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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Archive through August 25, 2009 » I think my steering head bearing are shot????? « Previous Next »

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Americanmadexb
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 03:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

ok, so about 3 weeks ago(last time i rode) i was riding around and i thought my front tire was going flat. Front end felt like it was diving real bad during breaking. So, i rode home and checked the air pressure, right at 35lbs. WTF?

So, i thought maybe my forks blew a seal. After a quick check, i see no signs of leaks.

Kinda forgot about it untill today when i wanted to go ride. I pulled front break and pushed down on forks and it dropped with bearly any force about 3-4 inches.. I pushed down hard a few times and i heard a pop, or a click noise at the bottom!

Does this sound like a bearing problem? Or a fork problem?

actually, the first time i pushed down on the forks, they dropped about 2-3 inches and never really popped back up. So maybe it is a fork issue? Maybe not because i heard a click.

BTW, i never bottomed out the forks

(Message edited by americanmadexb on August 20, 2009)
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Americanmadexb
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 03:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Isolator is good also!
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Holling
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 03:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Doesn't sound like steering head bearing problem. You would feel a lot of play in the top triple area when braking. Forks would work normally.
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Ironheadsporty
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 03:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

my neck bearings went after about 3000 miles and gave a very loud pop as i came to a stop, i could then pull back hard on the bars and get a mild pop... i have been told by the dealer that the valving in the forks will have play in them naturally. i of course doubt thats right at all... still strange it would sink like that... have you rechecked all your suspension settings and make sure everything looks right there. i'm pretty sure someone on here had a problem with a top of one of their forks came apart? maybe yesterday or the day before?
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Americanmadexb
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 04:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

ok, so i went back out a did little more testing..

Everything looks normal, just doesnt feel right. I dont have anyway to lift the whole front off the ground to wiggle the steering head right now!

To me it feels more like a fork problem, but sounds like a bearing problem becuase of the pop i get.

Just feels mushy. I am at 11,xxx miles and haven't had the fork oil changed. Maybe i should do that
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Brumbear
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 04:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

what is your preload set at turn it down till 5 lines are showing then check it if it's still diving set it to 4 lines showing your springs may be getting tired
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F_skinner
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 04:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sounds like you may have blown a fork seal a while ago and lost most of the fluid. How many miles are on your front tire? The feeling of the front being flat could just be a worn front tire.

Frank
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Americanmadexb
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 04:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Forgot to mention this is on a 12Ss. my preload is around 6.75 IIRC. I got crossroads bars and i can't see how many lines. i set it up for my weight with gear to the 230-260 weight which is 6.50 I then turned it to around 6.75
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Americanmadexb
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 04:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

There are no signs of leaks on the forks at all, just break dust. There are about 4,000mi on front tire with lots to go.. Rear, well that another story.. lol
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Sloppy
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 04:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If you don't have the tools to lift the front wheel off the ground then take it to a shop.

Or...

Buy the right tools and check preload and bearing play. Then remove the forks and actuate them - luckily you have two so you can compare performance side to side.

Sounds like you have a fork issue - possibly a broken spring or preload spacer, but without the right tools you won't be able to diagnose or fix the problem...

I've never heard of a fork spring breaking, but Mercedes Benz developed the Desmodromic valve train (I think they called it the "z-drive") because of the failure of valve springs...
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Americanmadexb
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 - 05:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

guess its time to order the black forks!!
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