| Author | Message | ||
     Delta_one |
does anybody else notice that their steering goes more to the left than the right? I was adjusting my cable pull and my new bars and noticed about 1/4 inch difference between the two sides if measured from the fork to the fill point on the tank. normal or do I need to fix something? | ||
| Zatco81 |
Have anything to do with the fact that the forks lock to the left not the right? | ||
| Randomchaos |
Ever dropped the bike? | ||
| Delta_one |
nope never been down. I did buy it used but it was meticulously cared for by the previous owner. I also notice a slight pull to the left and need to lean to the right when I go hands free. (I know not the smartest thing to do but I'm still young and dumb, that and my jacket rides up under my backpack) I always though it was just the extra weight of the tranny on the left side. could these be related? | ||
| Randomchaos |
Get the forks checked to see if they are slightly twisted. How many miles on the bike? | ||
| Delta_one |
just over 10k | ||
| Blake |
Here's the bottom line. Is the bike operating okay or does it have handling issues. I suspect that something is merely getting in the way of your right fork stop and preventing it from achieving full travel. Check the simple stuff first. Also, your measurement method may not be accurate. | ||
| Delta_one |
I just cleared the clutch cable from it and checked all other cable lengths I don't see anything but the lower triple clamp bump stops making contact. | ||
| Blake |
Either the guy who sold you the bike lied to you and the front end of the frame has been bent/twisted or your measurement is off. If the forks function properly, meaning you can clamp the front brake and work them up and down normally, then they are not in a bind or "twisted". | ||
| Tpoppa |
I also notice a slight pull to the left and need to lean to the right when I go hands free. There is a good chance that you have a bad front wheel bearing that is causing this. | ||
| Deadduck |
a 1/4 inch should be noticeable sitting on the bike looking down the front end to the tire if its twisted forks. If you have a stand, measure from center of front axle to center of rear axle on both sides. Get the measurements even on both sides and measure from handlebar ends on both sides to the rear axle. These measurements should be even on both sides, (correct me if I'm wrong on this anybody) If they are not equal from side to side, then your forks are likely twisted a little. Easy fix by loosening the upper and lower triple tree fork clamps and putting the bars where they are supposed to be while maintaining proper alignment of the front to rear wheels. | ||
| Delta_one |
  sorry its the best I could do in the dark. my tape measure was too reflective but you can see where the bolt of the top triple crosses the frame on one side than not the other. it becomes a larger difference at the ends of the bars. | ||
| Blake |
I'm not seeing what you are describing, but the camera angles are different, so it's impossible to tell. (Message edited by blake on August 22, 2009) | ||
| Tpoppa |
Is that showing that the top clamp is touching the filler neck? | ||
| Delta_one |
the camera engles are not perfect but it gives you an idea.  (above)Crossing the frame (below) Not crossing the frame  (Message edited by delta_one on August 22, 2009) | ||
| Delta_one |
Tpoppa its very close to touching on one side and not as close on the other... and that's what makes me worry that something is tweaked... or there is just tolerance issue from the factory. | ||
| Tpoppa |
Well that's an aftermarket top clamp, if you loosen the bolts there is probably a small amount of play. Are either of the steering stops damaged? When the handlebars are straight is the wheel completely straight? | ||
| Delta_one |
seems to be straight... and no play whatsoever in the top clamp. its a precision engineering part. very tight fit. but look at the bolts on the tree, if the clamp is bogus the tree shouldn't be. | ||
| Aptbldr |
Front end assemblies can be twisted. Loosen-up & realign front stem-clamps-sliders-wheel. If this is issue, there'll be a less fork-stiction bonus for the effort, too. | ||
| Blake |
Sounds simple, but if he's never done it, and/or doesn't have a service manual to follow, errors in the process can have dire consequences. Just the fact that he's asking the questions that he is leads me to strongly suggest taking it to the shop and having an experienced and competent technician look at it. | ||
| Sifo |
You should also use a torque wrench when tightening up the triple clamp bolts. It is easy to over tighten and distort things or leave them too loose, very dangerous. My XB goes perfectly straight when I let go of the bars. Something is out of alignment. Either front end or back end. You've found evidence that it may be in the front. I would start by loosening up all the clamps on the triple clamps and re-tighten with everything nice and straight. | ||
| Delta_one |
I have the service manual but forks and transmissions scare me. Ill take it to get serviced tomorrow, thanks guys, at least I'm not crazy and there really is something there. I have several years of car performance experience as well as damage repair at several shops around the state but this is my first year working on a Buell and only my second year on a bike at all. so Blake is right. I didn't have a stinking clue, till you guys came along.  thank you so much! |
