Moscow needs your help

[deepline]

Originally Posted by mbarr10

I have one thought no one has touched on. How much weight do you have at or behind your rear wheel?? I had the issue with my 1500 Vulcan, but not my 1700 so far. How much do you carry in the bags? Is it possible you are to heavy on the load in the back to cause a slight lift on the front wheel?

I thought if you could lift the front and Spin the front tire to feel for cupping? I noticed you said it "LOOKS OK". But slight differences may be felt as you spin the tire.

There is no hesitation in the front part if raised! I tried to ride with empty bags - the same

[deepline]

Originally Posted by DragonLady58

Well, a way to find out if your neck bearings are loose....is to center your handlebars while your bike is raised off the ground....the handlebars should not 'flop' to the steering stops. If it does, your steering is too loose!
While your bike is suspended off the ground, and firmly tied down so it won't fall, bend over, grab the forks at the axle, and pull up and release perpendicular to the lower forks.
...this will let you know if bearings have any slack. This will also tell you if the bushings in your forks are tight, also.

I realize that we are throwing alot at you to check on your bike, but you can't have ANY LOOSNESS there.
Hope that the language barrier won't keep us from helping you get your bike fixed....

As I have already said, in the front part, I replaced all the bearings with new ones, and tightened everything with a torque wrench on the manual! Raised the front axle, no swinging

[Snake Ranch]

Originally Posted by deepline

As I have already said, in the front part, I replaced all the bearings with new ones, and tightened everything with a torque wrench on the manual! Raised the front axle, no swinging

Greetings
I had a similar problem. Turned out to be the front tire was starting to delaminate. It was not out of round but moved side to side. I had checked the steering bearings as advised and doubled the bearing torque. Still had the problem. When I replaced the front tire the problem was gone. And the tire didn't have many miles on it.

All I did was jack the front end up and spin the tire by hand. You could see the tire wobble side to side. Was not much of a side to side movement but it got real wild one time. I thought I was going to lose it before I was able to get control back.

Hope this helps.

[DragonLady58]

Since your front bearings are ok....which front tire are you running? How many miles on it? Its age? What air pressure are you running?
The big Vulcan cruisers are great bikes, but sometimes very tempormental with certain tires at certain psi....
MAS might pop up soon and give us his thoughts....

[recumbentbob]

Originally Posted by DragonLady58

Since your front bearings are ok....which front tire are you running? How many miles on it? Its age? What air pressure are you running?
The big Vulcan cruisers are great bikes, but sometimes very tempormental with certain tires at certain psi....
MAS might pop up soon and give us his thoughts....

He posted this 2 pages ago.

"All elements were twisted with a torque wrench! Tires new METZELER MARATHON (front, rear) during the installation of tires problems with the wheels found. Rear pendulum tight. Tire pressure 2.5 atmospheres. It still seems to me that the problem is behind, since the belt for the season was very tight! Although I ate only in the city. It seems that the rear wheel is not properly positioned, but apparently I did not see it"

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by recumbentbob

He posted this 2 pages ago.

"All elements were twisted with a torque wrench! Tires new METZELER MARATHON (front, rear) during the installation of tires problems with the wheels found. Rear pendulum tight. Tire pressure 2.5 atmospheres. It still seems to me that the problem is behind, since the belt for the season was very tight! Although I ate only in the city. It seems that the rear wheel is not properly positioned, but apparently I did not see it"

Duh....sorry..........brainfart.....metezler.
Working waaaay to much lately

[deepline]

Can anyone have any ideas other than the front axle?

[redjay]

The problem you described in your original post has been fixed by many forum members by tightening or replacing the steering bearings.

[deepline]

Then it remains to wait for the summer! And try

[hlknvlcn60]

My Vaquero has pushed the front around a little at about 30-40 MPH but keeping a decent grip on the handlebar eliminates the heebee jeebees. I noticed it particularly when I was running Michelin commander tires. It has never been a problem running Bridgestone Exedra Max tires but the Excedras wear too quickly. Always a compromise but when the speed picks up like the others said it balances out nicely.

[mike07nad]

Greeting to Moscow!
I have read through your posts and would like to offer the following.

#1 - The Tapered Roller Bearings (All Balls) fixed the Wobbles on the 3 Voyagers I have owned. The Kawasaki Stock bearings are roller bearings - not the same.

#2 - Front wheel Alignment - Because the Voyager has a floating front axle you must align / square up the front forks before you tighten the 2 pinch bolts on right side.

Here is the best alignment process I have found.
* Loosen the 2 pinch bolts bottom right fork.
* Loosen 4 fender bolts (with the fender tight it can hold your forks out of alignment)
* Place front tire against something solid that won't move.
* Sit on bike and Bounce the forks up and down several times - 5 or 6 big bounces should work. You need to flex the shock.
* VERY IMPORTANT. Get a helper to tighten the pinch bolts to the specified torque spec while you are still on the bike holding it up square. DO NOT put bike on the side stand and get off the bike - this will change the axle alignment you set by bouncing it.
* Once pinch bolts are tight - get off bike and re-tighten the fender bolts.

Hope this helps.

[smokier]

Originally Posted by mike07nad

(Snip)

Here is the best alignment process I have found.
* Loosen the 2 pinch bolts bottom right fork.
* Loosen 4 fender bolts (with the fender tight it can hold your forks out of alignment)
* Place front tire against something solid that won't move.
* Sit on bike and Bounce the forks up and down several times - 5 or 6 big bounces should work. You need to flex the shock.
* VERY IMPORTANT. Get a helper to tighten the pinch bolts to the specified torque spec while you are still on the bike holding it up square. DO NOT put bike on the side stand and get off the bike - this will change the axle alignment you set by bouncing it.
* Once pinch bolts are tight - get off bike and re-tighten the fender bolts.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Mike, awesome! Will be filing this away in the useful info section for sure.

Ride safe,
Smokier

[Dinskoy]

Well ... I will closely follow the theme , too, is interesting ;)