the reason why it takes so much grease to fill it up is not because they (the factory) didn't grease it, it is because they just use packed bearings when they assemble the front end. now you come along and pump a whole tube of grease into the zerk fitting and fill up the neck.

i did this on my sportster and it oozed grease for the next 6 months, until i sold it (probably still oozing). on my road king, i figure rather than have grease oozing, at around 50k, i will pull the front end apart, repack the bearings, and put it all back together again. and no, i didn't pull this strategy out of my a$$, i have heard it recommended by some top names in the maintenance field.

 

i was just able to put the grease gun on the zerk fitting it is right next to a bracket

but it went on and took 3 pumps and it was full-ride safe

 

[QUOTE=iclick;5280644]Maybe so if all you're servicing is the bike's steering head.

I think that is what this thread is about

 

It can only hurt if you put too much in on hot days

 

Anybody got any ideas on why the engineers continue to design and install a zerk fitting if it never really needs to be greased?

 

Anybody know why the engineers made the thing so hard to access?
Anybody know why the engineers didn't put 2 fittings near the bearings and design the neck so just a couple of pumps would lube the bearings?

questions, questions

Maybe it was so people would let dealer service do it (or not) and they would also be charged for a tube of HD grease.

 

They repositioned the fitting on the 09 models. It is real easy to get to.

Dave

 

Well, well, they're making progress, maybe the 2010 models will have 2 fittings and the grease won't ooze out for 3 months.

 

I bought my own official HD tube of grease for $3,468.03, plus shipping, and do the service all by myself!

 

When greasing the neck, I don't recommend pumping it so full that the grease oozes out of the neck. Just pump enough until you begin to see the very beginning of grease coming to the surface, then stop. That's it. Yes it may expand with heat, but it should be minimal, because remember the moving parts are also wearing down the grease from friction. So this should keep the mess to a minimum. Anyway, it's been pretty hot here with tmeps in the high 90's...nearing 100, so I'll keep you posted on any future developments.