| Author | Message | ||
     Jhallgren |
I posted in the old thread but it was archived. Here is the old thread with the info: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/583882.html?1283976609 Here is what I added: Ok so I got the PR2's and they are nice but I am still having the wobble issue. It seems to be getting worse and quite frankly, I am getting nervous to ride. I am also now getting a vibration in my handle bars at 3200-3600 rpm range. It almost seems like the vibration I feel is related to the wobble since most of my riding when the wobble occurs, is in those RPM ranges. Could it be the front isolater or the head bearings? I inspected the isolator and didn't see any obvious signs of damage. I did not remove it to inspect it though. I have had to retorque my steering head several times this year due to a small clunk over large bumps, and lately the handle bars seem to turn with out much effort while I am stationary. I also have setup the suspension to my weight class. I am a small guy weighing around 145. I setup the suspension to 200 lbs for my weight and all my gear. I have made an appointment with the dealer. Don't really want to take it there, but I am at a loss as to what it could be. I have read other posts about this issue but there is never a resolution in those threads. Any suggestions? | ||
| Fobyfo |
I'm not sure I understand what you are describing. Is it a fast wobble as in more of a shimmy or is it slower - more on the order of a couple of times a second. The only immediate thought I can offer is to look closely at all the frame connection points for loose bolts, etc. I chased a problem on a dirt bike for weeks that I was convinced was head bearings until my son came up and asked if I had looked at a lower frame connection. That was it. The bolts had loosened. The bike is now firm and stable. Any frame connection that is not tight can cause instability and make odd noises. | ||
| Jhallgren |
Well it kind of feels like riding on a grated road, riding in a crack in the road or getting a good crosswind. I start feeling this around 40-45. It gets worse as speed increases. Or another way to explain it is as speed increases, you start getting a head shake and sometimes feel like I will get a tank slapper. | ||
| Etennuly |
Sounds to me like your steering head bearings are bad, perhaps some balls have fallen out of one of the bearings. If you had to re-torque the steering head more than once a year something is wrong up there. | ||
| Hughlysses |
+1 to what Etennuly says, although I think the steering head bearings are roller type. I can't imagine a bad isolator feeling like a steering wobble so I don't think that's it. I'd check steering bearings (disassemble and inspect), wheel bearings, and tightness of front and rear isolator mounts until I found something clearly wrong. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Check your axle torque specs, and your wheel bearings. Improper axle torque can kill a wheelbearing faster than you can say "oh s**t". Also, tire pressures. Lastly - I have noticed on my S2, which also runs PR2 tires, it is very "tippy" right off-center. Once I'm leaned in one way or another, it's rock solid...but that centerline is nearly knife-edged. I'm used to it now...but going from one of the other bikes to the PR2 bike takes a block or two to "remind" myself that it's different. Something in the tire profile... | ||
| Jhallgren |
When I had the wheels off to replace the tires, I inspected all the wheel bearings. They were smooth and not loose or notchy. I torqued the front and rear axle to the specs in the service manual. I wouldn't think it would be the PR2's since I was having this issue with the OEM syncs as well. Etennuly and Hughlysses, I have been starting think that the head bearings are the culprit since I have had a steering head issue with the Uly since I bought it in March. Well I made an appointment with the dealer to take it in on Monday to have it looked at under warranty. If anyone has any other suggestions, I am all ears. Thanks for all the replies. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
perhaps some balls have fallen out I always feel a little squirrelly when ma balls have fallen out. | ||
| Tootal |
Agreed, new head bearings. Oh, and thanks for the visual Fatty, you bastard!  | ||
| Hughlysses |
One other thing to check (thought generated by another thread here)- your engine/frame links. There's one at the rear isolator, one under the airbox base, and one near the front of the engine someplace. If one of those is missing a bolt, it'd let the engine and swingarm move relative to the frame, which might produce a wobble. | ||
| Jhallgren |
Yeah I saw that thread in the XB board regarding the frame links. Checked all of those and they are tight. | ||
| Mnrider |
  Hmmm... broken bolts. After my little get off last year I had a squeak and found this bolt broken and the one on the right side bent. | ||
| Steveford |
If everything else has checked out okay, check out wheel balance. The front disc on mine has worn unevenly which makes it a bear to balance properly. This is the second rotor and the next one will be a thicker one from Erik Buell Racing. | ||
| Jhallgren |
Well I picked my Uly today from the stealer and they said the steering head just needed an adjustment. Funny thing is they charged me $84 and the problem is still there  . Steveford, I just put new tires on but before I put the new PR2's on I had the same issue. Unless the wheels were unbalanced then I believe they would have been unbalanced prior to the new tires. I don't believe thats the case here though. This almost feels like unwanted vibrations are being sent down the frame causing this instability. What do you guys think, should I take it back to the stealer or should I just replace the head bearings myself? I told the dealer to please inspect the head bearings but who knows if they even did that. I asked to speak with the tech who worked on my Uly, but of course he was already gone for the day. Go figure. | ||
| Tootal |
