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[VANAMAL]

So just like the 05 SEEG i go to lube the neck bearings on the SESG. I had pumped some in awhile back but decided to grease it until it starts to ooze out at top or bottom. Made me think of it when marty had to get his greased recenty on the road because it was bone dry and noisy. I cant believe how much it takes to get it greased. I pumped until my arm was tired and had to get another cartridge. Anyway for those who havnt done it or assumed the dealer did it you best start pumping

[muddypaws]

The bikes off the floor have little to no lube. Once you fill it up the next time it takes almost none.

[miker]

 

[ultrafxr]

When I greased my new '12 at its 1k service I pulled out the brand new pneumatic grease gun I had just purchased.  Big mistake.  If you think it takes a lot of pumping on a manual lever type grease gun, well I dang near wore out my finger pushing the button on that pneumatic gun before I finally saw some grease make it way out from around the neck.  Like muddypaws said the next time wasn't an issue.  But that first time - it sure does take a lot of grease!

[Mr D]

What grease is best to use that won't liquify and run down left side upper fork slider

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Interesting, that when the stealer did my 1 K service they never greased these bearings.  I know this because when I took it to an independent shop 500 miles later to install some extras under my fairing the mechanic told me that the bearings were never greased.  He greased them, I know this because I can see the grease around the neck where it squeezed out.  I now know why the stealer never did it.., it was to much work. 

[VANAMAL]

Well theres a lot of guys and gals with new bikes and id bet 90% of them dont know that the neck bearings dont come greased from the factory and the dealers wont do it either. I really dont get it. Theres a zerk fitting there ready to go but everyone seems to ignore it. Harley does make a special grease of course that you can go pay double for. I just put in whatever i have handy and after its full check it once a year. It has to improve handleing right??

[9 1/2 Beers]

Well theres a lot of guys and gals with new bikes and id bet 90% of them dont know that the neck bearings dont come greased from the factory and the dealers wont do it either. I really dont get it. Theres a zerk fitting there ready to go but everyone seems to ignore it. Harley does make a special grease of course that you can go pay double for. I just put in whatever i have handy and after its full check it once a year. It has to improve handleing right??

 Yes it did Van

[grc]

The fact that the cavity in the steering head between the two bearings isn't full of grease when the bike is shipped from the factory doesn't mean anyone did anything wrong.  The bearings are packed with grease when they are installed, but the factory doesn't also use the Zerk fitting to pump more grease into the cavity.  The Zerk is just there to make bearing maintenance easier later on.  Bikes without the Zerk, and that would include a whole lot of bikes, require removing the front end and removing the bearings when it's time for maintenance, just like the old style wheel bearings did.

All that grease oozing out of the bottom of the steering head and all over the place isn't lubricating anything (well, maybe the lower fork bracket and garage floor).  And unless you use a high volume air operated gun instead of a hand operated grease gun, you will be unlikely to ever get any to ooze out of the top because it will all be flowing out the bottom.  So how do you know the upper bearing really got properly lubed?  Gravity only works one way, so all that excess grease isn't necessarily doing much for that upper bearing.  It might keep the lower bracket from corroding however.

As for a type of grease that doesn't liquefy and run out, good luck finding such a thing.  As long as Harley sticks with unsealed bearings you will have grease oozing out the bottom.  I just use paper towels to clean out the stuff that oozes out onto the lower bracket when I do my regular services or if I just happen to notice it while washing the bike.  As for those claims on the grease tubes that say they don't run or drip, see if you still believe them when you open the tube and have to immediately pour off a bunch of liquid.  Hmmmmmmmmm.


Jerry

[dlaws01]

I use a grease used in the aviation industry to lubricate bearings inside bendix magnetos. Its good and thick and doesn't run out like the factory grease.  I'll check the name and post it when I get back to the hangar.  Only problem is it comes in a pint sized can and I have to hand pack it into a small tube to use it on my bike.  Doesn't thin out from the heat and really clings.

[dlaws01]

TCM Bendix magneto grease P/N 10-27165, 1 lb. can, $69.75 available at Aircraft Spruce. I know, its expensive, but it's good stuff! 

[Sklywag]

While I know it is a lot more work, how do I know, because I jsut finished doing it again, the only right way in my mind is pull it apart, clean & inspect the bearings, kack the bearing by hand, reinstall everything & set the preload properly on the bearings.

I use the red marine wheel bearing grease, I have used it for years, it sticks well to the bearings & packing them by hand it never leaks out.  I do it every 25k miles and the bearings always have grease when I take it apart.

But, if you have a dealer do it this way it costs a lot of money & they do not preload the bearings properly.

[tennisman]

Greased my 08 CUSE once when near new; never have done it again (now at 75K miles); my Kaw has not lube point and is at 68k, never been lubed.  I don't think it's necessary unless you plan to keep them forever.

[LovemyCVOgirl]

While I know it is a lot more work, how do I know, because I jsut finished doing it again, the only right way in my mind is pull it apart, clean & inspect the bearings, kack the bearing by hand, reinstall everything & set the preload properly on the bearings.

I use the red marine wheel bearing grease, I have used it for years, it sticks well to the bearings & packing them by hand it never leaks out.  I do it every 25k miles and the bearings always have grease when I take it apart.

But, if you have a dealer do it this way it costs a lot of money & they do not preload the bearings properly.

That must be the same stuff my mechanic uses, cause what oozed out is red and sticky 

[grc]

While I know it is a lot more work, how do I know, because I jsut finished doing it again, the only right way in my mind is pull it apart, clean & inspect the bearings, kack the bearing by hand, reinstall everything & set the preload properly on the bearings.

I use the red marine wheel bearing grease, I have used it for years, it sticks well to the bearings & packing them by hand it never leaks out.  I do it every 25k miles and the bearings always have grease when I take it apart.

But, if you have a dealer do it this way it costs a lot of money & they do not preload the bearings properly.

I totally agree. And on most of the bikes I've owned over the years, including a Harley Dyna, it was the only way since there was no grease fitting on those bikes.  It's just a bigger PITA on a Touring model taking all the front end off to do it "the right way".  I assume that's why Harley stuck a fitting on the neck, but if they wanted it to be useful they should have put a seal at both ends of the neck to keep the grease in (and water and other contaminants out).  Letting it immediately ooze out the bottom isn't assuring the upper bearing gets properly lubed, and just hitting it with a grease gun instead of taking it all apart means the bearings and races never get properly inspected for pitting and flat spotting.

I remember not all that many years ago having to remove wheel bearings on a regular basis for cleaning, inspection, and greasing.  Then Harley joined the 20th century and finally started installing sealed bearings.  Maybe for the next century they can modernize their steering head bearings as well.


Jerry