sticky yoke or steering?

xivlia · Post by **xivlia** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:20 pm

okay, so i FINALLY got my bike back on the road after dropping it... i have noticed that the steering sticks when turning to the left and right....for example when i try and turn it to left.. there is something resisting it from turning..and then there is a clicking noise and it just turns in a sudden move... i almost crashed because of this... what the f*ck is causing this? any ideas? the bike was standing outside for over a month and taking all sorts of shit from the scottish weather up here in Inverness... mostly heavy rain... maybe something got rusty and now there is friction on something? please help. thanks.

Post by **thunderace** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:23 pm

First thing I'd be doing is changing the headstock bearings. While it's apart, I'd be checking the stem for run out

xivlia · Post by **xivlia** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:37 pm

what do you mean the stem for a run out? and the headstock? thats the hole in the top yoke? sorry i dont know much about the bikes yet

Post by **marcus57** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:54 pm

xivlia wrote:what do you mean the stem for a run out? and the headstock? thats the hole in the top yoke? sorry i dont know much about the bikes yet

The head stock bearings , about £50 from Rick O, I think he means checking to see if it's straight and true .

Post by **thunderace** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:02 pm

That is what I meant. Easiest way without expensive tools is to roll the stem along a perfectly flat surface, like a granite chopping board or worktop. The stem should be perfectly straight, even 0.25mm run out can cause notchy steering. I have known stems to be bent following a frontal impact and it also tends to crush the bearing races.

xivlia · Post by **xivlia** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:05 pm

hmm shit, looks like i willl have to replace the stem then, cause i did drop the bike on ice and left front was broken.. maybe the stem twisted upon impact.

Post by **viper_biker** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:32 pm

Are you sure all cable and wires are routed the correct way? Have you had the fork out or clip-ons off?

xivlia · Post by **xivlia** » Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:25 pm

well the cables are routed the right way. i had the forks out and put them back in BEFORE the dropping bike.... and it was going well.. but after dropping the bike.. its been like this. the left handle bar is bent. but thats not the problem..

Post by **Neosophist** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:29 am

xivlia wrote:well the cables are routed the right way. i had the forks out and put them back in BEFORE the dropping bike.... and it was going well.. but after dropping the bike.. its been like this. the left handle bar is bent. but thats not the problem..

You said above that the notchy steering is what caused you to crash? But now it's after the crash? Which is it.

Has it always been like this? (How did it pass MOT?) or is it after you've been messing with it.

As mentioned by viper... badly fitted cables and harnesses (even if they are routed properly) will cause tight spots.

If it's not this then check yolk and headstock bearings. (This is the tube that turns when you move the bars, and the bearings it runs in)

You need to remove the yolks (these hold the forks) by removing the forks then the big top nut and adjuster.

Check the bearings are smooth and not notchy and the steering stem isnt' broken.

Sounds more like a cable / harness issue if it's only happening when turning to one side.

xivlia · Post by **xivlia** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:15 pm

no it was fine before i crashed the bike.. its been like this ever since i crashed, i only crashed due to ice, the streering was absoloutley fine before the crash. i can check the cables etc again to see if its causing the problem, but its happening when i turn it both ways, not just one way. it mainly happens when i turn to the right though, also when i ride the bike, the bike tends to move to the right by itself but only sometimes.

sticky yoke or steering?

sticky yoke or steering?

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