When you grab a handful of front brake at speed do you hear any clicking noise up front? That's what will happen if the steering head bearings are bad. Did the dealer test ride the bike after their adjustment? | ||
| Jhallgren |
No I don't hear any clicking. They only put 4 miles on the bike, so doesn't look like they tried very hard to diag the issue. | ||
| Etennuly |
A simple test. Jack the front to where the front tire is just off the ground. Grab the bottom of the forks and shake them around. You should not feel anything other than it's desire to turn left or right. If you feel slop or looseness chances are the bearings will be the problem. | ||
| Od_cleaver |
Some random thoughts... Since you paid your $84 and got no satisfaction, I would take the bike back to the dealer. I would re-state the problem and keep my diagnose to myself. Keep your problem statement as clear and short as possible. I don't kiss the service writer's butt, but I try to be pleasant. I don't joke - these guys have no sense of humor. I read your tire change statement again. It sounds like you did the change yourself. Check to see that the tire beads are seated properly. Also, did you balance your wheels after you changed your tires? It is possible that your old tires/wheels had lost a weight and were unbalanced before the tire change. Your description of the problem sounds like a wheel balance problem. The two times that I had a head bearing adjustment problem it took some road feature to set it off. | ||
| Jhallgren |
Etennuly, I have done this already. No play, just wants to turn as you stated. Od_cleaver, I am taking it back to the dealer. All I did was removed the wheels and took them in to have my new tires mounted and balanced. Before I replaced the tires the rear wheel had no wheel weights but after I got the new tires put on, there is weights on the rear wheel now. I know the wheels were balanced but maybe not correctly, who knows. I am just getting frustrated, as every time I go to the dealer for an issue, I just get the run around. | ||
| Steveford |
If you have a caliper or micrometer, go around the disc and check the thickness and see how much it varies. That's a lot of mass spinning around out there and if that's out of balance then you may have found the culprit. It sounds like a combination of loose or worn headbearings with a wheel balance problem. At a very slow speed, slam on the front brake really hard; if you hear a loud click that's your bearings. You also keep mentioning vibration so if it's not the rotor or wheel balance or the head bearings you might wish to spring for a new isolator. They're not that expensive and can be considered to be a wear item. My first front isolator and front disc were replaced at around 12-14,000 miles, second ones are still going strong at 41,000. At 50,000 I'm going to replace the front isolator, front rotor and front pads. I know that my rotor is wearing funny and vibration has been creeping up as well. (Message edited by SteveFord on September 15, 2010) | ||
| Matchanu |
I just changed my tires and now have a wobble issue around 80mph, sometime slower. Very intermitent, creepy, not comfortable with this set up at all. Gotta be the tires as everything else is on the up and up. Sucks, 180 bucks worth of rubber that I'm going to eat and pay another 200+ for replacements. | ||
| Etennuly |
I want better definition of 'wobble'. Is it like lumping or working the bars going very slow? Does it only show up at speed? Have you put any kind of indicator to the front tire to check for run out, or humping, or center tread squiggle? If all was good before a new tire, and the installation was triple checked for fit, it seems the tire would be the culprit. If it is all smooth until 80 mph it would have to be balance or damaged chords in the casing, which can happen with a hamfisted installer. You can use anything as a stationary indicator. Set it near the tire and spin it. See if it is round or humps or wobbles or squiggles. | ||
| Jhallgren |
Etennuly, I will check for run out. Have not done that yet. I took it back into the dealer and they had another tech ride it. He supposedly checked out the wheel bearings and swing arm but they could not find anything wrong as usual. This issue was happening before I replaced the tires so I doubt its the tires. Like I stated before, it feels like riding in a bad grove in the road or almost like wind buffeting. This starts around 40 mph and gets worse as speed increases. Its not constant the whole time but will wobble or wag every 10 seconds or so. Around 70 or so if he start to accelerate, you feel a slight head shake which makes me back off the throttle. I don't even want to try to power through it. | ||
| Sperz1 |
Sounds like how my bike feels all the time at anything over 60. The bars dance a little bit, but nothing to worry about. | ||
| Etennuly |
We have seen in the past where a rider had a jacket that was bulky and causing this kind of feeling, and believe it or not an improper fitting helmet can make things go awry at speed. | ||
| Jhallgren |
I am wearing a tight fit Icon jacket with nothing flopping around. I tried my helmet on in several sizes for proper fit before I purchased it. I have ordered a pair of the HVMP bar end weights to see if that may help some of the vibration I am feeling in my handle bars. Who knows maybe the vibration I am feeling is causing this issue. The dealer also told me when I picked up my Uly this afternoon that if I still was not satisfied that they can get someone for harley technical support out to look at it. I might go that route. Oh well I will keep you guys informed. Thanks for all your input in helping track down my issue. | ||
| Etennuly |
Any chance you will be coming to Buelltoberfest? | ||
| Jhallgren |
No I wont be coming to Buelltoberfest. I am getting married next weekend so all of my vacation will be used up. | ||
| Od_cleaver |
Getting married next weekend might explain some of that wobble. | ||
| Etennuly |
Getting married next weekend might explain some of that wobble. .....well if not now.....later on for sure! Congrats on the nuptials! Any changes on the bike yet? |
