| Author |
Message |
    
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 02:13 am: | 
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I seem to remember that some of the XB12X's were diagnosed with loose head bearings.
Anyone know the symptoms?
I have a "rattle" that can be heard and felt directly in the head between the handlebars. I can feel it in the grips. It only occurs during breaking. It feels like someone has hung a piece of re-bar in the center of the forks and it is flopping around as I decelerate. It isn't speed sensitive, so I don't think it is a warped rotor. I have checked the individual bolts on the rotor itself. I have made sure that the fork clamps and handlebar clamps are all tight. I even completely reset the suspension settings for the front end.
The only thing I haven't checked are the head bearings.
Any ideas? |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 06:12 pm: |
|
Stop riding with your head between the handlebars? 
If your front brake disk had a mottled/discolored appearance, you may be feeling the pulsing that results from residue imparted by the pads. You can burn it off by getting the brakes really good and hot, but better is to clean the disk and switch to some Lindal or other aftermarket pads.
Steering head bearing preload is a common maintenance adjustment for the first major maintenance interval. If you can get the bike's front end jacked up, you should be able to diagnose the state of the steering head preload. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 09:52 pm: |
|
I have adjusted the fork preloads. Where is the head bearing preload adjustment?
I'm not familiar with that one. |
Buellishxx
| | Posted on Monday, July 10, 2006 - 12:16 am: |
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According to the service manual the head bearings can not be adjusted, only replaced, so I don't understand people saying that they adjusted the head bearings. Am I missing something? |
Phatkidwit1eye
| | Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 06:01 am: |
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You can adjust the large steering head nut. By tightening/loosening it, you can adjust the pressure it takes to turn the front end from side to side.
I'm sure there is a more technical way to explain it. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 11:46 pm: |
|
Upon further inspection, I had a dented front wheel.
That will make the front vibrate on braking every time.  |
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Loose head bearings?