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Old 16-10-09, 07:13 PM   #1
boot
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Default Headstock bearing play

Pretty sure that's what the issue is. Don't have the means to get the bike's front wheel off the ground to check, but holding the front brake on hard and giving a good shunt, there's visible movement and it doesn't feel right.

Don't believe it's wheel bearings, discs or pads. It's not enough to make riding uncomfortable, but enough to know I should do something before it gets worse.

So, can this easily be rectified without removing half the front-end (again)? Can something be nipped up?
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Old 16-10-09, 07:15 PM   #2
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Default Re: Headstock bearing play

Should be an adjuster under the top yoke. You'll need a C spanner to tighten it
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Old 16-10-09, 08:03 PM   #3
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Default Re: Headstock bearing play

Quote:
Originally Posted by maviczap View Post
Should be an adjuster under the top yoke. You'll need a C spanner to tighten it
Or if you're a bit of a cowboy, I've heard a flathead screwdriver and a hammer do pretty much the same job

If you want to make use of a jack I'm not too far away (South sheffield)
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Old 19-10-09, 02:36 PM   #4
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Default Re: Headstock bearing play

If you can see movement, then that's definitely the problem - usually you feel it but can't quite see it. Yes tighten it up and see, but look out for a notchy feel esp with the bars centred - when the bearings are loose there's slop in them, unlike normal, and the balls will hammer the races and make dents, and then they're scrap.
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Old 19-10-09, 04:41 PM   #5
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Default Re: Headstock bearing play

Borrow a person. they should be able to pop the front into the air on the side stand.
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Old 20-10-09, 02:22 AM   #6
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Default Re: Headstock bearing play

Sosha's quite right, as are the others who've suggested / offered assistance. It's very easy to overtighten headraces when adjusting them, this leads to the bike weaving slightly as there's a little friction stopping the bars straightening up perfectly. It will also dramaticly reduce the life the bearings have left.

Loosen the bottom yoke clamps off, then the top steering stem nut, then tighten the ridged nut underneath the top yoke. Tighten it untill there's the smallest amount of resistance. Ideally you want there to be a little play in the head races until the steering stem nut is torqed back up. Don't forget to have a bounce on the front end, then do up the bottom yoke bolts.

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Old 20-10-09, 01:30 PM   #7
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Default Re: Headstock bearing play

The issue seems to be slack not tigth bearings. You don't need to slacken the pinch bolts to adjust it - maybe the top ones as the top yoke sits above the adjuster.
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