New Head Bearings

TearlessTom · #1 07-21-2012, 11:12 AM

I plan on replacing my steering head bearing in the next week or so as the bike has over 50,000 and I occasionally get a slight tracking of the ruts in the road at low speed like coming to a stop light on uneven pavement. Not bad but not perfect.

I am also changing the tires to the Michelin Commander ll and will possible finish dropping the front end. I have the progressive mono-tubes at 1-1/2 inch and may drop to 2 inch while I have it apart.

I am also replacing front and rear wheel bearings and rear brakes pads before my next road trip.

All of this is PM ( except for the tires, they are to the tread bars.)as I am not having an issue except for the occasional misstep as described above.

Anyway here is my question: Since I am not having the decel wobble can I get by with just marking my steering head adjuster star and replacing to the same place or am I going to have to do all the fall back testing?

ironmark · #2 07-21-2012, 11:25 AM

I would say you should do the fall away setting to just be sure. Chances are that the steering head bearings are just fine and don't need replacement. According to the 08 touring manual the steering head bearings should be adjusted every 20,000 miles and disassembled, inspected & lubed every 50,000. If you grease the steering head regularly then the bearings should be good and you may only have to make an adjustment. My 08 has over 50,000miles and I am guilty of not adjusting the steering head at all and I have no issues, I do grease the steering head bearings 2 times a year.

TearlessTom · #3 07-21-2012, 11:55 AM

You are probable right but since I am in the neighborhood ...

I have noticed that the tracking gets better if I put some grease in it but it only seems to be a temporary fix. The 1st time I greased it it took ALOT of grease and I never did see it coming out of the head. I have had bikes with bad bearings and this feels the same as they did priory to me replacing them.

I am the second owner. I believe the previous owner had the dealer do most of the work. The bike was "serviced" prior to my purchase from the dealer (it was a trade in) and I have found a few things that were on the list to be done that were not done so I prefer to go through the bike myself and know that everything is as it should be.

I'm kinda anal like that

can the fall away test be done with the front end partially stripped or do I have to re-assemble the handle bars, brakes etc.

ironmark · #4 07-22-2012, 09:23 AM

Nothing wrong with doing basic maintainence. I would do the test with everthing possible on the front forks.

TearlessTom · #5 07-22-2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironmark

Nothing wrong with doing basic maintainence. I would do the test with everthing possible on the front forks.

Thats what I was thinking too but it just seems like the brake and clutch line are an unknown variable in the swing. It seems like it would slow it down and give a false reading.

Perhaps I am just overthinking.