Front End Problems...

[Cutter]

It will be difficult to describe my problem, but I will try to keep it short...

I have been noticing a small bit of leaking from my forks, just some smearing around the seals heavier on the right side.

The other day while I was turning in a parking lot, I felt a "hitch/small pop?" from the front end, kind of like something was binding...

When I looked at the front wheel, I noticed the wheel bearing cover(right side) had popped out? - I pressed it back in and everything seemed fine...

I brought it in to the dealer for some tach issues - they agreed there was a hitch in the neck bearings, and pretty extensive wear in the forks, and said that they would order bearings and forks, but did not think it would be too bad to ride.

To and from work was no problem, but I took the OL out to play cards and about 15 miles from home(1/2 way), the "hitch/pop" started happening more and more.

I noticed that my front fender was right up against my tire, and I assumed it was binding on the tire and "popping".
Loosened up the allen bolts and used pieces of zip ties to "shim" it and was on the road again.

A few miles down the road, and the same thing, but more frequently and violently.
I tried to watch the wleel(diffficult on a busy road(M59) with the OL on back), and noticed that it would start to wobble, pop, and the wheel bearing seal would pop out.

Limped home with hazards at 25mph and called the dealer for pickup?

Could this be from binding of the forks?

Or something in the wheel bearing?

I did hold the wheel and had the OL crank the handle bars from side to side and could feel any slop, and haven't noticed any other unusual noises?

The hitching/popping would happen just as much going straight on smooth road.

I am at 17,000miles and glad I got a couple months added to my warranty from a shifter pawl debacle that BDM added 6 months to my warranty.

 

[Gas Man]

At 17k have you ever did the bearings? They are suppose to be done at 10k. I'm putting my money on the bearings.. but may also want to get the fork seals and oil done while you're at it.

 

[Cutter]

At 17k have you ever did the bearings? They are suppose to be done at 10k. I'm putting my money on the bearings.. but may also want to get the fork seals and oil done while you're at it.

They are replacing the neck bearings, fork tubes, bushings, seals, and the whole 9 yards... xxxcessive wear - they even told me not to do any more wheelies... :bang:

They did my bearings at the 10,000 as well, but I have a CNC machine at work that we just replaced bearings less than a year ago and they are shot as well... no abuse and they were supposed to last 5 years... gotta love our multi-billion dollar per year "quality control" industry :down:

They also did the wheel bearings, but no grinding or unusual noise

 

[Gas Man]

The fork tubes too!! WOW!!

And I think Raywood has had bearings go out that fast too. Luck of the draw I guess.

 

[Alicat]

Damn Cuter, you gotta stop doing hose wheelies LOL!!!!
Sorry to hear your dog is down, did they say for how long?
Al

 

[alhall88]

The 41 mm fork tubes are hard chromed and unless they're bent its hard to believe they are worn but I wouldn't turn down a free set either. Make sure they change the races as well in the neck bearings and don't just replace the roller section. Sounds like most of the issue is somewhere in the lowers, that's the only thing that would cause that popping noise and the tire hitting inside the fender.

 

[reddog]

SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY FORKS,THEY REPLACED THEM TOO

 

[Roaddawg]

That sounds and appears visually to be exactly what I recently experienced (June 2008) with only 3,000 miles on a set of bearings. The front wheel bearing on the rotor side fell apart. Initially there were some funny noises, then vibration from the front. The brake felt funny (and I originally thought it was a brake issue) and I continued on. Then shaking and shimmying, finally pulled over under a streetlight and observed that the rubber seal of the bearing was present and loose, but the rest of the bearing appeared to be gone! Had the front bearings replaced and all is well.

 

[Chopper Dave]

damn Cutty....sorry to hear your bike is down... hope you will be back on the road soon....we need to go for a ride!

 

[Raywood]

Mine leak so bad that I'm suprised there is still oil in the tubes!!!
My frontend was service by Tampa BD when I had the bike shipped there earlier this year. The service tech Shannon told me my tubes are shot. The seals have worn down the hard chrome and now wearing even faster. New tubes this winter. I am controlling the leak by stuffing small strips of shop towels in the fork cover.

I just got new races and bearings for the neck (thanks Nelson) as I have a definite notch worn in the race from many miles on the bike.

Cutter, is your bike still under warranty?

 

[Raywood]

hey Ray, do the new races fit tight in the neck or were they loose like the original?

mine fell right out when i first serviced my neck bearings.

i think this loose fitting race is a partial cause for high speed wobble and bar vibration at idle.

Haven't pulled the front end off yet but will post what I found. Dogvet tells me I will be pounding them out and I've collected the large bolt and washers that I expect I will need to press the races in.

Clutch supposed to come in today then I will start both projects tomorrow.
Will update in new thread.

 

[P8RIOT]

I was really surprised by Ray's bike this weekend. It had dark oil all over the upper forks, as if the wind from the ride had blown it upward, against gravity. Ray said it was just from the wear, like he described above - but I sure was surprised by the extent of the leak.

 

[dogvet]

They are replacing the neck bearings, fork tubes, bushings, seals, and the whole 9 yards... xxxcessive wear - they even told me not to do any more wheelies... :bang:


They also did the wheel bearings, but no grinding or unusual noise

Better have them inspect the bore of the lower legs, if the fork bushings have the teflon coating worn off of them, the legs are probably worn as well. specifically where the bushing on the fork tube rides!

 

[Cutter]

Fortunately, BDM extended my warranty 6 months after some major hassle getting warranty approval for a broken shifter pawl 1 1/2 years ago...:2thumbs:

I did purchase the extended warranty since I planned on putting some miles on a bike with long forks, big rake and skinny front wheel... I kind of figured there would be front end issues with our effed up MI roads...:down:


Sul,
I am guessing that the neck would have to be changed to fit the bearings...
If loose, that would be a quality control issue.

 

[Cutter]

Better have them inspect the bore of the lower legs, if the fork bushings have the teflon coating worn off of them, the legs are probably worn as well. specifically where the bushing on the fork tube rides!

Thanks DV, I will make sure they check that when disassembling...

 

[Black Dawg]

I spray silicone on my lower forks every couple of weeks.

Unscrew, by hand, the upper fork slider tops and spray liberally. Seems to keep it smooth and no stiction.