Front end clunk

[nigel]

Got a 03 road king when i put front brake on and bounce front end theres a clunking noise anybody elses do this, any ideas what it could be much apreciated.
Nigel

[BaZa ®]

What's the mileage and when did you last change the front fork oil?

[nigel]

mileage 15000 changed it yesterday hoping that would cure it.
Nigel

[BaZa ®]

Nigel maybe this can help you....

Bearing in mind this is for a softail.

This is a subject that a great number of people have been experiencing lately. HD has upped the torque specs for the later models from 35 FT/LBS to 100 FT/LBS. It may not be posted correctly in your owners manual.

I used 70 FT/LBS to see if it would stop the clunk and it worked just fine. I was concerned about the 100 LB figure that was increased from 35 LBS and the shear factor of the bolt itself. After re torquing the nut to 70 Ft/Lbs, no more clunk.
You will hear the clunk when you go over bumps or if you apply the front brakes firmly and release them once or twice quickly. It gets worse as the steering head nut needs re torquing.
The following procedure applies to the softail models FXSTD/FXST/FXSTB and not the Dyna family or the FLSTC/FLSTF. The FLSTC/FLSTF use the fall away method for bearing preload that is explained in the manual.


If you look in the center of the triple tree where the steering head is (where it pivots), there's a chrome smooth cover there, you grab it with your hand and unscrew it (counter clock wise), there's the nut, you bend down the lock tab so you can turn the nut ( I use a small hammer and a flat tip punch) and then torque the nut to 70 FT/LBS .
This requires a 1 1/2" socket to do some bikes and a 3/4 on others. You then bend the tab back up to lock the nut you just torqued ,screw the cover on with a drop of blue locktite on the thread and ride it. Just make sure that the little finger that seats in the hole from this lock tab is still in the hole ( at the 6 O'Clock position) and not bent, if it is you must remove the nut completely to straighten or replace the lock tab It's only a piece of tin. If you do remove the nut, don't worry as nothing is going to fall off. The locking washer is for the FXSTD/FXST/FXSTB and just the washer for FLSTC/FLSTF

You might want to check the fall away in the front end which is covered in the factory manual to make sure that the stem nut beneath the top tree is not too tight or too loose. The re torquing only tightens up the clamping force on the top tree and is not the preload for the steering head bearing which is the serrated nut below the top tree.

The manual also states...
"Over tightening stem bolt will cause the bearings to wear excessively leading to the need for premature bearing replacement" Warning:"Properly adjust fork stem bearings. Improper adjustments affect stability and handling, which could result in death or serious injury".

[BaZa ®]

update for a RK

It's about the same just a little different in the adjustment procedure. The star nut located under the top triple tree is what gives you the adjustment after loosening up the top nut. Recheck the fall away after making the adjustment, a little adjustment goes a long ways here, barely moving the star nut will make a noted difference in the bearing preload. I use a long thin punch and just tap it very lightly after putting a dot of paint on the adjuster/neck so you can see if it moved and how much. Generally it only takes less than one tooth on the star to get it right.

[nigel]

Thanks Baza
Will give that a go tomoro when i can get hold of a inch & half socket

Nigel

[harleyshrew]

I have a clunk on my FXDBi, dealership investigated and replaced the rubber thingys on my bars and suggested it was the floating front disk. It still clunks, but then it always has So there yer go.....................Bet that was a whole tot of Frakking elp hey?

[kiwidave]

the steering head nut is always the first suspect.

another test: get front wheel off the ground. stand with wheel between your thighs and knees and see if you can push-pull the front forks...you shouldn't feel damn-all movement....if you can, it is magnified when in motion then braking...