stiff links in chain

[Chris]

My KLR seems to have something loose in the front end. It's fine on the work stand -- I can't detect any looseness or play in the steering head bearings, forks, or fork tubes. However, with the brakes on and the front wheel goes over a pavement edge or similar, I can feel a "clunk". Ideas? thanks, Chris

[Jeff Saline]

On Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:16:54 -0500 Chris writes:

> My KLR seems to have something loose in the front end. It's fine on > the work stand -- I can't detect any looseness or play in the > steering > head bearings, forks, or fork tubes. However, with the brakes on > and > the front wheel goes over a pavement edge or similar, I can feel a > "clunk". Ideas? > > thanks, > Chris

<><><><><> <><><><><> Chris, That sounds to me like a loose steering head bearing. Maybe try tightening the notched nut and see if it easily turns. Helps if the front end is unweighted when you do that. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 . . ____________________________________________________________ 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4ec17818f11dd30c52st02vuc

[dooden]

Jeff nailed it. Mine did that, thought I had a noisey fork, tech commenced to adjust the steering head bearings. Speed Bumps drove me nuts when the wheel dropped. Make sure you loosen at least top tube clamps at the start. Good time to rotate your bars back and forth, I happen to like mine out alot, helps when on pegs. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote: > > On Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:16:54 -0500 Chris writes: > > My KLR seems to have something loose in the front end. It's fine on > > the work stand -- I can't detect any looseness or play in the > > steering > > head bearings, forks, or fork tubes. However, with the brakes on > > and > > the front wheel goes over a pavement edge or similar, I can feel a > > "clunk". Ideas? > > > > thanks, > > Chris > <><><><><> > <><><><><> > > Chris, > > That sounds to me like a loose steering head bearing. Maybe try > tightening the notched nut and see if it easily turns. Helps if the > front end is unweighted when you do that. > > Best, > > Jeff Saline > ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal > Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org > The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota > 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 > > . > . > ____________________________________________________________ > 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 > The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4ec17818f11dd30c52st02vuc >

[Greg Jewell]

Jeff is right (steering head is loose) I Just had to tighten mine. Loosen the triple clamps with the bike on a stand. remove handle bars and tighten both nuts beneath. Greg J. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chris]

Thanks all! I would have thought I'd be able to feel looseness at the steering head, but maybe not. I will definitely try tightening the big nut, and make sure the steering is still okay turning side-to-side. Chris

On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 5:43 AM, Dooden wrote: > ** > > > Jeff nailed it. Mine did that, thought I had a noisey fork, tech commenced > to adjust the steering head bearings. > > Speed Bumps drove me nuts when the wheel dropped. > > Make sure you loosen at least top tube clamps at the start. > > Good time to rotate your bars back and forth, I happen to like mine out > alot, helps when on pegs. > > Dooden > A15 Green Ape > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jeff Saline wrote: > > > > > On Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:16:54 -0500 Chris writes: > > > My KLR seems to have something loose in the front end. It's fine on > > > the work stand -- I can't detect any looseness or play in the > > > steering > > > head bearings, forks, or fork tubes. However, with the brakes on > > > and > > > the front wheel goes over a pavement edge or similar, I can feel a > > > "clunk". Ideas? > > > > > > thanks, > > > Chris > > <><><><><> > > <><><><><> > > > > Chris, > > > > That sounds to me like a loose steering head bearing. Maybe try > > tightening the notched nut and see if it easily turns. Helps if the > > front end is unweighted when you do that. > > > > Best, > > > > Jeff Saline > > ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal > > Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org > > The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota > > 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 > > > > . > > . > > __________________________________________________________ > > 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 > > The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried > > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4ec17818f11dd30c52st02vuc > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Saline]

On Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:17:11 -0500 Chris writes:

> Thanks all! I would have thought I'd be able to feel looseness at > the > steering head, but maybe not. I will definitely try tightening the > big nut, > and make sure the steering is still okay turning side-to-side. > > Chris

<><><><><><><> <><><><><><><> Chris, The nut below the handlebars is the lock nut. The adjustment nut is notched and below the upper triple clamp. I suggest you get the front wheel off the ground. Loosen the lower triple pinch bolts and then make the adjustment. That allows the forks to move in the lower clamp and readjust position due to the bearing adjustment. It also keeps the top of the forks in the lowest position possible (when compared to loosening the upper triple pinch bolts). Make sure you tighten the pinch bolts alternating each side until the tightening torque is stable. Just torquing each bolt once or twice is not enough. If the steering head bearing adjustment is too tight the bike will wander/weave when trying to go straight. What happens is the steering is too tight for easy adjustments by the rider and so each adjustment is an overcorrection. That causes the weaving. If the steering head bearing adjustment is too loose you might get the clunking sound in rough going. You also might get a head shake on deceleration from maybe 40 mph to 20 mph or so. If you test this be in a clear, flat area. Bring the bike to speed and then remove your hands a few inches from the grips. Let the bike decelerate all the way to 20 mph if you can. Be ready to put you hands back on the grips to stabilize the bike if it starts shaking. If you try this and screw it up don't blame me. You are the rider. : ) Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650 . . ____________________________________________________________ LifeLock Official Site Don't Be a Victim of Credit Fraud. Enroll w/ LifeLock & Get Protected. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4ec2bdf1ed7429a300st04vuc

[SM]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Chris wrote:

> > My KLRs chain has some stiff links, and I've started getting an odd > "thrumming" sound and feel around 55mph. > > Are the stiff links the end of the chain? It is [was] a good o-ring > chain, lubed and cleaned. Can/should the chain be resurrected? It's > only got about 10,000 miles on it, but most of that is unpaved. > > thanks, > Chris >

Replace it now. When a chain gets a certain number of hours on it, its tensile strength goes out the window. If you catch a hard rock between it and the sprocket, it may break. Mine did. Not sure the exact mileage, but it was over 10,000 and less than 13,000 miles, DID Gold X-ring. I'll never run a KLR chain past 10k miles again. Thanks CA Stu A13