Wobly front wheel

KURT44 · 08-27-2015, 09:37 PM

Probably been posted before. Was wondering why I get a front tire woble. Is worse at lower speeds. Just put a new Michelin tire on and balanced. If not holding on good it will start to shake pretty bad. All tires have done this.Tires always end up cupped. Bike now has 30,000 miles with no other problems. Always run 38 lbs. Of air. Do I need to do something with the front forks? Thanks

highwayman2011 · 08-27-2015, 10:06 PM

It's usually the head bearings are loose, or worn.

tonik · 08-27-2015, 10:09 PM

Very common.

Hit the air pressure, get it up to 38 or so.
Tighten the head bearings.

Both of those will help a bit, maybe.

But with those miles I think you need to replace the head bearings with the below. I did mine at 28K, front end is now rock solid. I could make it do it on demand, decel around 40 and hands off...every time. After replacing the bearings....I can't make it do it no matter what.

http://www.allballsracing.com/22-1039.html

seawolf · 08-27-2015, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonik

Very common.

Hit the air pressure, get it up to 38 or so.
Tighten the head bearings.

Both of those will help a bit, maybe.

But with those miles I think you need to replace the head bearings with the below. I did mine at 28K, front end is now rock solid. I could make it do it on demand, decel around 40 and hands off...every time. After replacing the bearings....I can't make it do it no matter what.

http://www.allballsracing.com/22-1039.html

I agree with you on this totally. Did my allballsbearings at 36 k kms. Sad thing is that dealer changed out OEM bearings at 24 k kms under warranty and it didn't fix the problem. He told me I should never take my hands of the steering WTF! Now I could ride all day with hands off, in cruise control.
Ps I use MC I I front and rear too.

tonik · 08-28-2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seawolf

He told me I should never take my hands of the steering WTF!

I think people that say that are missing the point. This is a condition that could very well lead to a real bad tank slapper, which will put you down in a heartbeat. I would have sold my bike if the AllBalls didn't fix it.

JayJay · 08-28-2015, 10:55 AM

Just curious, is there a lot of work ivolved in changing the bearing? Reason I ask is mine is starting to do this?

tonik · 08-28-2015, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayJay

Just curious, is there a lot of work ivolved in changing the bearing? Reason I ask is mine is starting to do this?

Not a lot, but medium I would say. Pull the front wheel, both forks and the top of the triple tee. I got mine out without removing the fairing, but you will need something decent to remove the spanner nut off the top of the steering shaft. I found a spanner wrench that accepted a 3/8 drive that worked well.

Getting the races out sucked. There is another thread here in the Nomad section where a guy made a homemade race remover, he posted a few days after I did mine. Looked like a slick setup, I will try that next time, or I will buy the race driver.

JayJay · 08-28-2015, 12:52 PM

Sounds good, I took my hands off the bars and immediately the front end started to vibrate .....not a good feeling..

**MAS Tequila** · 08-28-2015, 04:05 PM

How is your rear tire?

Many times a problem up front is caused by the rear tire.

I had a bad wobble with a vibration and put a new front on, and nothing changed.

Went and put a new rear on, and it completely smoothed out.

You may want to check your rear tire, it sounds like it's cupped or has a bad belt.

MT

**Iamriding** · 08-28-2015, 05:41 PM

On mine it was a combination of needing to tighten the steering bearings and the fact that the front tire developed a hop. Bought new tire. It had a hop.

Ordered a different brand of tire and all good.

seawolf · 08-29-2015, 12:09 AM

Races are easy to remove. Get a large bastard file with long tang. Sharpen the the end of the tang bend it. Now set it against the race, you need to get the edge. Use a ball peen hammer and tap the end of the file ( cover the end with a cloth ) and move around. It only took me about three strikes and races were out. Old millwright trick. Difference between metals cause a shock effect.

KURT44 · 08-29-2015, 07:29 AM

Thanks for the replies. Planning on tightening the head bearing today. If that doesn`t work will install new.

KURT44 · 08-29-2015, 11:40 AM

I jacked the front wheel up and checked for fork play. I did have some play. So I tightened the steering head bearing. Took the bearing nut off first and packed a little grease down around the bearing. Tighten things up and definitely took most if not all play out. I did a steering check also with wheel in the air. Turns smoothly in both directions. Took a test ride and can still get a wobble on a rough road but not on a smooth road. Came back added 4 lbs. of air to front tire and 7 lbs. to the rear. Both at 38 now.
Will give it a few miles and see if it improves. May be new bearings in my future.

