Harley Davidson Forums

Loading


Hello

Guest

Welcome to the harley davidson forum. Join our discussion today for FREE!

CREATE ACCOUNT

Membership Benefits

Get your questions answered by harley davidson community gurus and industry experts. Exchange your experience with another members. Access full features forum. Get a members discounts for your harley parts & accessories.

Wobble in front end, could use some help

Softail Models

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old May 5th, 2012, 02:06 AM     #1
New Family
Ride: 2012 Heritage
 
Join Date: May 5th, 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5
DailyRider is an unknown quantity at this point
Cool Wobble in front end, could use some help

Bought this 2012 Heritage Classic back in August. Slowly it has developed a slight wobble in the front end. It seemed to be very mild starting around 40 to 45 mph. But, the other day I punched it pretty hard to get by a car going up an on ramp to get off on the next exit. i was hittin around 80 or 85 when I let off to slow down for the up coming exit and when I let off to slow down for the exit the whole front end start shaking really bad. Thought I was about to bite it but I just held her tight and braked down. Now this is a brand new bike, I certianly don't quite understand what could be causing this. Can't get it in the shop til the 26th and I am not one to stay off my bike. It seems to only to happen when I let off the gas. Can anyone help me out here?
DailyRider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 02:48 AM     #2
Start The Engine
Ride: 2007 FLSTC
 
Join Date: Sep 15th, 2008
Location: ohio
Posts: 40
My Mood: My Mood
maverick96 is an unknown quantity at this point
check your spokes on rear wheel,look for thread on 2012 flstc spokes loose,it happened to me.be careful until repair day!

by the way welcome to the forum!!!

Last edited by The Tank; May 5th, 2012 at 03:03 PM. Reason: Merged
maverick96 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 03:34 AM     #3
Moderators
Ride: 1992 Softail Custom
 
fin_676's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 21st, 2008
Location: Banffshire,Scotland
Posts: 3,989
My Mood: My Mood
fin_676 is on a distinguished road
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

As has been said already check the tension of the spokes also check the tyre pressure and check that the torque on the wheel pin is correct

Brian
__________________
I try to put my brain in gear before my hands go on the keyboard


Self Help Information and Tips - Harley Davidson Community
fin_676 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 07:02 AM     #4
Contributor$
Ride: 99 FXST
 
89stroker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 20th, 2011
Location: SK, Canada
Posts: 184
89stroker is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

Good advice to check spokes, there have been others with your model of bike (new) that found loose spokes.
A few more things that can induce a wobble is incorrectly set steering head bearings, also loose swingarm pivot bolts, wheel bearings starting to fail could also be a cause.
89stroker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 07:24 AM     #5
Community Guru Wannabe
Ride: 2012 Road Glide Ultra
 
TripleJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 4th, 2009
Location: Frisco, TX
Posts: 1,091
My Mood: My Mood
TripleJ is on a distinguished road
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

My 08 Heritage would do this unless I kept the Head Bearings adjusted (http://www.hdtalking.com/archive/t-3994.html) and greased. There is sometimes NO grease put in the Head Bearings at the factory or during dealer prep. It was that way on my 08 Heritage and my 2012 RGU.

It may take a lot of grease to be added before you start to see some come out both the top and bottom of the bearings.

If everything else suggested it tight like it should be try greasing the bearings and adjusting the Fall Away.
TripleJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 09:14 AM     #6
Contributor$
Ride: 2007 Streetbob
 
Jack Klarich's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 25th, 2009
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 13,579
My Mood: My Mood
Jack Klarich will become famous soon enoughJack Klarich will become famous soon enough
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

When you do take it in to the Dealer, have them check the PDI on the bike, TOO many of these bikes get the Quickie and out the door
__________________
CAPITAL JACK( Nuff Said, We're Burnin Daylight, Let's Ride)
Jack Klarich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 02:47 PM     #7
New Family
Ride: 2012 Heritage
 
Join Date: May 5th, 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5
DailyRider is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

Just want to thank everyone for the help. Im headin for the garage
DailyRider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 04:37 PM     #8
Moderators
Ride: '03 FLHTCUI (Ultra Classic)
 
TQuentin1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 4th, 2008
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Posts: 4,174
TQuentin1 is on a distinguished road
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

Quote: Originally Posted by DailyRider View Post
Just want to thank everyone for the help. Im headin for the garage
That new bike should NOT do that. DO NOT accept the bike back from the Dealership until it is corrected. This is a safety issue, so I would suggest that you write a letter to the Dealership identifying the problem, and stating that you believe it is a Safety issue. Suggest that you believe they would be liable if there is any sort of problem associated with it. With those type of words in writing, they will bend over backwards to fix it.

TQ
__________________

Please stop by the "The Self-Help pages."
>>Self-Help Information and Tips - Harley Davidson Community Self-Help Threads Information<< click me!
TQuentin1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 04:48 PM     #9
Warming The Wheels
Ride: 2008 FLSTC
 
GroundHawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 5th, 2009
Location: Xenia, Ohio
Posts: 146
My Mood: My Mood
GroundHawg is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

Quote: Originally Posted by TripleJ View Post
My 08 Heritage would do this unless I kept the Head Bearings adjusted (http://www.hdtalking.com/archive/t-3994.html) and greased. There is sometimes NO grease put in the Head Bearings at the factory or during dealer prep. It was that way on my 08 Heritage and my 2012 RGU.

It may take a lot of grease to be added before you start to see some come out both the top and bottom of the bearings.

If everything else suggested it tight like it should be try greasing the bearings and adjusting the Fall Away.
I've noticed a slight wobble on my 08 Heritage too. I've looked at adjusting the fall away but I can't get a consistent measurement. For those that have done this - do you take the cables off the handlebar? Any other tricks to getting an accurate measurement?
GroundHawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 5th, 2012, 10:13 PM     #10
Contributor$
Ride: 99 FXST
 
89stroker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 20th, 2011
Location: SK, Canada
Posts: 184
89stroker is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Wobble in front end, could use some help

Another thing I thought of-Both my brother in law and one of my riding buddies both had this issue on their Heritages, they each found a broken pinch bolt on the lower triple tree.
89stroker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Front end wobble Captn Mike General Harley Davidson Topic 7 Apr 25th, 2012 06:03 PM
Front End Wobble ZigZag1 Wheels 6 Sep 10th, 2010 09:58 PM
Wobble in front end on highway RoadGlideOracle Touring Models 24 Sep 22nd, 2009 12:44 AM
front end wobble springers97 Softail Models 19 Nov 14th, 2008 01:48 PM
front end wobble mystrgld Touring Models 4 Aug 3rd, 2008 11:30 PM