Help, 2004 FLSTF pulls to the left.

[Shovelhead]

I picked up my new 04 Fat Boy 2 weeks ago. I just learned the other day that it pulls to the left when you let go of the bars. You don't notice it when your riding while holding the bars , but when you let go a go no handed it pulls to the left. Anyone else had this problem?
I have a 77 shovel that goes straight down the road, while not holding the bars. A brand fuking new bike should also. I'v looked a the wheel alignment and that seems o.k. What else could I check. I called the stealer told him the problem, he say's harley says you should not ride no handed. I say no fuking ****, that's not the point. He says stop in and we can look at it quik, but we are booked for two weeks. I want to fix it now, anyone have any suggestions.
Front end alignment maybe?

[hogg831]

Take it back, sounds as if the prep wasn't done completely. Maybe the drive train is not aligned. Maybe call him once more, if the same response, call HD Customer Service, have dealer name and ID (It's on your paperwork) and demand a response now.

[02deuce99]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead

I picked up my new 04 Fat Boy 2 weeks ago. I just learned the other day that it pulls to the left when you let go of the bars. You don't notice it when your riding while holding the bars , but when you let go a go no handed it pulls to the left. Anyone else had this problem?
I have a 77 shovel that goes straight down the road, while not holding the bars. A brand fuking new bike should also. I'v looked a the wheel alignment and that seems o.k. What else could I check. I called the stealer told him the problem, he say's harley says you should not ride no handed. I say no fuking ****, that's not the point. He says stop in and we can look at it quik, but we are booked for two weeks. I want to fix it now, anyone have any suggestions.
Front end alignment maybe?

I has to be the wheel alignment, the rear wheel has to be aligned to the front wheel, if your checking the alignment by measuring the distance at the swing arm it could be wrong. Also call the MOCO and file a formal complaint, tell them it pulls to the left and you have to fight it a little to keep straight (don't mention the no hands). (it can be a saftey issue)
They will get the dealer in gear! Or go to another dealer, you don't have to go to where you bought it.

[tomv]

easy killer...does it drift or pull? a drift is something you dont notice unless you let go of the bars. a pull is something you fight.
before you start filing formal complaints contact the dealer and let them get a look at it. maybe the tech who set it up didnt take his hands off the bars when he road tested it. give them a chance before you stress a relationship you just started.
also...the flstf has a built in offset in the wheel alignment. at least it used to. the wheels arent aligned perfectly and this can cause some drift with your hands off the bars (not an approved method of riding...and yes i'm aware that many of you are capable of it). not all bikes use a same line alignment between front and rear wheels. they should be parallel but not necessarily aligned in the same track.
this isnt the first time your concern has been mentioned in here.

[Shovelhead]

Originally Posted by tomv

easy killer...does it drift or pull? a drift is something you dont notice unless you let go of the bars. a pull is something you fight.
before you start filing formal complaints contact the dealer and let them get a look at it. maybe the tech who set it up didnt take his hands off the bars when he road tested it. give them a chance before you stress a relationship you just started.
also...the flstf has a built in offset in the wheel alignment. at least it used to. the wheels arent aligned perfectly and this can cause some drift with your hands off the bars (not an approved method of riding...and yes i'm aware that many of you are capable of it). not all bikes use a same line alignment between front and rear wheels. they should be parallel but not necessarily aligned in the same track.
this isnt the first time your concern has been mentioned in here.

O.K. it doesn't pull it DRIFTS. It drifts big time, I have to lean way over to the right to get the bike to go straight while riding no handed. I'v had dozens of bikes and the only time I'v had one DRIFT or PULL is when they have been layed down or the wheel alignment has been off or bent triple trees or fork tubes. My point is it's brand news and it should not drift or pull it should go down the road straighter than morning wood. I hope that all Fat Boys don't do this or I don't want one, I'll be trading for a standard or night train pronto.
If this is not the first time you have heard of this, have they all been Fat Boys?

[tomv]

yes but not to the extreme you mentioned. ive never really noticed a big problem on my own but it does have a light drift hands off.
i would recommend you take it to the dealer and let em look it over. maybe you do have a small alignment concern. wouldnt hurt to have it checked.

