| Author | Message | ||
     Frankie123456 |
Ok here is the story. 2003 Firebolt. Violent head shake, starts at 45 mph, getts progressively worse up to 65mph. All on decleration, not breaking. I changed back to the stock settings, but no luck, it is still there. It moved from 45 - 55 though. All testing was done on the same road. Cant figure it out, only thing I did to the bike, was removed the rear passanger footpegs, and the license plate metal bracket. Prior to this experience I did hear a loud pop, (I was at about 45 mph in traffic) and didnt feel anything different. Any suggestions are welcome. Checked the wheel weights, and they are still there, tires are inflated correctly, I am out of ideas. I searched the MB, but nothing seems to fit my circumstances... Frankie | ||
| Black9 |
Steering head bearings ok? my brothers new "Wing" had some head shake, and his bearings were loose...had them thightened at the dealer and it cleared it up. p.s. my 03 9s had loosened up a bit also..just a thought. | ||
| Along4theride |
The whole triple clamp had come loose on my '03 9R. The dealer tightened it up and away went my 'wierd' problems with the front end. We went through all kinds of ideas for about 2 weeks before the triple tree got checked. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
ChecK those steering head bearings before you ride it again. Mine were loose after 1500 miles. | ||
| Freyke |
I've had to do this twice, the second time I used locktite.... Its held ever since... BTW, this seems to be a very common problem with the XBs.. The thread count on the nut seems to be rather low (eyeballing it looks like 28TPI AKA coarse).. seems like a finer 32TPI would do a better job? CAPNUT (Message edited by freyke on November 13, 2004) | ||
| Honu |
My 03 9r does that. Some possible causes that have been discussed on the BadWeb are loose head bearings, cupped front tire, and warped front rotor. I have retorqued my head bearings (did not help), will try a new front tire next. | ||
| Frankie123456 |
any one scan the scematics for the head bearings? and have the torque values? I looked at the front tire, dont see any eneven tire ware, rotor looks good, no pulsing when breaking, head bearings are the only thing that makes sense. Frankie (Message edited by frankie123456 on November 13, 2004) | ||
| Jlnance |
I couldn't imagine what a thread about a "violet headed snake" was about. Dyslexia can be funny sometimes. | ||
| Chainsaw |
...any one scan the scematics for the head bearings?  | ||
| Chainsaw |
Do this with the front wheel off the ground! 1. Detach clutch cable at handlebars and ensure that the throttle cables do not bind before measuring steering head bearing resistance. 2. Remove steering stem pinch fastner at upper fork clamp. 3. Loosen steering stem capnut and back off several turns. 4. Remove lower fork clamp pinch fastners, two per side. 5. Tighten steering stem cap nut to 38-42 ft-lbs (52-57 Nm) 6. Turn front wheel all the way to the right. 7. Hook a spring scale into the hole in the front axle. With the scale 90 degrees from fork leg, pull front wheel to center postition. 8. Correct resistance is between 4.5-6.5 lbs. with a maximum resistance of 7 pounds. Replace if out of tolerance. 9. Once correct resistance is verified apply Locktite 272 to steering head pinch bolt and tighten to 17-19 ft-lbs. 10. Apply Locktite 272 to lower fork clamp fastners, tighten to 13-15 ft. lbs. 11. Reattach clutch cable and adjust. A service manual is worth every penny! | ||
| Chainsaw |
...just noticed you're in Baharain, metric equivalents... 8. 2.0-2.9 kg, 3.2 kg max 9. 23-26 NM 10. 18-20 NM | ||
| Frankie123456 |
You guys f&ckin Rule! I'm an American, but I can use either.... (BS, I cant use the metric systemto save my •••.) I confuse people here about the size of the motor 60CI confuses the daylights of these guys...  | ||
| Chainsaw |
Figured you were a damn Yankee, but you might not be able to find a locally available spring scale or torque wrench in your native scale. | ||
| Firebolt1203 |
Hey Frankie, how worn is your front tire? Before I switched to dunlop 208s I let my front 207 get extremely worn. I had terrible head shake but when I replaced the tire it was gone. If your front is near the wear bars, you might just need new rubber. | ||
| Frankie123456 |
Chainsaw- yep i am a yaknee, (a bit confused, born in new yor city, raised in the south, confuses the hell out of me with the world series some days...) luckily i brought a torque wrench with me! I brought my scalled down toolbox. friebolt 1203 : tires are in good shape. that was one of my first thoughts. I am pretty sure it is the neck bearings. taking it apart the next day off. | ||
| Burner |
Dont forget to check wheelbearings,black seals are bad,orange seals are good-2003 xb |
