Remember to use a factory Harley service manual and the complementary parts catalog for its exploded views. Videos are educational but are to supplement not replace technical data.
Hey Doc, I thought that you would have some fancy puller for taking out the races. Makes me feel good to know that you have to do it the same way that I do. Great info as usual. Alan, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Had my front end done last year at 50k on my ‘13 RGU. I happily let the dealership do the work as I didn’t have the tools, knowledge or experience. Had new suspension installed as well. Rides like a totally different bike.
So in basic theory.. The upper stem bolt isnt reverse threaded.. So with pinch bolts loostened you can still adjust bearing tension from the top as righty tighty..
I have friends who have never even checked the play on their front ends. They can't figure why their bikes seem to pull to one side! It's either axel alignment or front bearing wear! Scary to me anyway!😮😁👍✌️
Hi Doc, thanks for the detailed info and explanation. You mentioned rebuilding both fork tubes. If the bike had aftermarket components in those fork tubes, Legend for example, would the rebuild process be the same (same fluids, same disassembly/reassembly procedures, adjustments, etc.) or could this be a blind spot for the owner still using a dealership for K services?
If stock fork components where replaced with legend parts, it would be a good “heads up” to give the service dept this information. Springs and oil replacement would be like stock. Cartridge replacement is a whole other game in service….Doc
I’ve an 18 rg, I bought it 7 months ago, first few months road fine and now it has a wobble that is getting worse, very twitchy, I just got it back from roughneck hd in Longview, they said they replaced the neck bearings but I can tell nothing has been touched and I still have a wobble in the bike, it has 40k miles on it! Is the bearings the cause?
Ive got to replace the neck bearings on my FXFBS this winter. They feel kinda notchy, and loosen up over time. I think they are damaged from where I hit a deer a few years ago.
Thanks for this info! I always wondered about the neck bearing service requirements on my M8. But, a 2018 M8 went 100K without lifters and cam disintegrating? That’s not what I read on all the Harley Forums…🤣
Got a question Doc. I got a 1998 heritage softail springer. Springers have a bad reputation for eating neck bearing earlier than regular front ends. I bought mine with 3000 miles on it. Changed the bearings at 30,000 but they probably didn’t really need it. What’s your opinion on the service intervals for springer neck bearings. I have 52000 mikes on it now.
You are so right. Standard fork models have the neck bearings inspected and adjusted every 10K. Your Springer should be lubed every 2,500 miles ( through the zert fitting) and neck adjustment checked at every service! Disassemble every 20K with lower rockers lubed and adjusted….Doc
Great video. I just have a quick question. I’m doing my 25k service on my 21 Street Glide. The service manual states that the bike must be in OEM form when checking the fall away for the steering head bearings. My bike currently has 16” 1 1/2” diameter Fat Baggers bars on it. How will this effect the process and do l have to do something different from what is stated in the service manual? Thanks again for all of the great videos and advice.
Ciao vi chiedo come mai la mia Street glide 2015 o un problema quando prendo buche grosse tombine o cordoli fa un forte rumore verso cannotto sterzo o fatto sostituire cuscinetti mi anno rifatto anche forcelle ma lo fa sempre
First I have to know, is your bike lowered? When a Harley-Davidson is lowered, it reduces the suspension travel. So the suspension is maxed out when you travel over pot holes. After your neck bearings replaced, maybe have the adjustment checked again, just to be sure. You could try heavy fork oil but the ride will be harder. I suggest looking into aftermarket suspension parts…..Doc
My 2015 Ultra Limited made it to 5k before the neck bearings were so loose it felt like my handle bars were going to come off in my hand. It cost me over $2o00. for them to just look at it. Surprise it was really was really loose. I called the factory to complain and they could have cared less because they were making the M8 and all thing wre about M8's and they did care about a 103.
Yes the engineering in the newer bikes are amazing.
Remember to use a factory Harley service manual and the complementary parts catalog for its exploded views. Videos are educational but are to supplement not replace technical data.
Well said…..Doc
Doctor Harley Doctor Harley Doctor Harley, for duty and humanity...... you are the best.
Appreciate the information on these newer models. Doc, you are good.
Thank you Joe….Doc
Hey Doc, I thought that you would have some fancy puller for taking out the races. Makes me feel good to know that you have to do it the same way that I do. Great info as usual. Alan, Aberdeen, Scotland.
All over the world Old School Tools Rule…Doc
Thanks Doc-another great tech tip-full maintenance overhaul of front ends can be quite intimidating for the average DIY'er home mechanic👍
Front Forks are so much easier to remove now! So now easy for DIY’er to perform! 🏍💨🏍💨
FINALLY A VIDEO SOMEWHAT EXPLAINING THE PROCESS!! THANK YOU DOC! THIS IS THE ONLY VIDEO IVE FOUND ON RUclips FOR THIESE MODEL BIKES!
