Floppy steering on Shadow ACE : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

YukonHogger · 11-17-2006, 05:54 PM

I've ridden my wife's bike a couple of times and definitely do not like the steering. It feels like, at any speed, the steering is loose, or sloppy, but when I lift the front end and check the play, it seems fine. But if I centre the wheel and let it go, it 'flopps' to either side quite quickly. Any ideas? Because I don't think it's right.

JamieWG · 11-17-2006, 06:00 PM

Go to the Honda dealer and buy a service manual. Check the torque on the steering head bearings.

YukonHogger · 11-18-2006, 05:43 AM

Haven't checked the torque, but the dealer says they are all like that. Will do the torque check though because I can't believe the steering should be like that. Our son has the same bike and his is OK.
Thanks. Never thought of the torque, just checked the play, which is not there.

Roadie · 12-05-2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YukonHogger

I've ridden my wife's bike a couple of times and definitely do not like the steering. It feels like, at any speed, the steering is loose, or sloppy, but when I lift the front end and check the play, it seems fine. But if I centre the wheel and let it go, it 'flopps' to either side quite quickly. Any ideas? Because I don't think it's right.

For what its worth, I used to own a similar model Shadow many years ago. I had an 88, 1100 VTC with the condition that you describe. Make sure that you are running the OEM front tire size. I noticed a lower profile and thinner tire allowed the steering flop to become more evident. Also, I switched to a narrower set of bars (for lane splitting) that allowed the steering flop to become more pronounced. Don't forget, the Shadow was one of Honda's first attempts at a cruiser and I think they blew it in the design department when they tried to stretch the wheelbase out. I believe they raked the forks out to 32.5 degrees if I am not mistaken. A wider handle bar may help eliminate the flop feeling being that its longer from the center out to the edge of the bar and would require less effort to steer. Hope this helps.

YukonHogger · 04-27-2007, 08:28 PM

I took a look at the microfische at the Honda dealer.
In a nutshell, to set up the Fall Away, remove all controls, top of tree, headlight & wiring. Make sure there is no restriction on the turning radius of the forks. Loosen top (lock) nut. Tighten bottom nut until firmly seated at about 15'# of torque. Swing forks back and forth a few times to make sure the bearing is seated. Retorque to 15'#.
Place lock ring on, bend tabs down. Replace top nut finger tight, but go to next tab position at 90* from bottom nut tabs.
Tie a string around each fork. Centre wheel. Attach a small "pull-scale" (kind of like a miniature fish scale) and pull forwards until forks fall to opposite side that scale is attached to. Minimum should be 0.95'#. Maximum should be 2.3'#. Do the same for the other side.

That is all fine and dandy, but I can't seem to get to the step where the wheel should be balanced in the straight ahead position. It always flops to the left. And the nut is tight and nothing is pulling it that way. There is no slack in the steering head bearings. Would the added weight of the brake and rotor make it fall that direction? If so, then how do I get to the point where the wheel is balanced, or do I take the pull test from the position where the wheel is not in the straight ahead position, but in it's balanced position, which is turned to the right a couple of inches?
I gotta get this done before Sunday. We are taking a 200 mile trip to help celebrate our friends' 50 Anniversary and if the wife's bike ain't ready, I'm as good as dead.