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help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 5:31 pm
by Yan
A month or two ago I started noticing this slight knock in the
steering wheel while braking. It was slowly getting worse until today
it became so obvious I could no longer ignore it. A colleague
suggested (among other things) front bearings as a possible cause. So
I took the front wheel off my '06 with 6,000 miles on it and I noticed
that the front axle has some serious radial play when you insert it
into the bearings with the wheel off the bike. I put the spacer on and
the speedo thing on and put the axle through and I can easily move it
up and down a tiny bit. Question - is this normal? If it is not normal
(and I suspect that is the source of the knock) then what has gone
wrong - the axle or the bearings? I rotated the bearings by hand and
they seem to move smoothly with an occasional rough spot (or so it
seems). Any ideas? Thanks.
P.S. If you think the bearings are shot then do you think I have a
chance to get it done under warranty - the bike is less than a year
old? If you think the dealership or Kawasaki refuses to fix that under
warranty what could their arguments be? And my counter arguments in
this case? Thanks.
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:50 pm
by Jeff Saline
On Tue, 01 May 2007 22:29:13 -0000 "Yan" writes:
> A month or two ago I started noticing this slight knock in the
> steering wheel while braking. It was slowly getting worse until
> today
> it became so obvious I could no longer ignore it. A colleague
> suggested (among other things) front bearings as a possible cause.
> So
> I took the front wheel off my '06 with 6,000 miles on it and I
> noticed
> that the front axle has some serious radial play when you insert it
> into the bearings with the wheel off the bike. I put the spacer on
> and
> the speedo thing on and put the axle through and I can easily move
> it
> up and down a tiny bit. Question - is this normal? If it is not
> normal
> (and I suspect that is the source of the knock) then what has gone
> wrong - the axle or the bearings? I rotated the bearings by hand
> and
> they seem to move smoothly with an occasional rough spot (or so it
> seems). Any ideas? Thanks.
>
> P.S. If you think the bearings are shot then do you think I have a
> chance to get it done under warranty - the bike is less than a year
> old? If you think the dealership or Kawasaki refuses to fix that
> under
> warranty what could their arguments be? And my counter arguments in
> this case? Thanks.
<><><><><><><><><>
<><><><><><><><><>
Yan,
Does the axle slip through the inner races of the bearings with a very
close fit or is it sloppy loose in the races?
The races are the center solid portion of the bearings.
If the axle is a tight fit and it's the race moving about I'd suggest
there is a problem with the bearings.
I don't remember off the top of my head if there are reducing spacers on
the KLR front wheel which allow the axle to be a tight fit with the
bearing.
Anybody remember about reducers on the KLR???
Best,
Jeff Saline
ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal
Airheads Beemer Club
www.airheads.org
The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota
75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:47 pm
by Yan
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote:
>
> On Tue, 01 May 2007 22:29:13 -0000 "Yan" writes:
> > A month or two ago I started noticing this slight knock in the
> > steering wheel while braking. It was slowly getting worse until
> > today
> > it became so obvious I could no longer ignore it. A colleague
> > suggested (among other things) front bearings as a possible cause.
> > So
> > I took the front wheel off my '06 with 6,000 miles on it and I
> > noticed
> > that the front axle has some serious radial play when you insert it
> > into the bearings with the wheel off the bike. I put the spacer on
> > and
> > the speedo thing on and put the axle through and I can easily move
> > it
> > up and down a tiny bit. Question - is this normal? If it is not
> > normal
> > (and I suspect that is the source of the knock) then what has gone
> > wrong - the axle or the bearings? I rotated the bearings by hand
> > and
> > they seem to move smoothly with an occasional rough spot (or so it
> > seems). Any ideas? Thanks.
> >
> > P.S. If you think the bearings are shot then do you think I have a
> > chance to get it done under warranty - the bike is less than a year
> > old? If you think the dealership or Kawasaki refuses to fix that
> > under
> > warranty what could their arguments be? And my counter arguments in
> > this case? Thanks.
> <><><><><><><><><>
> <><><><><><><><><>
>
> Yan,
>
> Does the axle slip through the inner races of the bearings with a very
> close fit or is it sloppy loose in the races?
>
> The races are the center solid portion of the bearings.
>
> If the axle is a tight fit and it's the race moving about I'd suggest
> there is a problem with the bearings.
>
> I don't remember off the top of my head if there are reducing spacers on
> the KLR front wheel which allow the axle to be a tight fit with the
> bearing.
>
> Anybody remember about reducers on the KLR???
>
> Best,
>
> Jeff Saline
> ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal
> Airheads Beemer Club
www.airheads.org
> The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota
> 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT
Jeff, thanks for trying to help me first of all. I will try to answer
the best I can. I don't actually see bearings inside, just a solid
tube (front axle collar it's called on the microfiche) that runs
throughout. The axle goes through that tube. It's a very tight fit on
the right hand side (speedo side), but loose on the left hand side
(brake side). I can't see if the axle is worn out or this tube, no
visible wear, but I guess it doesn't take much to create a bit of
play. I am puzzled (on top of being upset of course).
Thanks again,
Yan
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 9:56 pm
by dooden
I am going out on a limb and going to suggest that the steering head
bearings are loose.
