I want to lubricate my steering head bearings. The owners manual says to use a special grease for this. I don't mind using the H.D. grease but I woud need to drive over 100 miles to the nearest dealer, or have it shipped to get it.
Anyone know if there is an alternative that I could pick up at a local parts store for this.
The manual said not to use wheel bearing grease.

Thanks!

 

I use marine grease and never had a problem

 

Thanks Dawg,

Is there a way to tell when you have enough grease in? Or do you just give it a few shots?

 

i'm not a expert, but will tell you what I have read.

there's a straight zerk (grease fitting) on the clutch side of the neck.

I bought a bag of right angle zerks, I will send you one if you want it. PM me.

that's just ignorant for HD not to put on the proper zerk.
you rotate it to reach the grease gun, then you can tighten back (it may point down or forward or up) when you are done.

but you won't need yet another special tool for a once every few years job on your bike.


with that said......
the newer bikes (I dunno the years, but prolly all twin cams) have SEALED bearings...

so you can't get grease inside the bearings.


with that said...
most folks take the bike to a Jiffy Lube, and have them use an air powered grease gun, because there is NO GREASE in the neck, just in the bearings, so you have to fill the whole neck, then it squeezes around the bearing, and it squirts out the top & bottom of the neck.

with that said...
not TOO much, because it then drips out & blows back all over the bike.

i think one scheduled service calls for the neck bearings to be repacked, but it's easier/cheaper to just put in new bearings, and call it good.


YMMV (and it certianly will, with the vagueness of my data)

 

04ctd....That is some good info. I have some right angle zerk's and will put one in. That is a great tip. I saw the grease fitting way up in there and was wondering how I was going to get my grease gun on it. Thanks for sharing!

 

+1 on not too much. Local dealer must have put a whole tube in mine, ended up all over the front of my motor and down the left leg and back of the fender. They did find out that I wasn't happy with them too.

 

Use a hi-temp synthetic grease so that it doesn't melt and drip down the fork leg and blow back. If it is the first time it will take quite a bit of grease.

 

I used the H-D grease and have regretted it ever since. When it gets warm, it runs. What a mess. I'm definitely using something else!!!!

 

I think the manual says to pump it until it starts coming out at the bearings. Funny that it needs so much to make that happen, especially if I'm the first owner of it. I guess the other point is; if its a sealed bearing, why would it need greasing anyway?

 

+1 no grease!
I agree with 04ctd. I'm not greasing mine. A whole tube of grease for 1 ounce of
bearing lube? Associated leaking? Not worth it IMHO! I'll replace the bearings when they need it.
Anticipating 10 years at least. That's what my other bikes got out of em.
No lubing and high miles. The worst thing that could happen is water intrusion and they are pretty well covered from the elements on my Ultra.
But - I could be wrong?