So here's the thing. I read all about the front end 'clunk' on a lot of the bikes and have seen the fix to re-torque the front end bolt.
I just did mine ( the bolt was not even tight, the only thing holding it on was the tin washer that you bend up) What ended up happening is the little 'pin' in the tin washer that holds it in place sheered off while I was tightening the bolt. I'll pick up a new one on Tuesday but anyone else have this happen and how did you keep it from turning when you tighten the bolt? Would an additional washer on top of the tin one help?

Thanks

Rob


2005 nightrain
Carbed.
Stage I (Arlen Ness' K&N style oiled air filter)
Arlen Ness forward control extension kit.
V&H Straight shots
Radiant Side mount license plate light with LED cats-eye (discontinued)
Kuryakyn LED side rear marker/ turn lights
HD Diamond Back solo seat

 

What you're describing sounds like a locking tab washer. You need to bend that tab away before you adjust the nut, then once adjusted correctly, bend it back so it keeps the nut from turning.

 

LOCKING tab washer was the word I couldn't remember.
Thing is I bent it away from the nut itself, so the nut spins freely, BUT there's the little 'pin' piece that holds the washer in place to keep IT from turning. What happens is that when I torque the nut, that little pin sheered off out from the tree.

 

Sounds like a "cotter key". Any hardware store will have it. Even a homemade cotter key will work.

 

The "pin" is actually a Tab, It's literally part of the washer itself. It's a tab that is bent down and fits in a small hole in the trees at 12'oclock.
What happens is it SUPPOSED to keep the washer from spinning when you tighten the nut. In a perfect world it would do that, then after you tighten the nut you bend up an edge of the washer to keep the nut from moving.

Mine ( the tab) sheared off so I need to get another washer from Harley. I'm just wondering how to keep it from sheering again on the new one.

Thanks to all who have offered advice, much appericated

Rob

 

I have an 06' nightrain and I have a shop manual which I can go out to the garage and check on this for you... but first...

I'm guessing that there is a max. torque setting for this nut. If you exceed it, it certainly could clamp down on the washer enough that it would try to turn the washer (normal for a washer to turn) and it would certainly rip off a tab. So, what I'm saying is that my guess is that you are exceeding the torque setting for the nut.

I do happen to be interested in this since mine will clunk when I hit a pothole, etc. However, it isn't the first bike that I have had that did this so I wasn't too concerned about it 'til I read in your message that there supposedly is a "fix" where I didn't think one was necessary. Can you fill me in with some details and if you are using a manual I won't have to waste my time or yours?

Thanks.

C#

 

I had read about this even before it happend to me on this site


After I read about it I checked mine and as I said originally the nut was not tight at all had the tab washer not been doing it's job you could have spun the nut right off. I then followed the directions from link and clunk stopped, BUT then I heard it again the other day looked and found I had sheered off the washer's tab ( hence loosening up enough to clunk again) which is why I posted about in the first place.

Check it out.

https://www.hdforums.com/m_90127/tm.htm

 

I had the same problem, re-torqued the nut to 75ft pounds no more clunking.
Didnt have a problem with the tab washer tho. When you install the new washer try a small amount of grease/oil to it before you install the nut on top of it. Re-torque slowly.

 

I was going to suggest lubing the washer before installing also. That will prevent the nut from grabbing and turning it to the point the lock snaps off. The repair manual walks you through "fall-away" technique, where you lift the bike, center the steering, push it to one side, and measure how far you have to push the steering before it "falls away" on it's own. I am not convinced this is good enough, because my bike falls within acceptable guidelines by that method, yet still clunks, so it is obviously too loose still. I think it's one of those "tighten it 'til it quits making noise" things. Some models give a specific torque spec, but softails don't. Go figure.

 

Grease sounds like it will do the trick.
Will try that tomorrow after I get a new washer.

Rob