Is the noise kinda like a clunking sound ? Mine was like that shortly
after receipt, mainly noticed driving off curbs and going over speed
bumps, basically when the front tire would drop down quickly.
If you have a manual the adjustment should be in there or heck since
it is under warr. they should be able to do that for ya.
Dooden
A15 Green Ape
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Yan" wrote:
>
> A month or two ago I started noticing this slight knock in the
> steering wheel while braking. It was slowly getting worse until today
> it became so obvious I could no longer ignore it. A colleague
> suggested (among other things) front bearings as a possible cause. So
> I took the front wheel off my '06 with 6,000 miles on it and I noticed
> that the front axle has some serious radial play when you insert it
> into the bearings with the wheel off the bike. I put the spacer on and
> the speedo thing on and put the axle through and I can easily move it
> up and down a tiny bit. Question - is this normal? If it is not normal
> (and I suspect that is the source of the knock) then what has gone
> wrong - the axle or the bearings? I rotated the bearings by hand and
> they seem to move smoothly with an occasional rough spot (or so it
> seems). Any ideas? Thanks.
>
> P.S. If you think the bearings are shot then do you think I have a
> chance to get it done under warranty - the bike is less than a year
> old? If you think the dealership or Kawasaki refuses to fix that under
> warranty what could their arguments be? And my counter arguments in
> this case? Thanks.
>
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:10 pm
by Yan
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dooden" wrote:
>
> I am going out on a limb and going to suggest that the steering head
> bearings are loose.
>
> Is the noise kinda like a clunking sound ? Mine was like that shortly
> after receipt, mainly noticed driving off curbs and going over speed
> bumps, basically when the front tire would drop down quickly.
>
> If you have a manual the adjustment should be in there or heck since
> it is under warr. they should be able to do that for ya.
>
> Dooden
> A15 Green Ape
Thanks Dooden,
It still puzzles me as to why there is a play in between the front
axle and the front axle collar on the left hand side. If it wasn't for
this loose fit I would've been sure it is something in the steering head.
Yan
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:56 pm
by Yan
Pulled the forks up with the front wheel off and heard this clunking
noise. I guess you guys are right and it's the steering bearing that
need to be adjusted. I looked in the manual and it seems like there is
a special tool required (pin spanner wrench) to tighten the adjust nut
(not the steering stem nut, but the one underneath it). Do you think
it can somehow be done without this special tool?
Thanks,
Yan
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 1:48 am
by John Biccum
Use a large screwdriver to tap the adjustment nut. No need for a spanner
wrench. Use of hatchet is optional.
http://johnbiccum.smugmug.com/gallery/2549433#136743798
_____
From:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Yan
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 20:56
To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Help needed with knocking in the front end
Pulled the forks up with the front wheel off and heard this clunking
noise. I guess you guys are right and it's the steering bearing that
need to be adjusted. I looked in the manual and it seems like there is
a special tool required (pin spanner wrench) to tighten the adjust nut
(not the steering stem nut, but the one underneath it). Do you think
it can somehow be done without this special tool?
Thanks,
Yan
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 6:55 am
by Yan
> Use a large screwdriver to tap the adjustment nut. No need for a
spanner
> wrench. Use of hatchet is optional.
Thanks, that's great!
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 8:40 am
by revmaaatin
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Yan" wrote:
>
> A month or two ago I started noticing this slight knock in the
> steering wheel while braking. It was slowly getting worse until
today
> it became so obvious I could no longer ignore it. A colleague
> suggested (among other things) front bearings as a possible cause.
So
> I took the front wheel off my '06 with 6,000 miles on it and I
noticed
> that the front axle has some serious radial play when you insert it
> into the bearings with the wheel off the bike. I put the spacer on
and
> the speedo thing on and put the axle through and I can easily move
it
> up and down a tiny bit. Question - is this normal? If it is not
normal
> (and I suspect that is the source of the knock) then what has gone
> wrong - the axle or the bearings? I rotated the bearings by hand and
> they seem to move smoothly with an occasional rough spot (or so it
> seems). Any ideas? Thanks.
>
> P.S. If you think the bearings are shot then do you think I have a
> chance to get it done under warranty - the bike is less than a year
> old? If you think the dealership or Kawasaki refuses to fix that
under
> warranty what could their arguments be? And my counter arguments in
> this case? Thanks.
>
Hello Yan,
While you have the front end suspended, you should check the steering
head bearings. That knock that you hear could easily be the steering
head bearings loading/unloading.
The proper tension on the bearings would be a 'slight drag', that is
the wheel does not flop easily l/r when there is no weight on the
front end.
As for you other concern, mount the wheel, use a torque wrench to
tighten the axle nut and see if you can still feel the 'radial'
play. I would suspect that with the wheel suspended and you tugging
on it fore/aft, you will hear the clunk in the steering head bearings.
revmaaatin.
help needed with knocking in the front end
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 9:51 am
by Yan
Thanks! I actually went to the garage this morning to see the setup
and touched the locking nut of the steering head. Guess what, it was
so loose it just moved! I will adjust the steering head bearings
tonight and will see, hopefully the play in the front axle is nothing,
I can't believe both the steering head and the wheel bearings gone
bad, unless one problem caused the other.