Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Bagger wobble solved!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 4, 2014 | 03:12 PM
  #81  
fabrik8r's Avatar
fabrik8r
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
Default

Originally Posted by woodman
Question fabrik8r
I have 75K on my 06 RKing and have replaced the front mount and have alot of vibration in bike. So when replacing the bearings do the sta-bos replace the rubber bushings? I hope rebuilding the swingarm will enhance the ride and eliminate some vibration. Any thoughts?
No. The Sta-Bo bushings are not a replacement, they work in conjunction with the OEM rear vibration isolators and provide auxiliary support. If you replaced with OEM it is common to notice increased vibes going from a worn out to a new front motor mount. Get a Sta-Bo or Glide-Pro front motor mount for best vibe damping. Keep in mind that your tune can contribute to vibration.
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2014 | 12:07 PM
  #82  
woodman's Avatar
woodman
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 364
From: Washington
Default

So my swingarm is rebuilt with the bearings Porcheman recommended. Wow my bike rides great . Nice and tight . Handles the bumps better and corners like it's stuck to the road. The new bushings have helped the ride.Just rode through a freaking monsoon here on Saturday and my bike tracked really well .
Also put a new belt on. The old one was not to badly worn but I fixed an inner primary leak so why not.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2014 | 04:11 PM
  #83  
bg11's Avatar
bg11
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
From: Southern WV
Default bagger wobble

I know this is an old thread, but its weird. I had a spill caused by the wobble two days before this was originally posted. I just bought the progressive stabilizer, but before I ride it I'll check the slop in the swingarm. Thanks.
Anybody have any experience with the Progressive stabilizer?
 
Reply
Old Mar 23, 2014 | 12:24 PM
  #84  
woodman's Avatar
woodman
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 364
From: Washington
Default

bg11, I'm riding an 06 RK Custom same frame as you. I tell you what a huge difference this rebuild has made. No slop , the bike is like a sports car in the corners. Handles better at high speed. I have not put my True- Track Stabilizer back on yet. Highly recommend this rebuild with these bearings. No wiggle all. Just finished the first 400 miler of the year and I am happy with the bikes feel.
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 08:08 AM
  #85  
biil9's Avatar
biil9
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 1
From: n providence ri
Default

just finished doing the bearings and bushings in my 03 electra glide.had the same wobble and the feeling of not being planted. when i took my hands off the bars,bike went hard left. 17 this morning but 54 this friday so im hoping to test it out. the feedback i got from the site was the correct one because there was play in the wheel for sure. notr anymore.
 
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2014 | 10:20 PM
  #86  
woodman's Avatar
woodman
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 364
From: Washington
Default

Originally Posted by biil9
just finished doing the bearings and bushings in my 03 electra glide.had the same wobble and the feeling of not being planted. when i took my hands off the bars,bike went hard left. 17 this morning but 54 this friday so im hoping to test it out. the feedback i got from the site was the correct one because there was play in the wheel for sure. notr anymore.
Give us your feedback when you get a test drive in.
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 08:50 AM
  #87  
GoofySB's Avatar
GoofySB
Tourer
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 388
Likes: 36
From: USA
Default

Does anyone know what is normal or acceptable for lateral movement of the swingarm? Removed my rear tire and disconnected the shocks and checked mine yesterday. I don't have a dial caliper, but it only seemed around .010"; just ahead of the axle. Bike has 19,000 miles on it. The Bagger Brace was connected when I checked it also. Based on that small amount of deflection, I'm not sure the Aurora bearings will help.
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 11:06 AM
  #88  
Biker John's Avatar
Biker John
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 239
Likes: 7
From: KCK
Default

Did mine on a 2002 Electra Glide last month but with HD parts...in stock at the time. Making a note for reference later of these parts listed here. First thing I bought for this was the True Trac brace. Good write up...thanks!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 11:32 PM
  #89  
whetsel.m's Avatar
whetsel.m
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Hampton,MN
Default

I noticed that if you assemble the swingarm pivot assembly loose there is a lot of play. I don't see how just tightening the nuts on both ends of the pivot shaft can hold the swingarm from deflecting considering the force that is applied to it in a corner. tolerances in the bearing inserts and the rubber mount to shaft fit needs to be reduced. other wise it will still wallow with new parts.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 05:10 AM
  #90  
foxtrapper's Avatar
foxtrapper
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Navy
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,420
From: USA
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by whetsel.m
I noticed that if you assemble the swingarm pivot assembly loose there is a lot of play. I don't see how just tightening the nuts on both ends of the pivot shaft can hold the swingarm from deflecting considering the force that is applied to it in a corner. tolerances in the bearing inserts and the rubber mount to shaft fit needs to be reduced. other wise it will still wallow with new parts.
Right church, wrong pew. At least in my experience with my 04 RK. There was quite a bit of oem correct play between the swing arm bushings and the shaft. That was where my swing arm was moving. Had nothing to do with the outer bushings (which are not soft btw). The engine was held in place just fine, as was the swing arm shaft. The swing arm was wiggling around on that shaft. That was the problem on my bike, and I strongly suspect on many others.

I thought about cutting my own bushings on a friends lathe, and still might next winter. Instead, I fixed it with some stainless shim stock. I chose that route as it's more doable by anyone who wishes to duplicate it. I wrote it up and you can find it on here. Eliminating this oem slop stopped the swing arm from wiggling around on the shaft.

About the big swing arm bushings on the ends, they ain't soft. I haven't cut one apart yet, but I'd hazard an observation that it's stacked steel pieces with a urethane or rubber binder. My big vice makes very little impression on one when it comes to trying to make it deflect.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:30 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE