Topic: new neck bearings unexpected results, input needed

[merc2dogs]

 
 Just changed the neck bearings on my 750k4, old bearings were getting pretty ratchety, everything works great now except for some odd reason it want's to realy lay into a left turn, right turns are normal in every way, but lefts want to tighten right up.
 
   checked alignment, checked tires, but couldn't find anything obviously wrong. Tires are not the greatest, but I know how they react, and they aren't slippers yet. 

The only change made was the bearings, went from standard ball type to tapered roller, prior to changing it handled normally, just the normal worn ball race ratchet feel, with some self centering action thrown in.

 I checked the  normal suspects, and came up empty, so would love to hear any other things to look over.

 I think if I were more sedate on cornering I'd have never noiticed it, I'm not a canyon runner, but realy like curves, they're where I normally manage to outrun the faster bikes I ride with.

 Thanks in advance

[csendker]

Do you have the bearings in dead flat or maybe it's just a little cocked?  Just a guess - I'm still on the ball bearings...

[Bodain]

I just fought the needle bearing upgrade, but it's all good now...

Did you put the shim on the bottom of stem? If you didn't the neck is probably rubbing on the triple tree. The shim provided with my kit was about .125 thick. More than whats really needed. I had the shim shaved down to .060. Just seems like a better fit.

My major mistake... I put the top bearing in upside down. ( silly me). Since the top could never seat properly I had all sorts of grief.
Finally got a handle on it and it's fine now. Can't say it really feels better than original ball bearings. It actually feels about the same.
I just did it because a number of people here said it was a good path.

[HondaMan]

Some things to check:
1. Tightness. The adjuster nut should be tightened with the front wheel resting on the ground, forks & all assembled, then turn the handlebars back & forth while tightening the nut. Keep going until it feels like it's really starting to drag, then a little more. Then back off about 1/8 to 1/4 turn. This process sets the races and bearing cages, much like the process on front wheel bearings in a car (i.e., tighten to 25 ft-lbs while turning the wheel, back off 1/2 turn, then tighten to 10 in-lbs.).
2. Grease: did you grease them up good when installing? These require grease.
3. Retighten after about 100-200 miles of riding.

If the looseness has developed, you can tell by c-standing the bike, then have someone sit on it and balance until the front wheel is barely on the ground. Then reach down and pull the front axle toward you and push it away from you: you will feel the free play. Tighten the adjuster until it goes away.

If all these seems like a lot of trouble, console yourself with the fact that unless you drive it over 100,000 miles (like me), you'll never need to do it again. I finally wore out a set of Timkens, just replaced them last week!

[merc2dogs]

 Thanks all for the replies,
  I think I'll tear into it again and look it over just for peace of mind, did use the spacer washer, But think I may not have cranked it down snug enough initialy. Odd that it doesn't seem to have an effect on right turns though.
 intended to pull it in and do a retorque the next day, but I didn't detect any change in it's feel so kept on riding. today's rainy so it's a good time to play with it.

Thanks again
Ken.