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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Well, for about two months I've had a steering issue. With 50,000 miles I figured I need to examine the steering bearings. What clued me was the bike started to wander some and felt a little sticky. Sure enough I found they could use a dab of grease, so I greased them up and put them back together and torque the headnut. From there it felt sloppy and would wander worse than before. I'm not talking wandering in either case like all over the road, it just didn't feel tight and it was susceptable to irregularities in the road.
I made sure that there was nothing wrong with the tire since it had not be changed out since this began I begin to wonder if the bearings where shot. On inspection they looked okay, but ask the dealer to stock them just in case.
Monday I decided to tighten the nut a little more since it felt loose and the manual even alludes to that tactic. So I tighten down the nut more and I get it too tight. Now it was worse than the orignal problem and it was very sticky.
So last night by the light of the moon I tear into her again and loosen the nut. Not knowing what to expect I rode it today to work.
Well, it is back to her old self again. That steering bearing has a lot of bearing on how this bike handles, much more than I expected.
If you're Vision doesn't feel like it is riding on a rail, get the steering nut checked. |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | Great suggestion, at 40K mine is starting to feel a little different, will check tire pressure first but the bearing is something I will look at also.
mike |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | How much torque did you use? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I used what the book called for, rotate and backoff the first time, I forget at the moment, I think it is 39. Apparently it didn't seat well I figure because of the looseness. Then I just tightened it "some" and that was when it felt stiff. I just backed off of the "some" torque and it all feels well. The info is in the manual.
The thing that got me was the book says to check the play in the bearing by graping the forks and feeling for the play. I can't do that on my motorcycle jack as there is too much play in the jack to safety feel the play in the bearing. But it goes on to say to tighten until the play is gone.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
A comment to mkultra's post, correct, anyone finding the bike feeling different check all that other stuff first before ripping into the steering nut. Of course, go by the service intervals to lube and reassemble, something that is best done by your dealer tech.
I've had the bike feel funny before which turned out to be low tire pressure or worn and ready to change. This 'sode the bike was feeling notchy rolling down the highway like it couldn't keep a target bead. It never lead me astray, it just didn't feel right and I couldn't be precise as the Vision has always proven to be.
Considering the miles and that all else was good I determined it had to be the bearin's since I had never dug into them up until that point. In the past couple of months the few times I've had to pull and look, I can do the manuever in just a few hours. If it starts giving me problems again, I'll pull the tree and have the dealer replace the bearings, of course I've got to remove the races and install myself.
Edited by varyder 2010-01-20 12:02 PM
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Central Wisconsin |
varyder - 2010-01-20 11:54 AM I used what the book called for, rotate and backoff the first time, I forget at the moment, I think it is 39. Apparently it didn't seat well I figure because of the looseness. Then I just tightened it "some" and that was when it felt stiff. I just backed off of the "some" torque and it all feels well. The info is in the manual. The thing that got me was the book says to check the play in the bearing by graping the forks and feeling for the play. I can't do that on my motorcycle jack as there is too much play in the jack to safety feel the play in the bearing. But it goes on to say to tighten until the play is gone. Good information! 
I see the manual states 29lbs-ft on the bearing lock nut. When I replaced the steering head bearings in my other bike. I torqued the bearings with the forks off. 
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | thanks for pointing that out, when I type this earlier I didn't have the book in front of me, so I gave the "think" disclaimer. Memory is shorter than it used to be that is why I encourage the book. When reassembling the tubes are not in yet so you could torque without the forks.
This is the note I was referring too....
(note_5_degrees.jpg)
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 note_5_degrees.jpg (44KB - 3 downloads)
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Central Wisconsin | varyder - 2010-01-21 7:25 PM thanks for pointing that out, when I type this earlier I didn't have the book in front of me, so I gave the "think" disclaimer. Memory is shorter than it used to be that is why I encourage the book. When reassembling the tubes are not in yet so you could torque without the forks. This is the note I was referring too.... Your welcome! Just curious when you tighten your bearing lock nut did you only remove your center console and handlebars or more? 
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | When I did the original packing I jacked it up off the wheel and pulled the forks out of the top plate. I pulled it down far enough to spin and grease the bearings and look at the race.
This time I just pulled the top out, console and handlebars. I wouldn't recommend anyone else to do it that way though. I did put up on the jack and attempt to check the forks for play, but that didn't go over very well. |
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Central Wisconsin | varyder - 2010-01-21 9:44 PM When I did the original packing I jacked it up off the wheel and pulled the forks out of the top plate. I pulled it down far enough to spin and grease the bearings and look at the race. This time I just pulled the top out, console and handlebars. I wouldn't recommend anyone else to do it that way though. I did put up on the jack and attempt to check the forks for play, but that didn't go over very well. Thanks for the information. Hopefully I can get a few years of riding in first and save the steering head bearing inspect/adjustment or replacement for a winter project. Man you really rack up the miles. Between my two bikes I'm only putting on around 15,000 miles a year. 
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