Steering Head Bearing check:
https://www.fjr-tips.org/maint/shb/shb.html
Do it yourself and know it's done right.
https://www.fjr-tips.org/maint/shb/shb.html
Do it yourself and know it's done right.
That same damn front end clunk question....
- Thread starter Eric L
- Start date
Help Support Yamaha FJR Motorcycle Forum:
bergmen
Well-known member
I've got a slight clunk also (2014 A, 6,700 miles). I'm going to check the steering bearings this weekend.
Dan
Dan
Queensland Ken
Well-known member
I've just ordered a set of tapered rollers in for my new AEE, the bearings buggered @ 6K kms.
They were loose from factory, an item not check at dealer assembly. link
I torqued them at 600 kms and the deceleration wobbles and handle bar shimmy disappeared.
Now there is a good front end clunk, have the deceleration wobbles and handle bar shimmy.
There is also an additional bearing "ping" as go lock to lock on bars.
Will document & post what I find including an email to Yamaha Australia.
It's not a warranty item, well not in Australia anyhow.
Been through all that BS before on my new 06 in 2006.
They were loose from factory, an item not check at dealer assembly. link
I torqued them at 600 kms and the deceleration wobbles and handle bar shimmy disappeared.
Now there is a good front end clunk, have the deceleration wobbles and handle bar shimmy.
There is also an additional bearing "ping" as go lock to lock on bars.
Will document & post what I find including an email to Yamaha Australia.
It's not a warranty item, well not in Australia anyhow.
Been through all that BS before on my new 06 in 2006.
Last edited by a moderator:
rckendall
Active member
I have noticed that some on this forum have gone to all balls in the steering head. This gives much better load carrying capacity and since the balls are free, there isn't the tendency to pound indentations into the races, as with the caged bearings.
We did this in the early 70's on our Huskies.
Richard
We did this in the early 70's on our Huskies.
Richard
Last edited by a moderator:
mcatrophy
Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS
Don't know about checking at dealer assembly, but the 600 mile/1000km service does include checking the steering bearings for play and roughness, at least according to my UK Owner's Manual.
Queensland Ken
Well-known member
Was there when they assembled the bike, saw it being born.
I knew there was something wrong when I rode it the 530+ kms home.
Don't normally wait for the service schedule to tell me to do something, just do it.
Last edited by a moderator:
mcatrophy
Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS
Can't argue with that, but if it was that bad, I'm surprised the dealer didn't notice it during his assembly.
Did he test it before you took it away? Or did you take it over some typical Aussie roads
(Click on image for larger view)
Last edited by a moderator:
Queensland Ken
Well-known member
LOL LOL, Yep, typical roads lol.
Have a fair idea what the dealer does to assemble the bike.
He forgot to install the mirrors and tried to blame us, I was there with a fellow FJR owner and mate of the dealer.
Yamaha have is a bit of check list similar to a road worthy, eg, horn, lights etc etc
The steering head is factory torqued, but the crown handle is dealer fitted and the 36mm nut done up to 400 ft lbs.
No fluids are checked, only the mirrors, dash, windscreen, front wheel & fender fitted.
The dealer took the bike down the road to fill up with petrol, did about 1.5 kms as a test ride.
We did about 60 kms that afternoon and before I headed home the next day.
Have a fair idea what the dealer does to assemble the bike.
He forgot to install the mirrors and tried to blame us, I was there with a fellow FJR owner and mate of the dealer.
Yamaha have is a bit of check list similar to a road worthy, eg, horn, lights etc etc
The steering head is factory torqued, but the crown handle is dealer fitted and the 36mm nut done up to 400 ft lbs.
No fluids are checked, only the mirrors, dash, windscreen, front wheel & fender fitted.
The dealer took the bike down the road to fill up with petrol, did about 1.5 kms as a test ride.
We did about 60 kms that afternoon and before I headed home the next day.
mcatrophy
Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS
Forgot to install the mirrors? I'm gob-smacked. (That's Pommy-speak for "lost for words".)
Last edited by a moderator:
Queensland Ken
Well-known member
Yep, funny.
Pete and me were nearby drinking coffee when we heard crying then some rather outstanding profanities.
I wanted to take a few pics of the dash the second time around, but thought better of it. lol.
So I wouldn't count on the dealer getting everything right, sad to say.
Pete and me were nearby drinking coffee when we heard crying then some rather outstanding profanities.
I wanted to take a few pics of the dash the second time around, but thought better of it. lol.
So I wouldn't count on the dealer getting everything right, sad to say.
mcatrophy
Privileged to ride a 2018 FJR1300AS
Mine was like this when I first saw it:
(Click on image for larger view)
Curiously, I was told mine came with the front wheel already on. This was by a monkey, though, not the organ grinder, so I'm not sure I believe him.
And, back on topic, mine's started making a noise when going over potholes and bumps* at the front, but it sounds like plastic bits flapping or something, definitely not metallic. I'll investigate later when I have plastic off to do some wiring.
My front rotors click as well, but I'm not worried by that, and no sign of head bearing issues.
*That's normal UK urban roads.
