Front End Help

[Jaicen]

Ok gents, looks like my bike is running sweet, so it's time to have a look at a couple of niggling things on the front end.
Firstly, I believe that the front yokes are a little loose, as I can feel them knocking over bumps. It's an up/down type of movement, rather than a side to side, and its not notch so I think the bearing is sound. Now, do I need to just tighten up the C-nut thing, or is it more in-depth than that? Will I need a second pair of hands??

Secondly, something on the front end is squeaking, which I suspect is one or both of the front brake pads binding. How do I go about adjusting this? Ideally, so photo's would be really helpful!

Finally, can someone post a pic of the bottom of their front forks? I'd like to see both sides of the front spindle nut if possible.

[Gazz]

Jaicen,

If your yokes are 'loose' that needs sorting straight away, especially if its up and down movement! When was you last MOT? You will need to raise the front end so the wheel is off the ground, you then grab hold of the bottom of the forks and see it there is any movement, pull and push the forks toward and away from you, then grab the uppers and push up and down to see if there is movement.

If there is movement they will have to be tightened up so the steering moves side to side easily without any notchy feeling and no 'play' at all . I don't really know this bike but generally there are one or to nuts on top of the stem (under the alloy top yoke) which you adjust them with, often with a 'C' spanner.

If they are notchy at best you may have to grease them at worst you may have to replace the steering bearings, do you know if they are taper bearings?

Is the 'squeak' all the time when you are riding or just when you apply your brakes? When you have your front wheel off the ground spin it to see if it is the brakes which are binding, apply the brake on and off a couple of times, you will soon tell (there is usually a slight rubbing of the pads on the disk). Do you know if it's the calipers or the disks that float on your model? If it's the calipers then the pins they float on may be seized or sticky, if that's the case you will need to remove the calipers and clean and grease the sliders. If the caliper pistons are sticky, you will have to pump the pistons out a bit (not to far or they might pop out!!) clean them and smear a small amount of brake grease on them before pushing them back in. You may have to remove a dust seal, inspect that for splits.

If its just the pads which are squeaking a small smear of copper grease on the back of the pads might stop it. Don't get any on the front!

Have you checked that front mudguard is secure? Also check the fairing for squeakiness!!

[Marb]

A dry tacho-cable (also the thing that that cabel connects to on the front wheel, can't think of the english word right now) can cause a squeky noise. I spent ages looking for it. A little grease in the cable and down at the wheel and she was squek free. :)

[Jaicen]

Ok, that's pretty much what I thought, thanks for the tips guys.
There's not a lot of movement, but I have noticed it seems to be increasing, which suggests that something's loosing off. I'll have to get my mate to help me lift the front.
I'll check out the speedo cable too, I hadn't thought about that!
Have you guys got any ideas where I could look for some sort of photo essay regarding the brakes? I've never dealt with disc brakes before, so it's a bit daunting going in blind.

[Variablevalves suck]

Hi Jaicen,
You dont need any photo's for the brakes they are dead simple, on the top there is a stainless cover that is held on with 2 tiny screws ( made of soft cheese so carfull) remove this and underneath youll see the pads held in by a pin thats got a small clip through it, remove the clip pull out the pin and youll be able to slide out the pads, at this point you can remove the calipers and then clean them up. Then just reverse the process, you should tighten the caliper bolts to 30/40 N.m or 21.5/35 lb-ft.

[Jaicen]

I just had a little look, and I can't see any stainless cover on either of the calipers. I can see the pin you refer to, with the split-pin in place, however I can't seem to remove it. Looks like it wants an alllen key, but it's not shifting either way ?

I'm pretty sure that the brakes are the cause, they seem to be in contact with the disc. How do I go about adjusting the brake pad clearance?

Also, any ideas on how I can solve the knocking problem?? The C-spanner bolt appears to be pretty damn tight, I'm fairly sure that if that was the cause, I'd be able to see movement. How the hell do I get the front wheel off the ground, and do all these checks on my own!!

This bike is starting to get me down now, I just spotted what appears to be a small oil leak somewhere near the oil pump or around the front sprocket

[Variablevalves suck]

You take the small spit pins out and the pins and they should push out allowing the pads to fall free, there should be stainless covers that keep the pads tensioned while keeping dirt out of the caliper, if they are not there then this is prob the reason that the brakes are making a noise. If youve not got a stand youll find it difficult to check the play in the forks properly, the best way will be to take off the tank and using a friend that you TRUST get them to gently lift the front of the bike off the ground using the rear wheel and the sidestand,get them to balance the bike against their thigh, you can then feel for play in the front end, its not the best way of doing it and youve not got long till ya mate starts to strin but it will work. To adjust the play you will need to loosen the top yoke off as this locks the nut underneath. :D

[Jaicen]

You take the small spit pins out and the pins and they should push out allowing the pads to fall free, there should be stainless covers that keep the pads tensioned while keeping dirt out of the caliper, if they are not there then this is prob the reason that the brakes are making a noise. If youve not got a stand youll find it difficult to check the play in the forks properly, the best way will be to take off the tank and using a friend that you TRUST get them to gently lift the front of the bike off the ground using the rear wheel and the sidestand,get them to balance the bike against their thigh, you can then feel for play in the front end, its not the best way of doing it and youve not got long till ya mate starts to strin but it will work. To adjust the play you will need to loosen the top yoke off as this locks the nut underneath. :D

That's the key bit for me! I've tried adjusting the C-spanner nut (admittedly with a drift, as i've yet to get the correct tool) without success. If the top nut is holding it all in place, it's going to make it pretty difficult to tighten up! Can I adjust the play with it on the side stand, or do I need to have the wheel off the ground?
With regards to the brake pads, the pin that the split pin goes through seems very tight in, does it just knock out?? From the inside out presumably? As I say, it's very tightly seated, which I suspect is part of the problem, the pistons can't retract because they're binding on the pins. I did just notice that the front right disc (looking front on) has a fair bit of movement on the dowels, not only up/down but a little side to side as well, which I gather is not good? I would not be surprised if that was contributing to some of the problems. It's certainly got a lot more play than the left side disc.

[Gazz]

Jaicen,

You will have to remove the nut and alloy top yoke before adjusting the steering, is there one or two nuts you have to use a 'C' spanner on under the yoke? Usually there are two, the upper one locks the lower one. Sometimes on bikes there is a locking tab which locates where the notch in 'C' spanner goes, if there is one make sure you flatten the tab or tabs.

Once you have removed the split pins the should tap out.

Where do you live?

Gazz

[Jaicen]

Cheers Gaz, I live in Sheffield as it happens.

On the top of the yoke, there's a large chrome nut. Underneath, there's a big C-nut, on top of what looks like a collar made of the same
material. This sits on top of the frame. As far as I can see, there is nothing locking the nuts in place.
Is it as simple as slacking off the nuts, loading the frame allowing it drop through and then tightening the whole lot up again??