head bearing issues steering locked up while riding?

[stevekingchef]

Hi guys as topic states while riding to b and q just now my steering locked up on my tt600!a little scary to say the least.I guess this is head bearings siezed up? Now I know. when I fitted last tires the tech said they were on the way out.but since then my bike had new ignition fitted at triumph and the forks came off for this!could the locking up be related as was only few weeks ago ?

Also what should I expect to pay roughly for the work ?i guess between100and 150 in gatwick area

[Cigaro]

When you say it 'locked up'...was it as though the steering lock was put on? Or did it just go very tight?

Sounds more like a steering lock issue, I'd be going back to whoever replaced the ignition.

[stevekingchef]

yes it was locked up and would click out!a definate click!
but then fine for a few mins and locked up again??

maybe ill give triumph a call??it twas them who done the work

[Cigaro]

I would. Like I say, it sounds like they might have buggered something up with the steering lock when they did the ignition.

[stevekingchef]

oh dear i was hoping it was just the head bearings.

but it was clicking out when a little pressure was placed on.

would or could this happen a few weeks after the work was done??


time to call the triumph dealership me thinks.thanks so much for your help its massivly appreciated

steve

[Kickstart]

Hi

Unless the steering head bearings were completely wrecked I can't think of a way for them to just jam like that.

Have a poke around and see if you can spot what is stopping the bars from turning. My first guess would be a badly routed cable.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[stevekingchef]

cheers kickstart will have a poke before i call.tbh the bearings have needed to be done for a while but its weird that all of a sudden my steering locked up!with no change in feel before?


many thanks guys


steve

[steo]

Do you know if the headset bearings are the cup & ball bearing variety? If they are then the cups have probably become so worn that there are notches in them, it could explain why you're getting a clicking noise & the steering is locking up. I'd say the last tech over tightened them trying to take the play out your steering when reassembling the front end.

Can you jack up the front of bike securely & grab the bottom of the fork legs? Try rock them backwards & forwards to look for play. Your steering should also move freely left & right without sticking while the front wheel is in the air. I suspect the h/s bearings are a dry as a bone & possibly missing a few ball bearings as well.

[stevekingchef]

hi guys

kickstart
i had a look theres nothing blocking them in any way but a good first port of call many thanks i wouldnt have thought of the obvious!

steo

well when i changed tires a good 4 months ago the guy said they were well on the way out.your prognosis sounds feasible to me as steering felt a little tight when i got the bike back!!


i have booked it into guildford tires they quoted 170 fitted is this about right??they seem really good there fitting tires chain and sprocket wheel bearing etc etc for me.
dont even want to try triumph they have a huge wait always!!!

[Cigaro]

You could always do it yourself - it's not THAT difficult!

I'd definitely investigate steering lock issues though, if you've had the ignition changed.

[Kickstart]

Hi

You would need to tighten the bearings a massive amount to get them to be close to solid, and would expect it to be very obvious prior to that. If they were the cause then (assuming tapered rollers) I would guess that the cage has fallen to pieces and allowed the rollers to move out of position and jam. However this would surprise me.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[steo]

£170 sounds about average if this is including vat? Two hours labour plus parts. Would probably be nearly double that if was a sports bike.

As the other poster said, if you are confident enough you could do them yourself in a few hours & save a couple of quid. Only snag with doing this job is the lower bearing inner race can be an absolute pig to get off & the bike shop would have all the appropriate tools to overcome this problem.

[stevekingchef]

hi the bike is a sports bike tt600 il4!so i guess the price is ok then!


as for the amount needed to be tightened who knows what the garage have done.also at last mot about 6months ago it was picked up thAT the bearings needed adjusting which the garage did for 40quid!



i dont feel confident to have a go myself or have the nessercery tools.

[steo]

Sorry Steve I can't keep up with the different models they keep bringing out, must have alzheimer's or summat. For some reason I had it in my head that it was a Yamaha traily 600 but anyway the job is the same. Yeh for peace of mind, get the pro to do it plus you have a bit of come back if they need any readjusting.

[stevekingchef]

ha ha theres no need to apologise steo was just saying its a sports bike as maybe different bikes use different headsets etc etc



many many thanks again guys and if u ever need a recipie for cooking just let me know ha ha ha thats my trade!!!!


steve