Thanks for tuning in👍…..Doc
Good old fashioned bearing race driver, I have hammered many races out of truck hubs with that style of driver
Thank you for the video
One of your best Doc. Ride Safe
Thanks Roadglide….Doc
Thanks Doc. Very unusual set-up of the two-piece neck shaft. Explains why Motion Pro make two different bearing pullers! 👍
Excellent video! Definitely helped me to understand better how the neck bearings are serviced! Thank you.
😎👍
Big thumbs up for the channel...
Thank you very much that was very interesting. I always wondered how they got tightened up or better term adjusted.
Another great video from you Doc....This one hit me fairly close as my 18 RG has 76K so it won't be long!!!!Thanks again!!!!
You are doing great Garry. Keep riding gathering up the miles….Doc
Wow, this is a clever construction.
Thank you Doc, for that information. Regards from Austria.
I appreciate Wolfgang watching….Doc
Had my front end done last year at 50k on my ‘13 RGU. I happily let the dealership do the work as I didn’t have the tools, knowledge or experience. Had new suspension installed as well. Rides like a totally different bike.
How much did that cost ya?
Good job Doc! Nutha great informative post 📫
Nice work 👏🏼 makes me want to get out there roll some odometer !!!
Go for it……Doc
Again you gaves us very useful informations.All the best and stay strong.Thanks.
always enjoy your advice, as a new / old Harley owner its great info and other than my dealer
Thank you….Doc
great video doctor often overlooked but great advice
10000 miles weird i never keep them that long
Love ya work Doc 💪
Great advice that many overlook when the miles climb & not believe it's an issue.
Living The F🤪KING Dream ❗
Safe travels 🙏♥️🐾🐾🇦🇺
Like always very well done and explained. I always like your videos Doc!
Thanks for taking your time to watch our videos….Doc
Love watching your videos. 👍
Really good video Doc! Thanks
So in basic theory..
The upper stem bolt isnt reverse threaded..
So with pinch bolts loostened you can still adjust bearing tension from the top as righty tighty..
Yes as long as the lower tree pinch bolts are loose on early models. 2017 and up touring is totally different….Doc
It will be nice to see how you do the forks.
awesome I have learned alot thanks Doc
Thanks Doc.
Motion pro make a good tool for removing the bearings and refitting
Thanks Doc. Great info.
That was very interesting!
Nice job Doc
Thanks Pete…..Doc
Cracking style and info.
Great video
Thanks again. 👍
Holy crapoly!! 100k on a 2018??? That's some serious riding!! My 2010 Ultra Classic is just approaching 35k!
I thought I was doing good. I have a 2019 street glide special with 68k
I have friends who have never even checked the play on their front ends. They can't figure why their bikes seem to pull to one side! It's either axel alignment or front bearing wear! Scary to me anyway!😮😁👍✌️
Me too 🫨…..Doc
Hi Doc, thanks for the detailed info and explanation. You mentioned rebuilding both fork tubes. If the bike had aftermarket components in those fork tubes, Legend for example, would the rebuild process be the same (same fluids, same disassembly/reassembly procedures, adjustments, etc.) or could this be a blind spot for the owner still using a dealership for K services?
If stock fork components where replaced with legend parts, it would be a good “heads up” to give the service dept this information. Springs and oil replacement would be like stock. Cartridge replacement is a whole other game in service….Doc
100k wow that is alot of smile miles on a bike.
I had my 2018 flhcs in for front end bearings replacement after having new tires installed a week before at only 14,00 miles damm that really hurt 😅
I am glad you know all is right now….Doc
Can you do a video on how to ajust 2020 road glide neck bearing adjustment in detail.
Nope, I leave that to others and my fellow Techs….Doc
I’ve an 18 rg, I bought it 7 months ago, first few months road fine and now it has a wobble that is getting worse, very twitchy, I just got it back from roughneck hd in Longview, they said they replaced the neck bearings but I can tell nothing has been touched and I still have a wobble in the bike, it has 40k miles on it! Is the bearings the cause?
Ive got to replace the neck bearings on my FXFBS this winter. They feel kinda notchy, and loosen up over time. I think they are damaged from where I hit a deer a few years ago.
😮….Doc
Hey Doc are you using Timken bearings .
Yes….Doc
Thanks for this info! I always wondered about the neck bearing service requirements on my M8. But, a 2018 M8 went 100K without lifters and cam disintegrating? That’s not what I read on all the Harley Forums…🤣
Bone Stock with Every maintenance performed…..Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson That is so reassuring!
