Softail Springer Forks

Softail Springer Forks

In 1987 Willie G. had an idea. Since it had worked out so well with the Softail models (horseshoe oil tank, rear end with a rigid frame look, etc.) - why not revive another classic Harley? So in late 1988 came the FXSTS, the FX Softail Springer. Among the improvements were needle bearings for the rockers, a new shock absorber ex works and a design to accept a disc brake. The community gladly accepted and Harley had landed another coup.

The fork does have one tiny flaw, however. As with the Softail swingarm bearing, the development department at the factory left the bearing job to a set of four spherical bearings. Spherical plain bearings are not only movable in one plane, axles in spherical plain bearings can in principle move in three dimensions. For this reason, however, spherical plain bearings do not have good guidance properties. Therefore, they are normally used to compensate for misalignments in a machine and only in pairs. Since the front fork (suspension fork) has no further guide compared to the rear, rigid fork, there is quite a bit of flexibility involved and the front wheel axle can wobble within certain limits.

The bearings themselves are not covered and can also not be relubricated. If additional, wear-related play occurs, that was it with precision guidance of the front wheel.

The offer from W&W Cycles

is limited to shock absorbers and lowering kits.