Steering Damper Leaking 2013 Tri-Glide
- Thread starter dfpk
- Start date
I have a '13 and steering damper has not leaked.
no problem with mine just glad it is installed on my 2013 trike
Dale,
Are you absolutely sure it was the damper that was leaking?
I live in a relatively hot climate during the summer and for the longest time I've been dealing with a blue greasy substance on the floor between the back of the front fender and the front of the frame. After a thorough inspection it finally dawned on me where the blue substance was coming from; the dealer over-serviced the neck bearings and excess grease was dripping off the bottom of the triple tree onto the floor.
Are you absolutely sure it was the damper that was leaking?
I live in a relatively hot climate during the summer and for the longest time I've been dealing with a blue greasy substance on the floor between the back of the front fender and the front of the frame. After a thorough inspection it finally dawned on me where the blue substance was coming from; the dealer over-serviced the neck bearings and excess grease was dripping off the bottom of the triple tree onto the floor.
I've had no leaking from it on my 11. 22,000 miles.
Dan
Dan
- Thread starter
- #8
It was definitely the steering damper. The clear oil from the damper blew back while we were riding and got on our clothes and my glasses. I thought it was raining oil. Wife was not happy, got on a new Harley shirt. It also made the steering a little shaky driving it back to the dealer to get it replace.
The 09 and 10 models had this issue. First I've heard of the new TG's having a blow out. Hate that it happened but good that it is a rare event.
2010 over 30000 miles no leak either
Peter A.
1000+ Posts
Wife/I both have 2010 HD trikes, no problems with dampers - 45 thou. on mine.
Naw, it's an urban legend. Harley's don't leak anything. LOL!
Jimmers leaked on his 09TG on HDF and the one on my 09 TG leaked when it had around 2K on it was a clear light oil on my crash Highway bar. Happened when it was Hot summer days. Was replaced Knock wood never happened again on the 09TG now has 18K and my 10XXX has 7K no Damper leaks. Again Knock wood.
no leaks on my 2013 3600 kilos
What I find curious is, i have a Motortrike kit and have no steering dampner and have no steering issue. I would like to know what causes the Triglide to be in need of a dampner??
Good question, I never road one without the damper so I don't know. I do remember when Jimer from over at HDforums had his go out he made the comment it was scary to ride without it working.
My thoughts on it are
1) Cupped front tire from wear ( I think the profile of a stock front tire as it wears starts cupping and exaggerates the wobble ) Motorcycle front tires are crowned or "rounder" to make handling on a 2 wheel bike easier. Trikes only wear the middle 4" of a front tire designed to be on the front of a 2 wheel bike.
2) Low air pressure in the front tire and rear tires ( Un even rear tire pressure can have an effect )
3) Steering head bearing is loose and needs to be tightened up
4) Alignment of the rear axle to the front is not correct
5) Drive belt is loose and needs adjustment
6) Worn parts in the rear sub assembly allowing the axle to move slightly causing some slight shift which is reflected in the steering
7) Worn isolator bushings in the rear or the engine bushing in the front of the frame
Any of these issue can be related to cause and effect of the steering wobble. The road surface is never smooth and even. Add pavement wear ruts from the daily use of vehicles and the wobble problem can be worse.
A leaky Harley????????? Who'd thought!!
:laugh:
:laugh:
I did run around on my '09 TG for a day with out the steering damper, found the steering to be easier, the steering was more sensitive to wobble, but tire has started cupping and head bolt needed to be tightened up. If the steering damper every goes out I may not replace it. What I may do is some how pin the bearing head bolt so it doesn't come lose again, I think M3 had talked about doing that at one time.
Butch
In 2011 I lost the damper on our '09 on the way to Sedona, Az. The good people at Grand Canyon Harley put a new one on in about 40 minutes under warranty, no problems since. Only noticed a problem if I hit rain grooves and wasn't holding on tight, bars tended to wobble a bit. Yours is still under warranty isn't it??
Between the lower triple tree pinch bolts and the tab plate that has bendable tabs that keep the bolt in place. The steering head bolt shouldn't come loose.
Sounds like it wasnt tightened correctly from the factory.
I have a 2005 Ultra/Lehman with out the damper and no problem. But if I let the bars go they will wobble, so I don't let go!
The parts book for the tri-glide does not list or show the bendable tabs at all and if I remember right, others have commented on the fact that the tri-glide didn't have that tab your talking about.
Butch
You right they did away with the bendable tab, if I remeber correctly they did so on all 09 and later touring including the Triglide.
I didn't know that. The locking tab HD part # 45794-94A
I attached a pic of what it looks like. I just replaced the fork oil on my trike yesterday and checked to make sure the stem was still tight and adjusted correctly, so I snapped a pic of the tab.
I attached a pic of what it looks like. I just replaced the fork oil on my trike yesterday and checked to make sure the stem was still tight and adjusted correctly, so I snapped a pic of the tab.
You are correct, even the '09 two wheel parts book doesn't even show a bendable tab. I need to figure out a way to stop that nut from backing off. I guess, drill the shaft, place a washer and pin through the shaft once the nut is tight.
Butch
- - - Updated - - -
- - - Updated - - -
What's keeping that locking tab in place?
Butch
Maybe you could fab your own locking plate and pin the plate to the top tree.
You read my mind. ThumbUpThumbUpThumbUp What I'm thinking of is a thin metal plate with four ears, three for bending around the bolt, one for safety wire to attach to.
Butch
Any type of thin washer would work that had some way to block the turning. Just one tab the length of one flat would be sufficient to hold the nut. After all, all you are holding is position after the brg wears, or the cup seats in the frame. Not a lot of torque unless something locks up & you have to force the handle bars. Even then the shaft is pinned at the bottom.
The one washer that is shown in the parts is only 1/16" thick. Maybe just a 1" fender washer & a way to anchor it down.
JMHOThumbUp
The one washer that is shown in the parts is only 1/16" thick. Maybe just a 1" fender washer & a way to anchor it down.
JMHOThumbUp
There is a roll pin that holds it in place. If you go to Ronnies parts finder and look up 2008 FLTR Roadglide, subsection "Suspension Steering Stem w/Bracket you will see the parts picture break down
http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...c=0&d=-SUSPENSION---STEERING-STEM-W/-BRACKETS
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