| Author | Message | ||
     Johnnylunchbox |
I believe I am gettting a little bit of a cluck from my steering head bearing. I though it was supposed to be adjusted at my 1k service, but I don't think it was done. Anyhow, my question is do I have to do all that checking with the spring scale as per the service manual, or should I just raise the front end and torque the bearing down to spec. My thinking is that if I torque it to spec and I get no more clunking and the steering doesn't bind at all, then I am ok. Am I being unrealistic? Steve | ||
| Denfromphilly |
Haven't a clue but love your handle...what Monty Burns says...Den | ||
| Rick_a |
I do it by feel. The spring scale things works, though. I don't think there is a spec for the adjustment bolt, just for the triple tree bolts. | ||
| Bomber |
no spec for the vearing adjusment bolt -- easy to overdo -- go ahead, guess how I know? | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Denfromphilly - Did he say that, or was it JohnnyLunchPail or something like that. Rick_a - thats what I figured. I'll just snug it until it feels right. Bomber - I have to ask. What happened? Did the front end bind up on you? | ||
| Bomber |
Mr Box -- nossir, it didn't. It DID, however, develop a nice detent, just off dead-nuts center, to make it easier to ride a 14.7 kilometer cirlce, though handy, that | ||
| Tramp |
if you've got a *cluck*, i wouldn't think that snugging it down will help much. sounds like grinnelling, time to change the bearings. easy enough job, although sometimes the lower won't "drop off"* with heat, so using a grinder or cutppf wheel becomes easier. *buell workshop manual, S3 | ||
| Whodom |
sounds like grinnelling That's "brinelling", as in Brinell hardness test. Read more here: http://www.precisionspindle.com/brinelling.htm | ||
| Tramp |
it's 'grinnelling' when your hamfisted right index finger accidentally strikes the key above the "B" on your keyboard (thaaaaaat'd be the "G" key, ladies and germs...) and you break into a wide, idiotic smile  when it's pointed out by "whodothere" (name the song) | ||
| Bluzm2 |
That would be a CCR tune, Born on the Bayou | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
The cluck is more of a clunk. And would brinelling occur with only 1800 miles on the clock? I think they just never did the adjustment. I guess I won't know until I try. I'll have to get an allen socket for the torque wrench. I don't seem to have the right size. thanks for the replies | ||
| Whodom |
Tramp, the older I get, the more able my mind is to out-run my fingers.  JLB- Do you feel the clunk when you turn the handlebars lock to lock, or do you feel a clunk if you set the front brake and attempt to roll the bike backwards and forwards? If you feel a clunk when you turn the handlebars, your bearing race(s) may be hosed. If you feel the clunk when attempting to roll the bike with the brake on, the adjustment should cure the problem. A roller bearing can take immense loads if it's properly pre-loaded. If your steering bearings were allowed to get really loose, and you hard-landed after a wheelie, or hit a good pothole or rough railroad crossing, you could definitely dent the bearing race(s). If this happened, even after the bearings are properly adjusted you'll feel a distinct "clunk" when the rollers roll across the dent in the race. The only way to cure that is to replace the bearings. | ||
| Tramp |
i've found that brinnelling (whew!) can be felt when turning the front end through it's full range when parked. if the clunk occurs when the frontend is fully neutral (facing fwd) , it's likely indicating bearing replacement. if it's not to definitively 'notchy', it's just loose. Bluzm2- NICE work! | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Whodom...it is when I hold the front brake and shift the bike forward or backward. I don't feel it when i turn from lock to lock. tramp - this bike was and still is babied. I think it is just loose. I'll try an adjust this weekend. Thanks guys. | ||
| Road_thing |
Well, if you've really got a "cluck" in your steering head bearing, it's probably time to get the chicken out of there. Bluz really chased that one down quick, didn't he? rt | ||
| Bomber |
scarey, the data that oldies stations and Nick At Night are transmitting, ain't it? |
