? about steering heads

[Bill X_R]

I've done this to three bikes now and it's buggin' the heck out of me. Everytime I take the tree off, grease bearings and put back together. It never feels the same, always way to sloppy. Then if I try and cinch it down some more it always binds. No matter how I adjust it, It never feels like it did before I took it apart. :mad: :mad: :mad:


Anyone else have this trouble, or is it just me?

[Howdy]

Are you sure you have the right amount of ball bearings when you put it back together? If you have the tapered type skip that question.
Did you clean all the parts up and regrease them before instalation? Just a small speck of dirt can make a world of difference in feel. ;)
Howdy

[Huffa]

Could be a few things.

1) the races or ballbearings are not smooth any more & once you took them (the balls) out they are going back in different locations which are no longer mating up to the race perfect. This in turn could cause the binding until they seat back in to the worn areas of the race. The races get small minute bumps on them or the balls thenselves wear too. (just a theory of course & have no idea if I'm right)

2) just simply didn't grease it enough?

How I adjust mine is have the whole the tire and everything back on the forks. Adjust it with out the weight on and more then likely it will feel too loose once the weight is on. I like just a hair of drag on mine actually....sort of like a steering damper.

[BIG BAD RED]

you want them fairly tight even at 0 load on them...when was the last time you had them replaced? did u pack them properly?

[Bill X_R]

Yes Yes and Yes. I give up on this thing, anyone want a 86r :mad:

[Howdy]

Yes Yes and Yes. I give up on this thing, anyone want a 86r :mad:

SURE!! I'm only about 2 hours away, and I can be there today to pick it up! lmao Actually why don't we get together on some weekend and I will help you get it going. ;)
Howdy

[jenndnn3]

Are you useing old bearing? How about some nice tapered ones?

[Bill X_R]

SURE!! I'm only about 2 hours away, and I can be there today to pick it up! lmao Actually why don't we get together on some weekend and I will help you get it going. ;)
Howdy


Your one hell of a dude Howdy...I just may take you up on that.

[200xman]

Of course they don't feel the same. You took out all the thick old grease and replaced it with new. Don't worry about it, just get out and ride on 3 again. Thank god A/C systems don't have tripple trees! :D

[Dirtcrasher]

I have definately had the same experience. 99% of the time I find a slightly bent stearing shaft will cause you to never get it just right. It will either bind or have play and only a set of v blocks with a dial indicator will show that slight bend. Only takes a couple thousandths to screw it up. Just one nosedive or tree smooch can do it in.

Problem is that forks get bent and bend the tree shaft. Then new forks get put in and you find you have to force them in there and bend the aluminum out just to slide them through. Then you lock it all down and the problems begin. Many times I have put the tree in, got it set perfect and then when I got the forks in there and torqued them I find my setting is gonezo and I have to loosen it up.

You can usually get it close but only a new shaft will allow you to get it perfect.



Or it can be wear in the races and I do find that I need to run it for a bit and then re check it. Most of the time it will be loose as I think everything finds it's "home" and the grease works it's way in there.