The steering on my FS has a pronounced 'notchy' feel at the centred position. Can't say I noticed before, but it just failed it's MOT for this reason .
The tester reckoned it might be cured by loosening of the steering a bit. Any point in trying this or do I need new bearings?
notchy steering head
- benny hedges
- Posts: 6110
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:09 pm
- Location: Warrington
Re: notchy steering head
replace the worn out standard ball bearings for a taper roller set.
much better.
cost about £30 for the set.
be sure to follow the tensioning guide here - you dont tighten them like ball bearings, and they will need retensioning a few times over the first few 100 mile
do it sooner rather than later.... worn head bearings can cause very unpredicatbale handling at speed.
much better.
cost about £30 for the set.
be sure to follow the tensioning guide here - you dont tighten them like ball bearings, and they will need retensioning a few times over the first few 100 mile
do it sooner rather than later.... worn head bearings can cause very unpredicatbale handling at speed.
You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when posting something which you later rely on in quote. Anything you do say may be ripped to sh*t.
Re: notchy steering head
Worn head bearings annoy the hell out of me, they make the bike weave slightly, especially noticeable cutting between the traffic queues on the M25.....
+1 on the tapers.
+1 on the tapers.
Last edited by tony.mon on Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
- Road Runner
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:45 pm
Re: notchy steering head
Thanks, i'll get the manual out
I hadn't noticed any obvious handling issues, but the bloke said it would be a different bike when sorted so that's something to look forward to.
I hadn't noticed any obvious handling issues, but the bloke said it would be a different bike when sorted so that's something to look forward to.
Re: notchy steering head
Whilst taper rollers are the way to go, in the meanwhile and to get its MOT, try taking off the clip ons, remove the centre nut on the yoke, wiggle the top yoke up then loosen the C rings till you can see the top bearing race. Move them to the left or right, pack in some more grease then re-assemble.
Make sure you cover the tank with a clth/towel or something as if the C spanners slipp they might damage the paint.
You might find this removes the notchiness and it will pass the MOT but it will be temporary.
Make sure you cover the tank with a clth/towel or something as if the C spanners slipp they might damage the paint.
You might find this removes the notchiness and it will pass the MOT but it will be temporary.
Two bikes, still only four cylinders!
Re: notchy steering head
And me tootony.mon wrote:Worn head bearings annoy the hell out of me,
+2 on the tapered head bearings
Chris.
- benny hedges
- Posts: 6110
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:09 pm
- Location: Warrington
Re: notchy steering head
if youre going that far you might as well go to halfords or any cycle shop and get some 1/4" ball bearings and replace the worn bearings.Stratman wrote:Whilst taper rollers are the way to go, in the meanwhile and to get its MOT, try taking off the clip ons, remove the centre nut on the yoke, wiggle the top yoke up then loosen the C rings till you can see the top bearing race. Move them to the left or right, pack in some more grease then re-assemble.
.
in bicycles, these bearings are usually found in the pedal spindle but they are the same size as in most bike headrace.
just seems daft lifting the yoke and packing grease into worn bearings, when for the sake of a fiver you can pop new ones in
You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when posting something which you later rely on in quote. Anything you do say may be ripped to sh*t.
Re: notchy steering head
Sadly the balls themselves are seldom worn, IME, just the upper seat of each race.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
- benny hedges
- Posts: 6110
- Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:09 pm
- Location: Warrington
Re: notchy steering head
oooh i dunno... ive seen them like golf ball shape before, dimpled and pitted, and some worn oval, and some not there at all lol.
the notchyness is when either the ball or the race has worn to the point where its like theres a bearing missing.
best thing to do imo is relace them, not patch the job, seeing as its a vital steering part...
you'd kick yourself if you end up binning the bike because of it for the sake of £30
the notchyness is when either the ball or the race has worn to the point where its like theres a bearing missing.
best thing to do imo is relace them, not patch the job, seeing as its a vital steering part...
you'd kick yourself if you end up binning the bike because of it for the sake of £30
You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when posting something which you later rely on in quote. Anything you do say may be ripped to sh*t.
Re: notchy steering head
I had done this procedure before without any disasters before I fitted a set of tapers - it's only so he can get his bike through the MOT, not ride the NW200
Two bikes, still only four cylinders!