ZERO COST "MEND" for steering notch

I've had this notch, or detent, or "catch" in the steering of my Seca 900 since I got it 4 years ago. It has only gotten worse over the last 11,000 miles. It's to the point that a friend who I let ride the bike bought me a tapered roller set for Christmas!

Well, that takes pulling the whole front end apart, and I really need to do fork seals, brakes, lines ETC while apart.

So - while changing the oil, I decided to try an idea I had.
With the bike on Mainstand, (PROCESS DELETED as it may be unsafe) Another round of 7 cycles and I had 4 distinct, yet tiny notches even further off-center.

Not believing my luck, I grabbed a helmet and rode it. I felt NO notchiness at all!

 

Re: ZERO COST FIX for steering notch

OH, COME ON NOW. :roll:

All you did was diagnose the fact that your steering head bearings are starting to break up or some of the balls were STUCK and you managed to get them unstuck and move them off their flat spots.

That's not a "fix" it's a diagnosis. Of an issue you already knew exists.

Install the new bearings.

 

Re: ZERO COST FIX for steering notch

+1

 

Re: ZERO COST FIX for steering notch

Yup, replace your bearings. Now.

Dave F

 

Tough crowd - -tough crowd

I have to get another bike together before pulling this one apart and fixing it properly. New brakes, stainless lines, tire, rebuild forks, maybe wheel bearings too.

"Mitigate symptoms completely" doesn't sound right in a thread title.
I've turned this into a poll to see if others are having the same problem.
(replaced "fix" with "mend")

 

I'm not even answering this poll. If you have notchy steering fix it, it's as bad as dodgy brakes.

 

Neck bearings are one of the easiest things to do, you don't have to disconnect the brakes to do it. I left my front end all together just dropped it down and swip swap.

My neck bearings were terrible, tapered rollers are the only way to go.

 

LOL...and you guys bust MY balls for riding sketchy 2 strokes?

I'm laughing so hard as I type.....talk about a "jrig"......30 bucks and 2 hours will separate the notches so you won't even feel them!!

I can just see poor Fitz nearly falling off his chair as he read your "fix"..LOL

Yeah, you got more courage than I do......I wouldn't have even posted that one.....



jeff

 

i think the question Time should be asking is why did this "fix" the notch, it shouldn't have done anything. are the races spinning in the neck?

 

Taper-roller bearings... get it sorted. No excuses at all.

 

He's got balls & they are all square.

 

YES HE DOES AND YES THEY ARE.

Or "flatted" anyway. That was my point to begin with about this being a diagnosis not a fix. Where I come from fix=mend.

REPLACE=fixed for good.

 

First - didn't the 31A bike (1983 Seca 900) come with tapered rollers from factory?? Meaning I shouldn't even have this problem.

I think the top race had 2 flattened bearings, and the bottom had another 2. These are now moved away from the centerline-of-load (making up terms again) and that there is no possible way the "ruined" bearings can further decay if they are not under load. (I don't drag pegs)

I cannot believe that anyone would think that this would create an unsafe condition, meaning less safe than just days ago. I love you guys - - lighten up.

 

why would turning the bars lock to lock put the rollers in another position, unless they were sliding and not rolling, so at least they need some grease.
it's just a little more work to put new ones in than it is to grease the old ones. what are you saving the new ones for?

 

The HAYNES Manual has instructions on how to do the Headset Bearings with ONLY needing to disconnect the Speedo and Clutch Switch.

When removing the Steering Stem from the Head on the Frame, ...
Remove the Top-end Spacer, Washer and Upper Race.
Collect the Balls.
A Strong Magnet makes quick work of it.

Position the Magnet to Collect the Lower Ball Bearings as the Stem is lowered.
The Magnet will keep the Balls from scattering all-over.

Pack the New Bearings with Synthetic Waterproof Grease and never look back at that job again.

 

I had a similar "notch" in a bike I used to own. It is nothing more than worn out bearing that is barely getting past seizing. I too thought no big deal until the day that "notch" turned into locked steering in the middle of a curve on a dirt road. Luckily I had slowed down from paved road to enter the dirt road because of the amount of gravel at the intersection and was barely faster than a crawl. The head locked up, and the bike was pointed at a grassy pasture. I was able to bail and no major damage to the bike. Had this happened 2 miles earlier when I was sparking pegs thru dead mans curve, I would not be posting this reply.

PLEASE!!! for your own safety, replace the bearings.

 

Well, if I;m getting my hands dirty, I might as well do both bikes.
Excuse me while I go make a mess. . .

 

Naw, I don't think anyone was thinking that doing your "fix" made it any worse or unsafe then it was before.....just that it probably caught everyone else, the same it caught me....from WAY out in left field<LOL>...again, we're friends so I'm laughing at all this.

It's just that I never would have expected that someone would have posted that....but I'm like you for some reason, I hate replacing head bearings......Ill spend 10 straight hours porting a single cylinder no problem.....but the tapered bearings have been on the shelf for a year. It's not that I'm riding the bike but I'm putting off the head brgs till the end of this build.

jeff

 

It's nice to have Tools that make the job a bit easier.

Hammer: Combo Rubber / Plastic Head
9-Inch Lineup Tool
Brass Drift
Locking Ring Spanner w/ 3/8" Fitting for Torquing*

(Old Schooler's don't torque the Bearings. Bearings are tightened until they Bind, ... Exercised, ... then, ... Backed-off until they don't.)

 

Dead man's curve, Mook, that is so melodramatic.