Had the new to me 05 Deluxe on the jack today changing all the fluids and I noticed that the front wheel turned right or left but would not stay centered. Just fall to the left or right. Should it not stay centered when on the jack and unlocked? Rode the bike today and driving the front end feels good. The bike has 10k on it.

 

Mmmm.....i don’t have my manual to hand ,maybe others will chip in.

There’s a fall away figure (distance from the centred position at which point the forks will fall away) in the service manual for checking the bearing preload.

Be careful to ensure that any accessories on the handle bars will not bias the results

 

My new Deluxe has a very light front end...
Especially compared to other HD's I have had in the past.
When it sits on the jack it takes nothing to make the front end fall either way.
Can be a pain in the @$$ at times (installing the new windshield for example).
But I would recommend checking a manual as previously stated.

 

Mine falls to either side very easily also. It does make it a pain when cleaning whitewalls. It tracks pretty straight. I have to lean a smidget to the right for it to track straight when no hands hell bent riding.

 

If your jack is on level ground your fork would stay centered if not the wheel will turn to which ever way your jack is leaning normal.

 

I have an 05 Deluxe as well. My front end does exactly as yours does. Its always done the same so I have never questioned it.

 

Your clutch cable probably has something to do with it. Plus the weight of your master cylinder also is a fair amount of weight on the bars. When doing a fall away test I detach both so nothing is pushing/pulling.

 

Ok..I thought it would be similar to my RGS. It stays centered..pull it to the left it will go back to center. Maybe that is just on the heavier touring bikes. Thanks guys for the feedback.

 

If I'm not getting the dreaded front end clunk, I just ride 'em till I do. Then do a fall away and neck bearing adjustment.

 

On your RGS the forks are behind the steering head. More stable that way. On Softails the triple trees place the forks in front of the steering head.