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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Steering head Clicking noises
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Message started by Hiko on 12/06/18 at 18:17:31

Title: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Hiko on 12/06/18 at 18:17:31

My S40 has clicking noises coming from the steering mostly near the full lock position on both sides . Is this sopmething to worry about ?
Bike has done 4900kms Built 2006 First used 2012

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by batman on 12/06/18 at 22:49:33

I'd jack the front forks off the ground ,grab the forks and wiggle them forward and back to see if there's any play (it could be the stem nut is just loose), but it might be better to remove the stem to check condition of the bearings and to repack them(if their ok) with fresh grease if the bike sat all that long.

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/06/18 at 23:23:09

In neutral and using the brake wouldn't show a loose head bearing?

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/07/18 at 06:48:29

Could be as simple as the torque of the stem nut. The procedure is to torque to 29-36 ft-lbs and then loosen the the nut 1/4 to 1/2 turn. The amount you loosen the nut has to do with the desired friction/force when moving the front assembly from side-to-side.

As others have stated - while you're in there - grease the upper and lower bearings.

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Hiko on 12/07/18 at 11:42:53

Thanks for the advice I will take a look at this soon
I have found some good youtube how to videos and looks like a time consuming job to replace the bearings so hopefully that wont be necessary

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/07/18 at 12:11:39

You're hearing clicks?
Feeling a roughness in the rotation?
Both?
Checked cables and stuff, nothing dragging?

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/07/18 at 13:24:54

57484E4954536252625A48440F3D0 wrote:
Checked cables and stuff, nothing dragging?

Agreed. Most logical place to start.

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Hiko on 12/08/18 at 14:03:44

Today I jacked the front wheel up and the steering seems smooth and free
but twisting the front wheel against the stops produces a creaking sound that is hard to isolate.
I removed the front guard to eliminate the guard mounting bolts as a cause and it is still there. The sound seems loudest in the fork tubes but they could be just amplifying it.
I checked the lower triple tree pinch bolts but they are tight
The front wheel and axle all seem OK also
Could it be the front forks and this is normal ? Newby here

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 12/08/18 at 16:39:57

No, the clicking isn't normal. When the wheel was off the ground, did you check for any fore/aft play at the steering head by pulling/pushing on the forks? If you are absolutely positive that it isn't a cable making contact with something, then I would check to see if the steering stem nut - the one with the slots - can be turned a 1/4 turn. If you don't have the special tool, it can be rotated with a flat head screw driver and taping the handle with the palm of your hand.

Probably not the springs (if they are OEM). Springs that are a smaller diameter then OEM can click, but it's usually from compression and rebound - not rotation. Not normal, but also not harmful.

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by batman on 12/08/18 at 17:59:54

Just a thought but. the clicking only occurs at the lock to lock positions. Is the steering lock completely turned to the unlock position? If grease is lacking from the neck area , or old grease it may not be allowing the locking bolt ,that protrudes into the slots in the neck , to retract completely , If it is sticking out slightly it may not be far enough to lock the neck ,but just enough so you hear the click as it tries to enter the slots.

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Hiko on 02/20/19 at 19:59:14

The clicking noises have carried on and I have tended to ignore them
Very hard to pinpoint where they originate as the noises seem to be amplified in the forks and sound every where. Several people have looked at it and given up.
Today I got lucky. I backed off the axle pinch bolt and twisted the forks back and forth and the sound was different. I am sure I have done this before but this time it sounded different. After bouncing the forks up and down several times hard I retorqued it and the noise is gone. Such a simple thing and no idea why it should be so

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by jcstokes on 02/20/19 at 21:13:02

Maybe it moved the lock pin Batman is talking about.

Title: Re: Steering head Clicking noises
Post by Hiko on 02/21/19 at 00:50:01

I dont think it had anything to do with the steering lock that was well checked out and it would make the noise by holding the front brake on and rocking the bike back and forth with the front wheel straight ahead as well as twisting the front wheel from side to side in all positions.
Something to do with the pinch bolt I suspect as loosening it off and retorqueing it made all the difference without doing anything else other than
bouncing the front suspension while it was loose.
I dont know but I will take the win