[edit]
Found the source of my "flapping plastic" sound. It was flapping plastic. I'd taken off the front mudguard (fender) to add a fenda extenda. Guess who hadn't tightened two screws on one side? And then gone out over "potholes and bumps", so lost the screws? Hence the flapping plastic
.[/edit]
Last edited by a moderator:
Colin24
IBA# 446
FWIW: I have been running the Yamaha OEM steering head bearings for 10 years now and 250,000+ Km without problem. Replaced them once around 150K out of an abundance of caution. But once I had the old ones out and properly cleaned and inspected realized that they were in fact just fine. Replaced a 2nd time around 175K due to animal strike (Hard enough to bend forks). Since I was replacing the forks figured it was a good idea to do bearings at the same.
Also, they get pulled pretty much every year, cleaned, repacked with fresh grease and reinstalled using the Yamaha steering head tool and the procedure in the manual. (Critically important to get the correct torque.) The handling of the bike has been (and continues to be) spot on. No clicking, clunks, wiggles, stiffness or anything like that.
Just my $0.02 worth.
- Colin
Last edited by a moderator:
bergmen
Well-known member
I checked the steering bearings today on my 2014 and they were loose alright. I took them up a little less than a quarter turn and they snugged up just right. I didn't get a chance to test ride it yet but will tomorrow when I run up to the north end of town for gas. I'm glad I checked.
BTW, this is a very easy motorcycle to get into to adjust the steering bearings. I already had a spanner for my Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours (uses the exact same tool) and making the adjustment is a piece-o-cake. No need to pull the tank even, I just covered it with a few towels. The Yamaha design is very well done. On other bikes, tightening the stem nut can add preload to the bearings so sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right, not so on the FJR. Very cool.
Dan
BTW, this is a very easy motorcycle to get into to adjust the steering bearings. I already had a spanner for my Kawasaki ZG1000 Concours (uses the exact same tool) and making the adjustment is a piece-o-cake. No need to pull the tank even, I just covered it with a few towels. The Yamaha design is very well done. On other bikes, tightening the stem nut can add preload to the bearings so sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right, not so on the FJR. Very cool.
Dan
Queensland Ken
Well-known member
I checked a mates 2013 when he was up a few days ago, yep loose.
Only problem, another mate just broke the torque wrench socket extension, a calibrated mechanical fuse, bugger.
Had to nip up by guesswork.
Only problem, another mate just broke the torque wrench socket extension, a calibrated mechanical fuse, bugger.
Had to nip up by guesswork.
pbs519
Member
My brand new 2014 has what I believe to be this problem. I started noticing it literally just a couple of days ago while I was turning into my parking space at work. The bike only has 530 miles on it
Iris
formerly "herfjr"
We've torqued my steering head bearing (using the method in the manual). There is still a clunk with mine :-(
Also, just put on new tires. There is a wiggle in the handlebar (which is so annoying). I thought maybe we didn't balance the wheel properly (because I didn't think it could be the steering head bearing - being that we just torqued it).
I took the wheel off, checked the balance, and it was right on.
Now I am wondering what's going on with the steering head bearing. How bad is it to ride if it's not torqued right? Will it ruin the bike or just ruin my ride?
I don't want to torque it again.....but maybe I should? I certainly don't want to buy new bearings and install them at this point.
I've hardly ridden the bike (well, I do have 5k on it) and I am planning on a 3000 mile ride in the next few weeks.
:-(
Also, just put on new tires. There is a wiggle in the handlebar (which is so annoying). I thought maybe we didn't balance the wheel properly (because I didn't think it could be the steering head bearing - being that we just torqued it).
I took the wheel off, checked the balance, and it was right on.
Now I am wondering what's going on with the steering head bearing. How bad is it to ride if it's not torqued right? Will it ruin the bike or just ruin my ride?
I don't want to torque it again.....but maybe I should? I certainly don't want to buy new bearings and install them at this point.
I've hardly ridden the bike (well, I do have 5k on it) and I am planning on a 3000 mile ride in the next few weeks.
:-(
bergmen
Well-known member
I've had front end wiggles when everything is good with bearings, balance, etc. In my case the static balance was good but the dynamic balance was off. The shop that installed the tire and did the balancing put all of the weights on one side of the rim (close to the bead). I divided the weights in half and put one half on the other side equidistant from the centerline and that solved it. Today, I make sure they put all weights on the centerline (or on equal sides from centerline) and I've never had the issues since.
Dan
Top_Speed1
Panama Canal Crosser
Seems like quite a few are (now) having this issue, I started reading this thread back a few weeks ago, but it seems like it's not so isolated anymore. I hope Yamaha has been alerted to this as well. Maybe a factory recall or a ride-in fix is forthcoming.
Good luck guys, gals (& mates). Hope you get er worked out, nobody wants their brand new bike to have issues.
Hey, No "Gen3 POS comments" from you Gen1 guys either!
Good luck guys, gals (& mates). Hope you get er worked out, nobody wants their brand new bike to have issues.
Hey, No "Gen3 POS comments" from you Gen1 guys either!
RadioHowie
I Miss Beemerdons!
KJ, We don't have to....you did it for us!Hey, No "Gen3 POS comments" from you Gen1 guys either!
Top_Speed1
Panama Canal Crosser
KJ, We don't have to....you did it for us!Hey, No "Gen3 POS comments" from you Gen1 guys either!
I'm a Gen2 POS owner and I'm one of the few here who like the Gen3's digi dash
Similar threads
