get on her and stay on her
if you fall off
Get back on her!!"

Jun 26, 2013 | 01:59 PM

cayers

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From: Las Cruces, NM

Nice video for adjusting it.........but what is it?

Just curious.

Jun 26, 2013 | 02:12 PM

KCFLHRC

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From: Jayhawk Country

Quote:

Originally Posted by cayers

Nice video for adjusting it.........but what is it?

Just curious.

It's a way of measuring the tightness of the steering head bearings. You measure the distance where it begins to "fall away". So in the video he measured it in both directions where it began to fall away and added those 2 numbers together. There will be a spec in the Service Manual for this and you either loosen or tighten the nut to get it within spec. When it's too loose it can cause wobble in the front end and other handling issues.

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Jun 26, 2013 | 07:43 PM

skratch

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From: anacoco, la

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCFLHRC

Fall Away Check 2009 05 02 19 36 35 - YouTube

thats all fine and good, but this is not correct for a roadglide. the triple trees on the touring bikes are 'backwards' so you can not do this test on the. on the touring bikes, the test is much easier actually. make sure the front and back are the same height off the ground, then turn your handlebars all the way to the steering stop. then let go, and count the number of swings, or partial swings, until the front end stops. the current spec on a roadglide is 1-2 swings. it is higher on the batwing bikes.

basically, this is just a quick gauge for measuring the amount of preload on the steering head bearing. if the bearing is too tight, you'll get jerky handling. if its too loose, then you'll get the wobble.