Head bearings....

[matty8887]

Hey all,

Had a few probs with my bike lately (yzf750) but im down to the last problem now which i think is steering head bearings.

The bike rides fine going along but when i press the front brake hard-ish the front end vibrates, i dont think it is the break disks as i cannot feel anything through the lever, but it is through the whole of the handlebars.

Ive overhauled the front brakes and it is still doing it so it cant be vibrating pads/old fluid.

I cant get the bike up because i havent got a stand and no other mean so i cant do the testing of the bearings but with the bike held up and the front break on if i rock the bike back and forth it does sound as if there is a knock or click (same sound as when i have just breaked and beggining to stop)

Does this sound like stearing bearings?
If it is them can you change them with the stem still on the bike in situ? And do you have to replace both top and bottom bearing?

Thanks alot for readin, Matt
____________________
Test passed october 2005
Cadburys boost yamaha yzf 750r

[Jlo31]

Just had the same on my FZ fazer. Handlebars vibrated when breaking.

Its in for a service and its first MOT and have been told it needs new head bearings as they tried tightening them but it went notchy. Its strange as the bike is just under 3 years old but guess its just one of those things!

Sorry I can be more help on how to fix it. My method of fixing is pay the nice man at the bike shop some money to fix it!!!LOL

Cheers

Jlo

[matty8887]

Lol no im ok fixing the problem myself just not very good at diognosing problems because i don want to pull all the front end apart and find its someting silly.

Did yours only vibrate when breaking just with the front break?

No vibration just riding or just using rear break?

cheers for the reply
____________________
Test passed october 2005
Cadburys boost yamaha yzf 750r

[Gazdaman]

Grab the front wheel between your knees and pull the bars. (Standing in front of the bike).

If you can feel any movement they need adjusting/replacing.

Sounds like head bearings though.

Gaz

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Jlo31]

[matty8887]

Cheers guys

Gaz: Thats what i did and i could feel and hear a knocking so i suppose this would be the head bearings.

Can i change them with forks on the bike in situ i know its easier off but id rather keep them on.


____________________
Test passed october 2005
Cadburys boost yamaha yzf 750r

[Gazdaman]

You can change the top race with the forks in situ, but this is only half the job.

The proper way to do it is to whip the forks off, drift off the inner race off the fork 'stem'. Repace with new. Grease up fully, replace forks. Replace top race, grease up fully.

Adjust down and bam.

Yours might just need adjusting down, there's a collar with notches in it under your top yoke. Get a screwdriver in the notches and knock it round to tighten it down until it gets rid of the knocking noise.

It's also best to have the front wheel off the ground, so you can tell if the forks still rotate smoothly in the headstock. Beware of any notchyness when you turn the bars. It's an MOT failure, and will make the bike feel /very/ weird.

Gaz

[matty8887]

Can i knock the collar round with the yoke still in place, i can see and get to the collar, its says in the haynes to take the yoke off?

Cheers
____________________
Test passed october 2005
Cadburys boost yamaha yzf 750r

[Gazdaman]

At the very least loosen the massive nut on top of the yoke. But in an emergency you don't really need to do that.

I suspect the yoke keeps the collar in place aswell, so when you're done adjusting, loosen off the pinch bolts and knock the yoke down a bit. So the collar can't come loose.

Gaz