| Author | Message | ||
     Xring |
Finally picked up my bike...'04 XB9S. I've only got to do a couple of short rides (no tags) but have a question. I can feel/hear a little front end "thunk" when applying the brakes or over rough road. I noticed the new XB9SX at the dealer did the same thing. Is this really normal? I was thinking maybe the steering head bearings are a little loose. Bike is a factory demo with 3000 miles. Thanks, Bill | ||
| Daves  |
Have them check the bearings. Pretty sure that is what it is. | ||
| Citified |
I have heard that it is from the rotor being a full floating unit so there is a little play in it. | ||
| Glitch  |
I'm with Daves on this. Easy fix. | ||
| Blake |
Or you might be sensing normal fork stiction effects, or the edge of your brake pads seating in the calipers as they grip the disk. Does it make the same noise if you straddle the bike and pump the front end up and down by pushing/pulling on the bars with the front brake engage? | ||
| Xring |
At least some of it is the front brake pads. I can see them move when I roll the bike back and forth with the brake on. But if I roll it a little harder with the brake off, then hit the brake, there is another noise that seems to be the bearings. I haven't made a front-end lift yet; if I got the front end off the ground I could probably diagnose this myself. The dealer won't be doing it, as I had to travel to buy this bike. I'm a decent mechanic but don't have my shop manual yet...can somebody briefly give me the drill for adjusting the front bearings? I have to say thanks to all those that contribute to this forum, and the ones that put it together. The Buell community is the reason I ended up with this bike rather than a Japanese bike. Bill | ||
| Buellman39 |
You can't adjust the front wheel bearings; they are sealed; just replace them. But he is referring to the steering head bearings, which indeed do require precise preload adjustment. Blake  (Message edited by blake on February 14, 2005) | ||
| Xring |
You can't adjust the preload on the steering head bearings? Never heard of such a thing. Bill | ||
| Daves |
Yes you can. Call me tomorrow and I'll go thru the directions with you. I can also sell you a service manual while we are at it. They are worth their weight in gold! Dave 1-866-757-1651 ask for Dave in the sales dept. After 10am please. | ||
| Xring |
10-4, Dave. Thanks, Bill | ||
| Brupska  |
I agree with Daves on the steering head loose. I had the same problem on my 9S and my local dealer told me it was because I ride my Buell to hard. 2500 miles with about 600 of those on track days. So I got the Service manual and started checking the steering head bearings after each hard ride. LOL brupska | ||
| Jerseyguy  |
I had the same "thunk"at around 2K miles. It's definitely loose head bearings. It can be dangerous if not addressed. | ||
| Glitch |
StealthXB and I rode over to Shred's the other day. He mentioned he had a shake when he used the front brake, and it was getting worse. When we got to Shred's we used his torque wrench to check his bearings. Two minutes later, everything was nice again. And yes we've got a book, can't do without one if you're thinking of doing anything. Maybe a New Rider's Kit should be packaged. Parts Manual Service Manual Frame Pucks and maybe even a "Dave Stueve's guide to setting suspension" | ||
| Xring |
That fixed it. Lightly tightened the bearing preload enough to get rid of the play until I get my service manual and do it right. The pinch bolts on the upper triple clamp were lightly seized. I'll probably take those out and put some anti-seize on them later. It was almost 60-degrees here (WV) today. Put about 30 miles on after work. It sure is fun. Thanks Dave and all. Bill | ||
| Metalstorm  |
Glitch, that is a great idea! I can't believe DaveS hadn't thought of that. I'd consider that to be very first essential "must buy kit" to get for one's XB. | ||
| Crnrstr8nr |
Wow! I too just experienced this same problem. It happened to me while braking deep into a turn and was very disconcerting. I've had the bike for a month now and only put on 1300 miles. Does anyone know the torque setting for the steertube bearings? Thanx in advance | ||
| M1combat  |
XRing - If the manual doesn't indicate that there should be anti-sieze on those bolts, I don't think you should put it there. Also, be very careful when loosening the triple clamp bolts. | ||
| Crnrstr8nr |
