mcn reviewing '08 klr

[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.

[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

[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

[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. >

[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

[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

[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]

[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!

[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.

[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.