Front End wobble - Page 2

**Top Cat** · 08-21-2014, 01:36 PM

Bought my 2008 with 2 feet of snow on the ground so no test ride.
Noticed in the spring it had a wobble if I let go of the bars.
Had new steering head bearings and wheel bearings installed.
Wobble went away.
This year I let go of the bars and let bike decelerate wobble is back.
If I let go of the bars with the throttle lock on, no wobble.
Sooooooooooooo, I am not going to let go with both hands at the same time, problem solved

**Rasta** · 08-21-2014, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogleg

Just went through the same issue last week. My front tire is a Commander II that now has 14K on it. The head shake had been mild but lately had gotten way worse. I figured I needed a new tire but I also needed to service the steering head bearings anyways (20K on bike) so I started there. I went ahead and ordered the All Balls tapered bearings just in case I got in there and needed them. The stock bearings looked good and still had an acceptable amount of grease but, since I already had the front end off I went ahead and changed them.

Results - ALL the head wobble was gone. I could even lift my hands off on decel which was better than new.

I thought for sure the tire was causing at least some of the wobble but It looks like I was wrong. Also, I think if I would have cleaned and re-lubed the stock bearings that I would have still had good results. My opinion is that these head bearings are a hair loose from the factory and over time/miles they will break in just enough to allow a wobble. The manual calls for 21 ft-lbs. I went with 25. I also run 40psi front/back.

Good for you Dogleg! I am tired of telling people to tighten that bearing so I am going to stop doing that. When I tightened mine, I still had the partially worn tire on my bike because I was not going to put a new tire on and still have the bike shake and wear the tire out. After I tightened the bearing and the bike was not wobbling with the same old tire then I went ahead and changed my tire. I think it has been at least two years now and thousands of miles and still no wobble

ramdam1 · 08-21-2014, 09:44 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will wait for the cold and pull it apart and go with the new bearings.

Thanks again

**ringadingh** · 08-21-2014, 04:02 PM

^^^Thats exactly how my bike has been since Ive owned it. The wobble always returns eventually.

usranger74 · 08-21-2014, 08:32 PM

Sounds good 2 me!!

kc_voyager · 08-22-2014, 01:47 AM

Not sure Smoky, I know the front tire runs with the wide side of the V pattern rolling forward and the back runs with the point of the V running forward. Could the V being forward running on a front be more apt to move the tire to road condition like grooves, tar patches, cracks? Figure theres a reason its supposed to roll that way.

smokey · 08-23-2014, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc_voyager

Not sure Smoky, I know the front tire runs with the wide side of the V pattern rolling forward and the back runs with the point of the V running forward. Could the V being forward running on a front be more apt to move the tire to road condition like grooves, tar patches, cracks? Figure theres a reason its supposed to roll that way.

I think the main reason is for water dispersion, I never noticed any handling issues when I accidentaly mounted my front wheel backwards, in fact I probably wouldn't have noticed except for the abs not working.

I got this explanation off the internet

Directional (Unidirectional) Tread Patterns
A directional (also called a unidirectional) tread pattern is designed to roll in only one direction. It incorporates lateral grooves on both sides of the tire’s centerline that point in the same direction and result in v-shaped tread blocks. These grooves enhance hydroplaning resistance at high speeds by pumping water more efficiently through the tread pattern. Unless they are dismounted and remounted on their wheels to accommodate use on the other side of the vehicle, directional tires are to be used on one side of the vehicle and are intended to be rotated from the front axle to the rear axle. If different tire sizes are used on the front vs. rear axle, the tires become location-specific and prohibit tire rotation unless remounted.

This would also explain why snow tires on a lot of vehicles are only meant to go on the one way for traction and grip in ice and snow.

vaquero convert · 08-23-2014, 09:36 PM

Do you need any special tools to tighten the bearing?

id-man · 08-25-2014, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vaquero convert

Do you need any special tools to tighten the bearing?

Yes you need a special wrench to make it easy. There's probably a hard way to do it without the wrench but I just bit the bullet and bought one figuring it would be way cheaper than asking my local bike mechanic to do the job.

Mine came from Amazon at $33 shipped
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

**Rasta** · 08-26-2014, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vaquero convert

Do you need any special tools to tighten the bearing?

You can use a dull chisel/ metal rod and a hammer to spin the nut too. The tool id-man posted would be great to have though!

**ringadingh** · 08-26-2014, 10:45 PM

Ive used a drift punch and hammer to tap it to the proper tightness.

**Rasta** · 08-27-2014, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringadingh

Ive used a drift punch and hammer to tap it to the proper tightness.

