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Cruiser
Posts: 161
Tampa, Fl United States | I've had my Vision for 5 yrs w/approx 40,000 miles
Today at approx 45 mph my front end deicided to do a Death Front End Wobble out of nowhere!!!
tire pressures are good,no wind or road factor to speak of
Soon as it happen I took a death grip and decrease in speed to stop it, pulled over to exam front end & came up empty handed.
Has this happen to anyone & what could be some of the solutions?
No unusual noises or excessive play
FRED
Edited by turbobuick 2013-12-01 9:21 PM
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Central Wisconsin | I haven't had that happen. Sounds like the Steering Head Bearings should be inspected, possibly replaced and torqued to spec. |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | I had it happen to me on an HD. That dealer "repaired" it by adjusting the steering head torque to the specified value for that bike, which involved taking the wheel off the ground and watching how many swings the forks would make if you started from the steering at one lock and released the steering to let it fall back to the center. Before and after it happened the steering felt just right to me but the relatively minor correction to steering head torque made the death wobble stop. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | You can't really "feel" any excessive play with the bike sitting on the ground. The steering bearing inspection is a regular 15,000 mile preventive maintenance. There is only one way to inspect the bearing and that is to pull the forks and tree. Another thing, the air filter is directly in front of the tree that runs down through the cast frame. If you ride in the rain, you'll will get moisture in there that will seep into the bearing, lesson learn on my part. That just means you have to check it more often. I've done my own maintenance on the bearings since my dealer failed to properly do my 15,000 mile check-up. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | I am really getting disillusioned with the front end of the Vision. Possible front fender cracks; fork oil and steering bearing checks every 15K...
One of the major reasons for purchasing my Vision; was the perceived limited maintenance required ie: no valve checks. Hidden in the fine print though was the front end.... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| where u slowing down? or at a steady speed? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | willtill - 2013-12-02 9:54 AM I am really getting disillusioned with the front end of the Vision. Possible front fender cracks; fork oil and steering bearing checks every 15K... One of the major reasons for purchasing my Vision; was the perceived limited maintenance required ie: no valve checks. Hidden in the fine print though was the front end.... I wouldn't will. My disillusioned came at around 30,000 miles when my steering got notchy. Given that I had the bike at the dealer for the 15,000, I questioned if they even checked the steering bearing when they pulled the forks. I knew they had done the fork tubes by the mess they left behind but no evidences of pulling the triple tree, but they said they did. At 30,000 the bearing was dry as a bone. I threw some lube in and put up with it until my 45,000 miles service and when I replaced the bearings. I slapped the grease there without replacing the bearing and at 45,000 there was still plenty of lube. After I replaced the bearing at 45,000 and lubed it good, I didn't have any problems with it until around 80,000 or 90,000 miles (I don't keep good maintenance records). At that time it was a little sticky so I pulled the tree, lubed it like it is and now I've got 151,200 miles on the bike and it seems to be doing very well. If you inspect 15,000 that is reasonable, chances are you just need a little bit of lubing to do. You need a spanner socket to remove the tree, I made my own. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | Mine is starting to headshake. It happens when slowing down, in gear, clutch out, and no hands on the bars. My hands have to be completely off the bars. If I am barely touching the bars with just one finger it won't wobble. Pull finger away, it wobbles. The headshake starts at approx 45mph and ends approx 30mph (decelerating). I thought it was due to the oddly worn front tire. Maybe I should check my headset bearings.??? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | The headbearing torque needs to be dead on, not that hard if you have the tool and follow the manual. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Had my wobble came at 80 on a h-d street glide. It will make you crap your pants and the bars shack side to side and not even Hulk can stop the shack.
Is your bike lowered in the back?
What is air psi in shock?
Check rear tire over with flash light look for bad tread or tire not seated to rim.
Cold be bad swing arm bearing or wheel bearing.
Sport bike riders all say the wobble comes from the rear and transfers forward |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I don't know of ANY motorcycle not susceptible to the shakes. Bearings, tire wear and wheel weights all can start it going. Even cars get the shakes, it's just not as critical.
Chris, if your not keeping good service records, how do you plan on getting a good resale price? ;-) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 226
on the edge of Los Angeles | <p>Ill try this again...<br /></p>
Edited by JSP 2013-12-02 10:45 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 226
on the edge of Los Angeles | Here in So-CaL its not as wet as VA or the North East so your results may vary. That head bearing needs to be addressed at times if you put on the miles.
This is what I have done on my 08 for your reference...
8/13/11 63,500 Front end work Service Head bearing M-1 Grease
1/12/13 87,000 Front Fork work New Bushings & Seals Bel Ray 10 wt Original Bushings were still OK Minimal wear.
1/12/13 87,000 Front end work Service Head bearing M-1 Grease
12/1/13 101,500 Front end work Adjust Head Bearing 1/16 turn tighter ( Using Victory Specs)
I would say that the biggest improvement was the first time I did the head bearing service. I tend to pack enough grease around the lower bearing to act as a barrier for dirt and moisture.
