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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archives OSB 001 » Archive through July 31, 2005 » 2001 S3T Steering head bearing. « Previous Next »

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Johnnylunchbox
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 11:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I believe I am gettting a little bit of a cluck from my steering head bearing. I though it was supposed to be adjusted at my 1k service, but I don't think it was done.

Anyhow, my question is do I have to do all that checking with the spring scale as per the service manual, or should I just raise the front end and torque the bearing down to spec.

My thinking is that if I torque it to spec and I get no more clunking and the steering doesn't bind at all, then I am ok. Am I being unrealistic?

Steve
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Denfromphilly
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 12:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Haven't a clue but love your handle...what Monty Burns says...Den
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Rick_a
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 01:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I do it by feel. The spring scale things works, though. I don't think there is a spec for the adjustment bolt, just for the triple tree bolts.
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Bomber
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 02:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

no spec for the vearing adjusment bolt -- easy to overdo -- go ahead, guess how I know?
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Johnnylunchbox
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 02:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Denfromphilly - Did he say that, or was it JohnnyLunchPail or something like that.

Rick_a - thats what I figured. I'll just snug it until it feels right.

Bomber - I have to ask. What happened? Did the front end bind up on you?
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Bomber
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 02:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mr Box -- nossir, it didn't.

It DID, however, develop a nice detent, just off dead-nuts center, to make it easier to ride a 14.7 kilometer cirlce, though

handy, that
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Tramp
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 08:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

if you've got a *cluck*, i wouldn't think that snugging it down will help much.
sounds like grinnelling, time to change the bearings. easy enough job, although sometimes the lower won't "drop off"* with heat, so using a grinder or cutppf wheel becomes easier.
*buell workshop manual, S3
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Whodom
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 09:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

sounds like grinnelling

That's "brinelling", as in Brinell hardness test. Read more here:

http://www.precisionspindle.com/brinelling.htm
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Tramp
Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 09:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

it's 'grinnelling' when your hamfisted right index finger accidentally strikes the key above the "B" on your keyboard (thaaaaaat'd be the "G" key, ladies and germs...) and you break into a wide, idiotic smile when it's pointed out by "whodothere" (name the song)
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Bluzm2
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 12:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That would be a CCR tune, Born on the Bayou
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Johnnylunchbox
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 12:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The cluck is more of a clunk. And would brinelling occur with only 1800 miles on the clock?

I think they just never did the adjustment.

I guess I won't know until I try. I'll have to get an allen socket for the torque wrench. I don't seem to have the right size.

thanks for the replies
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Whodom
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 06:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Tramp, the older I get, the more able my mind is to out-run my fingers.

JLB- Do you feel the clunk when you turn the handlebars lock to lock, or do you feel a clunk if you set the front brake and attempt to roll the bike backwards and forwards? If you feel a clunk when you turn the handlebars, your bearing race(s) may be hosed. If you feel the clunk when attempting to roll the bike with the brake on, the adjustment should cure the problem.

A roller bearing can take immense loads if it's properly pre-loaded. If your steering bearings were allowed to get really loose, and you hard-landed after a wheelie, or hit a good pothole or rough railroad crossing, you could definitely dent the bearing race(s). If this happened, even after the bearings are properly adjusted you'll feel a distinct "clunk" when the rollers roll across the dent in the race. The only way to cure that is to replace the bearings.
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Tramp
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 09:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

i've found that brinnelling (whew!) can be felt when turning the front end through it's full range when parked. if the clunk occurs when the frontend is fully neutral (facing fwd) , it's likely indicating bearing replacement. if it's not to definitively 'notchy', it's just loose.
Bluzm2- NICE work!
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Johnnylunchbox
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 01:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Whodom...it is when I hold the front brake and shift the bike forward or backward. I don't feel it when i turn from lock to lock.

tramp - this bike was and still is babied. I think it is just loose. I'll try an adjust this weekend.

Thanks guys.
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Road_thing
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 01:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Well, if you've really got a "cluck" in your steering head bearing, it's probably time to get the chicken out of there.

Bluz really chased that one down quick, didn't he?

rt
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Bomber
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 01:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

scarey, the data that oldies stations and Nick At Night are transmitting, ain't it?
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