Worked for me too!

jtrkr220 · 08-30-2014, 06:21 AM

Had the same issue with mine, took it to dealership and found out that the fork bushings were bad, the head bearing was loose and tire was slightly out of balance. I had all of that repaired or replaced and still have the wobble, dealer called Kawi direct and the first question they asked was what kind of tires I was running, mechanic tole the Metzler 880 and their reply was "call back when he has OEM tires back on it". Dealer put a front wheel from a Vaquero they had there with 3k on origional tire and it still wobbled only at a lower speed. We then tried lowering the air pressure to Kawi's suggested 28 psi, then it shook so bad I had trouble holding on with both hands, so took it back up to 38 psi and went on my way. My next step is to try the balance beads and when it's time for new tires I will go back to the origional equipment because the bike didn't do any of this when I first got it....not to mention I can buy 5 tires for the same price I paid for 2 metzlers.

redjay · 08-30-2014, 07:42 AM

If the Vaquero front wheel with the OEM tire did not cure the wobble how is going back to OEM tires going to fix the problem ?

id-man · 09-02-2014, 10:48 AM

jtrkr220 that story is messed up. I'd be real pissed if that much work didn't fix a problem. FWIW my bike had a vibration at 85mph which was cured by dynabeads. That's not the same as a wobble but perhaps is an indication that these bikes (probably all heavy bikes) are sensitive to precise balance...it all contributes to erratic feel in the handlebars. Good luck with the beads and getting your wobble resolved - it's beautiful when it works!!

08-21-2014, 01:36 PM	#1
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Bought my 2008 with 2 feet of snow on the ground so no test ride. Noticed in the spring it had a wobble if I let go of the bars. Had new steering head bearings and wheel bearings installed. Wobble went away. This year I let go of the bars and let bike decelerate wobble is back. If I let go of the bars with the throttle lock on, no wobble. Sooooooooooooo, I am not going to let go with both hands at the same time, problem solved __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4] Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-21-2014, 04:02 PM	#4
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	^^^Thats exactly how my bike has been since Ive owned it. The wobble always returns eventually. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

08-21-2014, 08:32 PM	#5
usranger74 Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: La Vista, NE Posts: 4,060	Sounds good 2 me!! __________________ Bill (usranger74) Blake 2016 Goldwing VBA # 1505 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-23-2014, 09:36 PM	#8
vaquero convert Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Belleville, New Jersey Posts: 64	Do you need any special tools to tighten the bearing? __________________ ---------------------------------------- Not a Vaquero but a 2011 Voyager ABS Mods: Avon Grips with Ray's Throttle Mod Vance and Hines slipons
	0

08-26-2014, 10:45 PM	#11
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Ive used a drift punch and hammer to tap it to the proper tightness. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

08-21-2014, 09:44 PM	#3
ramdam1 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Long Island New York Posts: 101	Thanks everyone for your replies. I will wait for the cold and pull it apart and go with the new bearings. Thanks again
	0

08-22-2014, 01:47 AM	#6
kc_voyager Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 66	Not sure Smoky, I know the front tire runs with the wide side of the V pattern rolling forward and the back runs with the point of the V running forward. Could the V being forward running on a front be more apt to move the tire to road condition like grooves, tar patches, cracks? Figure theres a reason its supposed to roll that way.
	0

08-30-2014, 06:21 AM	#13
jtrkr220 Jr. Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Galloway, Ohio Posts: 32	Had the same issue with mine, took it to dealership and found out that the fork bushings were bad, the head bearing was loose and tire was slightly out of balance. I had all of that repaired or replaced and still have the wobble, dealer called Kawi direct and the first question they asked was what kind of tires I was running, mechanic tole the Metzler 880 and their reply was "call back when he has OEM tires back on it". Dealer put a front wheel from a Vaquero they had there with 3k on origional tire and it still wobbled only at a lower speed. We then tried lowering the air pressure to Kawi's suggested 28 psi, then it shook so bad I had trouble holding on with both hands, so took it back up to 38 psi and went on my way. My next step is to try the balance beads and when it's time for new tires I will go back to the origional equipment because the bike didn't do any of this when I first got it....not to mention I can buy 5 tires for the same price I paid for 2 metzlers. __________________ VBA Member # 2390 Vulcan Riders Association Chapter 1-32 Columbus Ohio
	0

08-30-2014, 07:42 AM	#14
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,977	If the Vaquero front wheel with the OEM tire did not cure the wobble how is going back to OEM tires going to fix the problem ?
	0

09-02-2014, 10:48 AM	#15
id-man Advanced Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cape Cod Massachusetts Posts: 822	jtrkr220 that story is messed up. I'd be real pissed if that much work didn't fix a problem. FWIW my bike had a vibration at 85mph which was cured by dynabeads. That's not the same as a wobble but perhaps is an indication that these bikes (probably all heavy bikes) are sensitive to precise balance...it all contributes to erratic feel in the handlebars. Good luck with the beads and getting your wobble resolved - it's beautiful when it works!! __________________ 2004 Nomad 1500FI - weeeeeeeeee!
	0