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[Bucketofbolts]

 I bought this 2001 SERG a year and a half ago with 38k miles on it.  I drove it from Rockford IL. to St. Louis Mo. (350 Mi.) the day I picked it up and hadn't noticed any problems but really wasn't pushing it very hard. Well to make a long story short I have a serious wobble that comes out of nowhere. Some days its a very solid ride others it'll make your butt pucker.
 I have been keeping a close eye on everyones post on this subject and there seems to be quit a few opinions on the cause. I have already done the basics tire pressure, checked the rims, balanced, new tires front and back and checked the shocks. The  rubber riser mounts have been replaced with silicon ones and it did make the handle bars feel more solid but didn't do anything for the wobble problem. Betsy (Yeah I named the bike) now has 50k mi. on her and I'm thinkin its time to turn some wrenches this winter.
 By no means am I a professional mechanic or worked on a bike before but I have restored a couple of old cars and know how to turn a wrench and read a shop manual. So heres my plan and if anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate your feed back.
1.  I need to lift the bike so I am going to purchase an ATV jack from Sears.
2.  I plan on replacing the swingarm rubber mounts with OEM parts.
3.  Replace the Goose neck bearings and race.
4.  Replace front motor mount.

My objective is to ensure it is up to spec before attempting  else.

   Bill

[MikeD]

Bucketofbolts, look for a guy on here with the name OTIS, I would recommend him as the resident expert on that SERG, he has the same one and is good with wrenches, etc.  He has taken his apart and put it back together again.

[Bucketofbolts]

Thanks.. I'll give him a shout.

[Twolanerider]

If replacing swing arm bushings might consider the "Glide Pro" shaft kit.  It's gotten some good press.  Honestly not sure what it does that the Sta-bo bushings don't.  But have never actually had the Glide Pro product in hand nor installed one.  So I'm the wrong guy to speculate too.

http://www.glide-pro.com

[REGGAB]

Contact Tracy (twr on this forum) and ask him about "The Missing Link."  You'll be glad you did.   

[hd-dude]

All of the add on devices will do NOTHING for you if the swings arm has any lateral movement. The way to test for this is to remove the rear tire and shocks from the bike and try to move the swingarm side to side. If there is movement then the best thing that you can do with the 01 and earlier flh suspension is to upgrade the swingarm pivot from the older Cleve block style to the new style spherical bearings. There is a kit availble from Drag Specialties part number 1302-0207 for 329 retail that includes everything needed for the upgrade. Even 02 and up bikes with the sperical bearings have the lateral movement problem when they wear out. Correct this issue and the bike will ride like its on a rail.

[REGGAB]

All of the add on devices will do NOTHING for you if the swings arm has any lateral movement. The way to test for this is to remove the rear tire and shocks from the bike and try to move the swingarm side to side. If there is movement then the best thing that you can do with the 01 and earlier flh suspension is to upgrade the swingarm pivot from the older Cleve block style to the new style spherical bearings. There is a kit availble from Drag Specialties part number 1302-0207 for 329 retail that includes everything needed for the upgrade. Even 02 and up bikes with the sperical bearings have the lateral movement problem when they wear out. Correct this issue and the bike will ride like its on a rail.

I stand corrected.  Thanks for the knowledge, Jim.   

[SPIDERMAN]

All of the add on devices will do NOTHING for you if the swings arm has any lateral movement. The way to test for this is to remove the rear tire and shocks from the bike and try to move the swingarm side to side. If there is movement then the best thing that you can do with the 01 and earlier flh suspension is to upgrade the swingarm pivot from the older Cleve block style to the new style spherical bearings. There is a kit availble from Drag Specialties part number 1302-0207 for 329 retail that includes everything needed for the upgrade. Even 02 and up bikes with the sperical bearings have the lateral movement problem when they wear out. Correct this issue and the bike will ride like its on a rail.

Jim
     I was under the impression you could backfit the 02-07 swingarm to a 99-01.

B B

[hd-dude]

Jim
     I was under the impression you could backfit the 02-07 swingarm to a 99-01.

B B

Yes, you can and I have done that as well. For the money the retro kit works just as well without needing to buy a new swingarm with all the bearings and a new rear axle and wheel bearings.

[SPIDERMAN]

Yes, you can and I have done that as well. For the money the retro kit works just as well without needing to buy a new swingarm with all the bearings and a new rear axle and wheel bearings.

I've seen that done with some elongated triangle gussets welded to the top and bottom of the swingarm to add strength

[hd-dude]

I've seen that done with some elongated triangle gussets welded to the top and bottom of the swingarm to add strength

The older style swingarm itself it not as strong as the 02+ style. Welding gussets will strenthen the swingarm but will not address the lateral movement that the cleve blocks have. Lateral movement causes instability.

[SPIDERMAN]

The older style swingarm itself it not as strong as the 02+ style. Welding gussets will strenthen the swingarm but will not address the lateral movement that the cleve blocks have. Lateral movement causes instability.

I agree which is why I bought a an 02+ swingarm from you awhile back/
Remember when we upgraded Beagle's B.I.L Hank's 01 RK with a ton of CVO parts

B B

[110tHunDer]

Jim, thanks for the post.  I've got some wobble in both of the touring bikes and after talking with Pete_4854 in MV about his success with replacing the swingarm bushings in his SEEG planned to go OEM with both bikes over the winter.  I wasn't aware there was a better solution for the earlier style swingarms until your post.

[Twolanerider]

Yes, you can and I have done that as well. For the money the retro kit works just as well without needing to buy a new swingarm with all the bearings and a new rear axle and wheel bearings.

Doing this would require honing/drilling out the tail of the transmission also wouldn't it?  Isn't the cross shaft a larger diameter on the newer models?

[Bucketofbolts]

 What a wealth of information out here and I really appreciate all of your help. So far thanks to HD Dude, I've learned how to check the rear swingarm and going with OEM may not be my best option. I tried to find the Drag Specialties part number 1302-0207 but no luck as of yet. If this kit goes in without having to modify anything thats the way I want to go.
 Thanks to Twolaneriders' link to Glide-Pro I was able to watch the whole process of raising the bike and upgrade the swingarm pivot. Looks like its about a 2 or 3 hour job but I think I can do it on a 12 pak.
 The bike has 50K on it and I'm sure there hasn't been any major service or upgrades done to it. With all the symtoms it has and what I've read on this site I'm positive if I upgrade the swingarm pivot and replace the neck bearings and race then I can go on to the fun stuff.

If I can't ride it, I'd rather work on it and if I couldn't work on it I'd rather be on this site learning how to work it.