steering bearings

[rhunt4]

While in Daytona last week I was riding on the interstate and developed a bad wobble in front end. today I tore the front end down and the steering stem was louse and there was very little grease in the bearings. I have it back together now and will try it out tomorrow if it isn't raining. I couldn't believe how little grease was in the bearing or how louse the steering was,I only have 17000 miles on the bike.

[phenrichs]

That seems to be one of the most common things that owners have found.

[macmac]

Ma Kawii sure is stingy on any dammned grease for sartin.... Just you wait till you do the rear swing arm...

[rhunt4]

does the 1600 need to have the rear swingarm done. I don't see where the grease would go. It looks like tthere is a rubber mount there

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by rhunt4

does the 1600 need to have the rear swingarm done. I don't see where the grease would go. It looks like tthere is a rubber mount there

Well, a number of 1600 owners have found their swingarm bearings dry or near-dry due to insufficient grease at the factory. But just like the steering neck, you have to remove the swingarm to check and see. I did mine the last time I replaced the rear tire. It's tedious work, but not overly difficult.

[Yellow Jacket]

Originally Posted by rhunt4

does the 1600 need to have the rear swingarm done. I don't see where the grease would go. It looks like tthere is a rubber mount there

The rubber mount you see is the swing arm seals. There are needle bearings on each side that the shaft goes through.

I just serviced my swing arm a couple of weeks ago at 17000 miles. There was some grease in there but not any excess for sure.

The same when I did my steering stem bearings at about 12000 miles. Some grease but not a whole lot.

[macmac]

Originally Posted by rhunt4

does the 1600 need to have the rear swingarm done. I don't see where the grease would go. It looks like tthere is a rubber mount there

Hell Yeah, and if you go by the book at 7,000 miles and every 7,000 miles... Not to mention you need to know of you have a good or bad u joint!

With that said the seals are actting like thrust washers, and indeed a poor choice of thrust washers at that!

If the set up was built right, there would be taper bearings in there and a way to adjust them to a pre-load of 0.002".

Alas the bean conters won on grease AND needle bearings, with no possible way to adjust them as factory anyway.

There are 2 seals, and 2 new exhaust crush gaskets to buy, plus 2 kinds of grease.

You can pull the swing arm at you and then push it away, several times to get the idea, and see the end on a spacer that acts as a inner race. Ten measure pushed away and re-measire pulled back.

What ever the reading is it will be a lot more than 0.002". I advise doing this before the reading is 0.136 fer sartin!

All my spacers were rusty on the ends inside and outside, and at 9,000 miles when I changed the junk Bridgestone.

For the bearings and spacers, on the ends inside and outside plus the swingarn tube I use marine grease, which is stiff and sticky and I use all I could cram in there.

For everything else ALL SPINES I used a moly grease by book spec.

As to U joints about half are found to be stiff in one plane of travel at the first check, meaning they were air bound on one plane from the factory, and didn't get grease.

You just got a little winter project. Ain;t that nice!

[macmac]

Oh yeah rubber lube the shock lowers and grease the shock upper needle bearings while yer at it.... LOL

(I always loved spreading misery)