Online: John.R, tussuck

Help. Steering head loose.

  • Sandman1
    Sandman1
    13 years ago

    I just bought my first Harley. A 99 Dyna.

    The steering head is loose. I asked around and apparently it isn't original. I can't see any brand or numbers on it.

    To tighten it, there isn't at big nut on the top like std. It has what seems like a long bolt, going up from the bottom, through the bearings and into the top. The head of it is round, countersunk, and only has a slot to tighten it by. I made a tool out of a socket with a piece of flat welded in and tightened it a fair bit, but it still has some slop in it. The slot is 1/16" x 1 3/8".

    Can anyone tell me what brand/style of head this is, and also if there is a tool made for tightening it.

    I've probably got 30-40 ftlbs on it, but the tool I made slips out and I don't want to damage the slot.

    It has Burliegh bars on it. I looked on their site, but it only shows bars, no steering heads.

  • russ4570
    russ4570
    13 years ago
    The Cristal ball is a bit cloudy, Perhaps a few photos will help with the identification. Owners manual and service manual are your first purchase, heaps of electronic versions for very few bucks. Buy them, read them, re read the bits you are really interested in.
    Russ
  • Sandman1
    Sandman1
    13 years ago
    Thanks,
    I'll check the links and see if I can see it.
    I've got a workshop manual ordered, but until I can identify what brand of triple clamps are on this, it probably won't help.
    If I can't figure it out, I'll take some pics to post when I get home.
  • DynaRider
    DynaRider
    13 years ago
    There are several different brands of triple trees around that have a "smooth top".
    The adjustment on there types is done from the bottom(obviously).
    The locking of the stem is likely done by a grub screw or similar at the rear of the bottom tree (something has to both prevent it undoing, and also prevent movement between the stem and the bottom tree.
    It does not take 30-40 ftlbs to tension steering head bearings(this would lock them solid pretty much). Although they are set by proximity, and not tension, the actual amount of tension involved is only a few ftlbs at most.