How do you check steering head bearings

stu · Post by **stu** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:32 pm

Hey,

How do you guys check the head bearings?

I've always lifted the front end up by tilting the bike on its sidestand, then rocked the bars all the way left and right to ensure the movement is smooth (no notches etc). Then I rock the bike forwards and backwards with the front brake locked to check for fore/aft play in the races.

I checked the bike this way before taking it to have it MOTd this afternoon and it has failed on the head bearings. Am I checking them incorrectly? I've got the bike home and checked them again and my method is not identifying any problem in the bearings although at full right there is very slight tension in the throttle cables which generates a squeak. Surely they were not mistaking tension in the cables for bearing wear?!

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated. Cheers!

stu · Post by **stu** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 6:22 pm

On the same note, anyone got the bearing numbers to hand? I don't have my Haynes with me at the mo.

Cheers :)

Post by **hunter** » Tue Jun 10, 2014 7:01 pm

Can't help you with the part numbers,But the best way to check the bearings is to,
Get someone to pull the bike on it's sidestand so that the front wheel is off the floor,
At the same time keeping wheight on the rear end and leaving the handlbars free,
Squat down on one knee in front of bike,Take hold off the bottoms of fork legs gip firmly in spindle area
With the wheel pointing at your chest,Full forks in to your chest,Then push to rads,
Repeat this to and fro motion do not shake,Push and pull,If there is play you will feel it,
If it's bad you will also here it.

stu · Post by **stu** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:58 am

Cheers Hunter. I've tried this and they still seem fine to me! I'll take it back and get them to show me where they think the problem lies. Thanks for your help

Post by **hunter** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:01 pm

Ok so there is no play,
With the wheel still off the ground opperate the handlebars left and right,
Is it smooth or rough it could be pitting in the cups.

Post by **Neosophist** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:41 pm

what exactly do you think the problem is?

There can be excessive movement / not enough and / or play.

as mentioned above, is it notchy when turning the bars left / right

vfrman · Post by **vfrman** » Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:34 pm

stu wrote:On the same note, anyone got the bearing numbers to hand? I don't have my Haynes with me at the mo.

Cheers :)

http://www.akhara.com/nc30/nc30parts/index.htm

91016-MR7-003

How do you check steering head bearings

How do you check steering head bearings

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