| Author | Message | ||
     Natron |
Since I have had the Buell back from being rebuilt, I've noticed a shudder under braking that I don't think is related to residue on the brake rotor. It feels more like the steering head bearings are loose. I say this for two reasons. First is because it happens when I lighten up the pressure on the front brake while slowing, but it goes away under hard braking. Also, it feels just like when the star but on my road bicycle headset is loose. My question for the forum is, how do I properly tighten this so the problem goes away? I don't have a service manual yet. Thanks, Natron | ||
| Arcticktm |
I would get the service manual before cracking into it. It is reasonably priced and pretty good (except for the bogus oil drain bolt torques). I just checked mine a couple weeks ago, for symptoms like you describe, but it was fine. Lift the front wheel off the ground on a stand, and check for any slop by grabbing the fork bottoms and trying to move them forward and backward. Should be no noticeable free play. I re-torqued mine to spec anyway, as it is pretty easy to do if you just pop off the handlebar clamps and rest the bars against the airbox cover carefully. | ||
| Natron |
I'll be ordering a service manual. Good to know that it 'basically' sounds like a similar process to tightening them on a bicycle (at least one with a modern headset) | ||
| Arcticktm |
Technically, the manual will tell you to use a spring scale (fish scale) to measure the resistance to turning the forks. That is supposed to be the check to see if your steering head is properly torqued w/o excessive play or being too tight. I didn't have one, so I just loosened the nut and re-torued it to spec, after removing and cleaning it to make sure the torque was accurate. Cleaning my front rotor with a scotch brite pad seemed to help my front end pulsing some. Something is still clicking under hard stops, but I think it is something behind the front shroud. | ||
| Teeps |
If the steering head bearings are loose. You should experience a clunk or knock sound when driving over small square edge bumps, such as the lip on a driveway apron. Or, when you abruptly apply the front brake at slow speed, like when doing a stoppie, a double knock-knock, is heard. | ||
| Natron |
I think it does this. I need to fix it before I learn to live with it. | ||
| Tginnh |
See Tootal's triple tree disassembly thread. Maybe the bearings are in the same condition? |