VaRyder is a good reference to the life of these machines and what can/ has failed / worn out.
Yes I have done the maintenance myself and changed some parts along the way Tires, Oil , Headlights, Taillights, Starter, Shock, and a Timesert too!
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Cruiser
Posts: 161
Tampa, Fl United States | jeffmack - 2013-12-02 12:45 PM
where u slowing down? or at a steady speed?
I was accellerating slowing to approx 45 mph
good tires and pressure
i can run my vision at highway speeds handsfree with no wobble or shakes
1st and only time this happen
jack up bike to get front end up, no front to back play or left to right
any thoughts? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | It's really hard to check on a motorcycle Jack. I would check the head nut torque. Well it's probably time to check and lube. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | It's really hard to check on a motorcycle Jack. I would check the head nut torque. Well it's probably time to check and lube. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | 68K and never touched the fork oil , never inspected steering head bearings and no cracked fender. Performs flawlessly willtill. Ain't broke don't fix it. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 7
Port Charlotte fl. | My 08 vision did same thing have 45000 miles after inspecting found rear tire badly chopped, replaced rear tire no more shake. Hope that helps u.
Edited by visionman08 2013-12-05 10:22 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| as long as you were around 45mph it just might have been road
if you want to check to see if front end is loose walk a long side bike and walk it into curb. No need for any power. If its loose you will feel it move when tire hits curb |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 804
Perry Hall, MD | I've had the dealer service the front end and have not had any problems there. With that said, I would suggest that you don't disregard the recommendations to also look closely at the rear end for problems. For some reason on the Vision the tail really does wag the dog. Every time I pull into my driveway when the rear tire hits the curb (high round shape) it causes the front end to shake. Never experienced that with other bikes. |
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | visionman08 - 2013-12-05 9:20 AM
My 08 vision did same thing have 45000 miles after inspecting found rear tire badly chopped, replaced rear tire no more shake. Hope that helps u.
First time I put a ct on the rear had a really bad front end wobble. They had not balanced the rear tire properly. Perhaps you threw a weight?
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| victoryvisiontour - 2013-12-02 3:09 PM
Mine is starting to headshake. It happens when slowing down, in gear, clutch out, and no hands on the bars. My hands have to be completely off the bars. If I am barely touching the bars with just one finger it won't wobble. Pull finger away, it wobbles. The headshake starts at approx 45mph and ends approx 30mph (decelerating). I thought it was due to the oddly worn front tire. Maybe I should check my headset bearings.???
Last year my front E3 was causing a noticeable wobble around 35-30 on decel. Once that tire was replaced it was fine. It was not the dreaded death wobble.
Be safe guys. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | check all the other things you wish, I would check the head bearing first, unless you want to go through the pain and expence of having it replaced instead of slapping a little lube on it. |
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Glendale, AZ United States | On my Vision I will feel a little wobble at low speed in the parking lot while turning, but this goes away immediately at speed and even at slower speeds when making a turn while approaching a green light. I would start with the easy stuff like checking your tire pressure and making sure the pressure in the rear shock is appropriate then tackle the steering head. In my neck of the woods the 30K services is over 600 bucks and who knows if they really go through the bike like they are supposed to do. Time is money and whether they finish the job in 2 hours as opposed to 5 the bill is the same. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| turbobuick
you find any thing wrong yet? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 161
Tampa, Fl United States | Found nothing, took it to the dealer & tech drove it & he says its fine
Hasn't done it again
I asked if they could check & re-grease/re-torque head bearings & they said its a 4-5 hr job due to having to take the forks out (approx $300) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 161
Tampa, Fl United States | varyder - 2013-12-06 8:41 AM
check all the other things you wish, I would check the head bearing first, unless you want to go through the pain and expence of having it replaced instead of slapping a little lube on it.
If I took it to dealer to do the above mention, how much shop time you think it should take?
I already asked for a quote I asked if they could check & re-grease head bearings & they said its a 4-5 hr job due to having to take the forks out (approx $300)
if thats the case I might as well have them change fork oil while they're at it (had it done 20k ago but don't like how it dives when front brakes are applied)
Any thoughts?
FRED |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Happened to a friend of mine on an HD after a tire change. Apparently he wasn't notified of their tool giveaway promo. A small tool was found inside the front wheel where the bearings are. the mechanic said he never could get it to balance properly. No wonder. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | turbobuick - 2013-12-11 8:32 PM varyder - 2013-12-06 8:41 AM check all the other things you wish, I would check the head bearing first, unless you want to go through the pain and expence of having it replaced instead of slapping a little lube on it. If I took it to dealer to do the above mention, how much shop time you think it should take? I already asked for a quote I asked if they could check & re-grease head bearings & they said its a 4-5 hr job due to having to take the forks out (approx $300) if thats the case I might as well have them change fork oil while they're at it (had it done 20k ago but don't like how it dives when front brakes are applied) Any thoughts? FRED Knowing rates and the amount of work, that's about right. If you're inclined and have the manual, you could do it yourself. |
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1st Time I had a Serious Death like Front End Wobble, Please Chime in!!!