08-27-2015, 09:37 PM	#1
KURT44 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: WEST OF ROCKFORD IL. Posts: 133	Wobly front wheel Probably been posted before. Was wondering why I get a front tire woble. Is worse at lower speeds. Just put a new Michelin tire on and balanced. If not holding on good it will start to shake pretty bad. All tires have done this.Tires always end up cupped. Bike now has 30,000 miles with no other problems. Always run 38 lbs. Of air. Do I need to do something with the front forks? Thanks __________________ Kurt44 2012 voyager Happy trails! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-27-2015, 10:06 PM	#2
highwayman2011 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: N Las Vegas, NV Posts: 364	It's usually the head bearings are loose, or worn. __________________ 2010 Vulcan Voyager
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08-28-2015, 10:55 AM	#6
JayJay Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 145	Just curious, is there a lot of work ivolved in changing the bearing? Reason I ask is mine is starting to do this? __________________ 08 Vulcan Nomad 1600 Red and Black colour scheme Mustang 2 up seat with back rests Highway pegs Hard bags with rear trunk Accent LED'S Baron Air Cleaner Sony MP3 Player Infinity6x9 2004 Vulcan 2000 (sold)
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08-28-2015, 12:52 PM	#8
JayJay Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 145	Sounds good, I took my hands off the bars and immediately the front end started to vibrate .....not a good feeling.. __________________ 08 Vulcan Nomad 1600 Red and Black colour scheme Mustang 2 up seat with back rests Highway pegs Hard bags with rear trunk Accent LED'S Baron Air Cleaner Sony MP3 Player Infinity6x9 2004 Vulcan 2000 (sold)
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08-28-2015, 04:05 PM	#9
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	How is your rear tire? Many times a problem up front is caused by the rear tire. I had a bad wobble with a vibration and put a new front on, and nothing changed. Went and put a new rear on, and it completely smoothed out. You may want to check your rear tire, it sounds like it's cupped or has a bad belt. MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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08-27-2015, 10:09 PM	#3
tonik Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cleveland Ohio Posts: 714	Very common. Hit the air pressure, get it up to 38 or so. Tighten the head bearings. Both of those will help a bit, maybe. But with those miles I think you need to replace the head bearings with the below. I did mine at 28K, front end is now rock solid. I could make it do it on demand, decel around 40 and hands off...every time. After replacing the bearings....I can't make it do it no matter what. http://www.allballsracing.com/22-1039.html
	0

08-28-2015, 05:41 PM	#10
Iamriding Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 305	On mine it was a combination of needing to tighten the steering bearings and the fact that the front tire developed a hop. Bought new tire. It had a hop. Ordered a different brand of tire and all good. __________________ 2003 Nomad 1500 Memphis Shades batwing fairing \| Chuckster dual plate BAK \| Dobeck EJK \| Mustang seat \| Victory Boardwalk handlebars \| Garry's fork brace with modified KLR fork boots
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08-29-2015, 12:09 AM	#11
seawolf Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Stony Plain, Alberta Posts: 153	Races are easy to remove. Get a large bastard file with long tang. Sharpen the the end of the tang bend it. Now set it against the race, you need to get the edge. Use a ball peen hammer and tap the end of the file ( cover the end with a cloth ) and move around. It only took me about three strikes and races were out. Old millwright trick. Difference between metals cause a shock effect. __________________ John 1964 305 super hawk 1985 500 Shawdow 2006 900 Kawa Classic 2007 1600 Nomad 2013 Voyager
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08-29-2015, 07:29 AM	#12
KURT44 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: WEST OF ROCKFORD IL. Posts: 133	Thanks for the replies. Planning on tightening the head bearing today. If that doesn`t work will install new. __________________ Kurt44 2012 voyager Happy trails!
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08-29-2015, 11:40 AM	#13
KURT44 Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: WEST OF ROCKFORD IL. Posts: 133	I jacked the front wheel up and checked for fork play. I did have some play. So I tightened the steering head bearing. Took the bearing nut off first and packed a little grease down around the bearing. Tighten things up and definitely took most if not all play out. I did a steering check also with wheel in the air. Turns smoothly in both directions. Took a test ride and can still get a wobble on a rough road but not on a smooth road. Came back added 4 lbs. of air to front tire and 7 lbs. to the rear. Both at 38 now. Will give it a few miles and see if it improves. May be new bearings in my future. __________________ Kurt44 2012 voyager Happy trails!
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