Repair And Fix it

King pins and bushings are vital steering system parts on large trucks. Regular maintenance and inspection is recommended to ensure safety of the vehicle. If replacement is required, some king pin bushing models require special tools. Tools commonly used for king pin bushing removal and replacement include a press, soft brass drift punch, and a reamer.

Hydraulic Press

A hydraulic press is often used in the removal of a king pin bushing due to the extreme difficulty that can be experienced while attempting to remove the king pin. Removal of the king pin without one is nearly impossible in large trucks like semis and buses. Using a press eliminates the need for sledgehammers and torches, and the hydraulic pressure removes the king pin with little effort. Press tool kits are also available for king pin bushings. Press tool kits are used by inserting the compression nut into a ratchet.

Soft Brass Drift Punch

A soft brass drift punch can be used in place of a hydraulic press to remove the king pin bushing. Generally, it is recommended that an air hammer be used when removing a king pin bushing with a soft brass drift punch, which will make the removal of the king pin easier. The use of a sledgehammer or traditional hammer can take a lot of strength and effort, especially on a large truck. Soft brass drift punches are the best alternative to a hydraulic press because they will not spark or damage other metal parts.

Reamer

Reamers are not used in the replacement of all king pin bushings. Half-ton and three-quarter-ton trucks use what is called a "floating" bushing, recognizable by their bronze color. Floating bushings do not require reaming because they are manufactured to the final size. One-and-one-half-ton trucks do require the bushings to be reamed, because the bushings are press-fit into the spindle. For these types of king pin bushings, a reamer is required. When reaming is required, it is important to avoid honing or burnishing the king pin bushings, which will cause damage to the bushings. Reaming is done with the use of an adjustable straight flute reamer to ensure that no parts are damaged. To use the reamer, it is inserted into the steering knuckle just until the blades touch the bushing. It is then rotated with a slight downward pressure. Applying too much press can also cause damage to the king pin. Driving with a damaged king pin is extremely dangerous, and can cause a loss of control to the vehicle, possibly resulting in an accident.

Harley introduced Road King dressers with an 82 cubic inch Evolution engine in 1993. The models were sold with 88 inch Twin Cam engines beginning in 1999, and since 2006 the model has been shipped with 96 cubic inch Twin Cam power plants. The current model weighs about 815 pounds. They are designed for long distance travel so riders who do a lot of touring are often concerned with gas mileage. After performing basic stage one power upgrades, more power always equals poorer gas mileage. There are, however, a number of suggestions for improving power without seriously degrading mileage on the road.

Instructions

1

It is common to call the first necessary power improvements to any new Road King the "Harley tax." The Motor Company inhibits the respiration of new motors to better meet government clean air goals. The first power improvement you should make is to your Road Kings air intake. Replace your stock air cleaner with a high flow air cleaner.

2

If your motorcycle is carbureted, rejet your carb, remove the factory installed air-fuel mixture plug on the bottom of your stock carburetor and fatten up the mixture slightly. If your bike has Electronic Fuel Injection, replace your EFI module with an aftermarket model or at least have your stock EFI remapped by a competent technician. Research done by Harley-Davidson in 2007 showed that Road King horsepower could be increased by about 9 percent by remapping alone.

3

Install a high performance, two into one exhaust. What the engine breathes in it must also breathe out. Installation of an efficient exhaust system can also add another nine or ten percent to your engines horsepower. Two into one exhausts help maintain equal back pressure in both cylinders. Replacing your Road Kings exhaust is a basic job you should have no trouble doing yourself.

4

If you spend most of the time on your Road King touring, you should consider a replacement cam or cams. Cams control the flow of air into and exhaust out of your cylinders. They also influence the power range of your bike. If you spend most of your riding time going 80 miles an hour through the wide open spaces you want your Road King to make power most efficiently in that power band.

5

Consider replacing your stock cylinder heads with aftermarket cylinder heads. Head design and porting is a craft that is difficult to perfect with mass-produced products. The shape and finish of your heads greatly effects efficiency of the explosions in your engines. Bigger bangs mean more power. Most after market head makers and porters claim power increases of up to ten percent with their products.