Decided to see if I could replicate my thunk with the bike standing still and rocking while holding the front brake. Sure enuf there is a definate click (clunk while riding). Placed hand over triple clamp at the head tube and felt no resonations though I was reproducing the the click. It seems it might be coming from the rotor?? Is this a possibility? | ||
| Starter |
I'm with Crnrstr8nr on this one - you've hit my hypothesis on the head. I've tightened head bearings till I'm blue in the face, arms and legs and for the life of me I can't get rid of the movement and clunky feeling. I've put it on a front stand, held the axle and shook it to feel no movement, but as soon as I take it off, hold the brakes and bounce the forks there is definately clunking. I've used every different way of lifting the front end known to man, I've taken the forks off to check straightness and smooth operation, I've locktited every possible bolt involved and sure enough the clunking comes back and week or so later (which would only be about 20-30 miles in my case). I am convinced it is the rotor, and the tightening only provides a placebo for next ride. I'm not saying that the clunking some feel isn;t head bearing related, but once you've adjusted it as many times as I have the brake rotor maving slightly becomes the only other explanation. (Message edited by starter on February 20, 2005) | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
You sure its not fork related? Possibly bottoming out just barely? HD's have in the past come from the factory with either not enough fluid in the forks or its simply too light of weight of fluid. With my Dyna there was a clunk & I tried tightening everything. Ended up being the fork oil needed to have a little more than 1 oz more in each tube being added. I also went with the slightly thicker screaming eagle stuff. Problem solved for me. | ||
| Xring |
Mine was the steering head bearings. I could put my thumb on the stem so it was touching the top of the triple clamp and the frame; clamp the front brake and rock it back and forth, and feel the relative movement of the fork assembly. I tightened it enough to get rid of obvious play, until I get the shop manual to get the official procedure. The brake pads also move back and forth a little bit, but that isn't the action that I'm hearing/feeling when riding. M1, I'm afraid that the pinch bolts on the top triple clamp are experiencing the steel vs. aluminum seizing phenomenon. Two of the three bolts were very tight, even after they "let go"; they resisted until they were almost completely out. I don't think a little bit of anti-seize (a little goes a long way) on the threads and the seating surface of the bolt head would hurt anything, and it would stop the electron-swapping if that is what is happening there. I may be completely wrong about this. But something wrong is happening on those bolts; maybe they have been incorrectly tightened before and the bolts or the tapped holes have some bad threads. I did't see any sign of Loctite on the bolts, but I'll look at them closer when I have it apart again. You're right about being careful when loosening those bolts; looks like a good way to scratch up the bike and/or mash a finger. Thanks, Bill (Message edited by xring on February 20, 2005) | ||
| Crnrstr8nr |
I dont think its that as im not able to bottom out my fork at a standstill. Although the time i got it real bad was under hard braking into a turn. I can replicate it while just holding the front brake and rocking the bike back and forth. according to my EARS monitoring device the sound seemed to be coming frome either the rotor or the caliper. As to the fork its a pretty good showa unit and i think Buell themselves put them together and I cant imagine them specing to lite of an oil. Still waiting for what the torque settings are for the steering head, anyone? If and when i get I'll try tightning the head bearings and see if that cures it. | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
If you are holding the brake & rocking it then I seriously doubt the noise is rotor related as the force from the brake caliper holding it would be more than enough to stop any movement. And those calipers are mounted pretty securely as well. Are your axle bearings in good shape? | ||
| Crnrstr8nr |
They better be in excellent shape, the bike only has 1350 miles that i put on her. As to the rocking im not rocking hard im just moving a little (no compression on the fork) and it is clicking. I put my hand over the steering head and felt no resonating. But in any case there is definitely something amiss. |