[attitude]

Shovel....FYI, my '03 Fatboy does the samething when I try to ride with No hands. It rides straight holding the bars but when I let go of the bars, I have to use alot of body english to keep it straight. (drifts left) I did notice, however: that one day on the toll rode I had the throttle locked to maintain speed, when I let go of the bars , it didn't pull. So maybe the engine braking affects this?

I've made sure the rear wheel is square in the swingarm. I noticed the rear wheel isn't centered with the rear fender though.

I just figured it pulss because the primary adds weight to the left side of the bike.
I don't let it bother me since it rides without hands......much.

[Thunderballs]

Check the clutch cable. I've seen situations where the cable pushes forward slightly on the left side and by using countersteering makes you drift left no handed.

I could also be full of Sh*t. But sometimes looking outside the box will find the answer.

Good Luck.

[Lardog]

Assuming no road slope and everything on the bike itself is in proper alignment, it could simply be a tire(s). That bike does come with tubeless radials, right? I worked in the tire business fo many years. While this was automotive, as opposed to cycle, there is a condition known as radial pull. The effect is the same as if the vehicle is out of alignment, but is caused toatally by a defective tire. It can pull to the right, but if you ratate the tires side-to-side, it will now pull to the left.

Just a little info to keep in mind when you go to the dealer to get the problem addressed.

[meyerld]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead

I picked up my new 04 Fat Boy 2 weeks ago. I just learned the other day that it pulls to the left when you let go of the bars. You don't notice it when your riding while holding the bars , but when you let go a go no handed it pulls to the left. Anyone else had this problem?
I have a 77 shovel that goes straight down the road, while not holding the bars. A brand fuking new bike should also. I'v looked a the wheel alignment and that seems o.k. What else could I check. I called the stealer told him the problem, he say's harley says you should not ride no handed. I say no fuking ****, that's not the point. He says stop in and we can look at it quik, but we are booked for two weeks. I want to fix it now, anyone have any suggestions.
Front end alignment maybe?

Here is another thing to check and I agree with the other ideas mentioned - particularly the rear wheel alignment. Check to see if the handlebar has been installed square with the forks. Mine were not, causing a drift when I let go of the bars. Checking this is easily done by eyeballing the distance between the bottom of the bars and the top of the nuts on each side of the top fork covers - should be identical.

[DesertRat]

A fairly easy way to check the rear tire alignment is to use two flourescent light tubes and use rubber bands to hold them on either side of the rear tire. You can then check alignment in respect to the front tire.

[newflstf]

I know this won't ease your mind much, but I have and 03 Fatboy and have the same drift to the left. On the way to work yesterday it was 39 degrees. Had to ride no handed or lose my fingertips. I had to sit off to the right on the seat or kick my right knee out to catch some wind to hold it straight. Let me know what you find at the dealer and if they have a repair. I will have the same done to mine if it is not a normal characterisitic.

[teegee]

Make'm fix it. I have an '04 Fatboy that does not drift to either side in decel or coasting down hill. I would asume if mine doesn't drift then neither should yours.

[tomv]

Originally Posted by Lardog

Assuming no road slope and everything on the bike itself is in proper alignment, it could simply be a tire(s). That bike does come with tubeless radials, right? I worked in the tire business fo many years. While this was automotive, as opposed to cycle, there is a condition known as radial pull. The effect is the same as if the vehicle is out of alignment, but is caused toatally by a defective tire. It can pull to the right, but if you ratate the tires side-to-side, it will now pull to the left.

Just a little info to keep in mind when you go to the dealer to get the problem addressed.

harleys are not delivered with radial tires. the tire pull you describe is not a product of one tire pulling in a particular direction. it is the product of one tire having more rolling resistance than the other...creating a pull in the direction of the harder rolling tire (similar to one front brake dragging). on a single track vehicle (motorcycle) the dynamics are a bit different as one tire cannot act against another that way.

[Lardog]

the tire pull you describe is not a product of one tire pulling in a particular direction. it is the product of one tire having more rolling resistance than the other

You may be right generally, however, I've seen cases otherwise. If you were to isolate the offending unit, then, flip it over on the same wheel, it will often now "push" in the opposite direction. I've seen all kinds of strange shi!t.