Front wheel wandering after removing it??
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,224
Likes: 3,049
From: St.Louis Mo.
Older bikes the hole was close to the fork leg and you inserted a screwdriver or drift when tightening the clamp to bring the fork leg in a tad. Now the hole is farther out on the axle and you can't do that. So just apply inward pressure by hand on the fork leg now and tighten the clamp,
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 323
Likes: 5
From: MA
My two cents worth:
Any chance this problem existed before you pulled the front wheel and did not notice? Since pulling the wheel you paid attention to it and noticed it?
I ask it seems like bearings to me.
Again just my two cents.
Any chance this problem existed before you pulled the front wheel and did not notice? Since pulling the wheel you paid attention to it and noticed it?
I ask it seems like bearings to me.
Again just my two cents.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 81
From: Largo, FL
I loosened the axle nut and the 2 nuts for the axle cap yesterday. I re-torqued all 3 and did the big axle nut first, then did the axle cap on the right side. We went for a 280 mile ride today and everything seemed fine.
I don't remember for sure, but I think tightened the cap nuts first last time and not the axle nut.
Thanks all for the help. I did everything right, just in the wrong order. Lesson learned for next time.
I don't remember for sure, but I think tightened the cap nuts first last time and not the axle nut.
Thanks all for the help. I did everything right, just in the wrong order. Lesson learned for next time.
I loosened the axle nut and the 2 nuts for the axle cap yesterday. I re-torqued all 3 and did the big axle nut first, then did the axle cap on the right side. We went for a 280 mile ride today and everything seemed fine.
I don't remember for sure, but I think tightened the cap nuts first last time and not the axle nut.
Thanks all for the help. I did everything right, just in the wrong order. Lesson learned for next time.
I don't remember for sure, but I think tightened the cap nuts first last time and not the axle nut.
Thanks all for the help. I did everything right, just in the wrong order. Lesson learned for next time.
Glad you got it solved.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 7
From: Junction City, KS
This thread hits home with me because I've had my front off a number of times since putting on a 21" front, then replacing the crappy vee rubber front tire, having the tire/wheel balanced again, adding chrome spacers....... I thought my front was wandering once or twice. I always lightly snug the axle cap down, and then torque the axle nut....... Then torque the axle cap..... Looks like my bike is on the lift today, gonna do it the right way!
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 81
From: Largo, FL
I think it was the sequence. Torque the axle nut first, then the 2 nuts on the clamp. I looked up the torque specs before even taking it off and used those numbers right from the start.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 634
Likes: 8
From: Plum & Nearly
The service manual actually recommends and shows a photo of a drill bit the diameter of the axle hole for the procedure on those year models.