@@Old-n-slo-locked-n-leanedand so uncommon
What would the typical labour time be on that Doc ?
Ride safe from Sydney Australia ✌️
Would like to know why the forks went bad ?
Contaminated seal. Bound to ride through some poop in 100K miles…..Doc
does the main nut up top need to be loose when doing this? I have removed the pinch bolt and she wont budge one bit.
I don’t know what year your bike is. Please follow your Harley-Davidson Factory Service Manual. …..Doc
Got a question Doc. I got a 1998 heritage softail springer. Springers have a bad reputation for eating neck bearing earlier than regular front ends. I bought mine with 3000 miles on it. Changed the bearings at 30,000 but they probably didn’t really need it. What’s your opinion on the service intervals for springer neck bearings. I have 52000 mikes on it now.
You are so right. Standard fork models have the neck bearings inspected and adjusted every 10K. Your Springer should be lubed every 2,500 miles ( through the zert fitting) and neck adjustment checked at every service! Disassemble every 20K with lower rockers lubed and adjusted….Doc
When doing the neck bearing adjustment on my 2014 Electra glide do I loosen the top triple pinch bolts or the lower triple tree pinch bolts?
Grease fitting? Grease or don't grease?
I wish! Frame configuration on most models would the frame before the neck bearings…..Doc
What if I loosend the top pinch bolt and just turned the nut ? Did I ruin something ? Didn’t know u can go thru bottom(2022’road glide )
Oops 😬 probably depends on how far you rotated the nut….Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson what could happen if I over rotated ?
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson well turning the top nut is the same as going from the bottom is it not ? Since that’s what the bottom does anyways ?
Great video. I just have a quick question. I’m doing my 25k service on my 21 Street Glide. The service manual states that the bike must be in OEM form when checking the fall away for the steering head bearings. My bike currently has 16” 1 1/2” diameter Fat Baggers bars on it. How will this effect the process and do l have to do something different from what is stated in the service manual?
Thanks again for all of the great videos and advice.
The suggestion is to remove all items that would effect the process like clutch cable, drink cups, GPS or phone holders…Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson Thanks
Does the main nut remain tight when making the adjustment
The pinch bolts are loosened while adjusting….Doc
Hey Doc how many hours are in the book for the neck bearing and rebuilding both sides ?
To replace neck bearing 2.5 hours and rebuild both fork tubes 2.0 so about 5…..Doc
I like a heavier feel on my bars can the preload be adjusted to make it feel better for me
Not stock components…..Doc
Ciao vi chiedo come mai la mia Street glide 2015 o un problema quando prendo buche grosse tombine o cordoli fa un forte rumore verso cannotto sterzo o fatto sostituire cuscinetti mi anno rifatto anche forcelle ma lo fa sempre
First I have to know, is your bike lowered? When a Harley-Davidson is lowered, it reduces the suspension travel. So the suspension is maxed out when you travel over pot holes. After your neck bearings replaced, maybe have the adjustment checked again, just to be sure. You could try heavy fork oil but the ride will be harder. I suggest looking into aftermarket suspension parts…..Doc
Is the Neck Bearing only done at 100K? 🏍💨🏍💨
For M8s yes or depending on operation but the neck bearings are inspected and lubed every 25K at this dealership…Doc
Mine is a 2021 Road Glide with 40k with Service performed at the Dealership every 5K.
I wonder 🤔 when/if my Dealership will do my Neck Bearing? 🏍💨🏍💨
02 road King ultra will not idle at stop light
More likely a manifold leak. If a Mag-Merreli bring it to your dealer for a tune up. It helps once a year….Doc
What about throttle sensor
My 2015 Ultra Limited made it to 5k before the neck bearings were so loose it felt like my handle bars were going to come off in my hand. It cost me over $2o00. for them to just look at it. Surprise it was really was really loose. I called the factory to complain and they could have cared less because they were making the M8 and all thing wre about M8's and they did care about a 103.
Sad story…..Doc
That's rough. I'm planning on doing as much maintenance as possible myself.
I find it hard to believe you wouldn't change out the lower race while you had it apart. Bad call on your part.
I guess I mumbled…. When I showed the top race I mentioned you always replace both….Thanks for point out my faults….Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson I heard you loud and clear
@GrumpyRider Same here. Doc was loud and clear on always replacing both. And also saying one fork is leaking so he's gonna rebuild both
@Scotty
I think you need to listen closer, he was very clear when he stated you always replace both. Bad comment on your part.
A pair is 2. Top and bottom.
My 18 SGS is almost 50k miles