Loose Front End?

eagle · 04-22-2010, 01:49 PM

Does anyone know how to tighten up the front steering column to reduce wobbling?

The chrome top center bolt is tight. Does this get tightened from the underside?

I feel a very slight clunk (possible play) when I rock the bike forward and backward with the front brake held on.

Or could it be my front tire that's causing some wobbling? It's a Bridgestone with lots of tread and some minor cupping beginning to appear.

cactusjack · 04-22-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle

Does anyone know how to tighten up the front steering column to reduce wobbling?

The chrome top center bolt is tight. Does this get tightened from the underside?

I feel a very slight clunk (possible play) when I rock the bike forward and backward with the front brake held on.

Or could it be my front tire that's causing some wobbling? It's a Bridgestone with lots of tread and some minor cupping beginning to appear.

Oh, if it were only that easy. It's a little more involved than that, but it isn't really difficult to do. I had a shimmy in my front end since day one, and I eliminated it completely by adjusting the steering head nut.

The nut you need to adjust is beneath the triple tree cover. If you're going to go to the trouble for adjusting it, you may just as well clean and lube the bearings, too.

I can't get to Gadget's Page from work, but I think there's instructions there. I also posted a high level rundown of the procedure here: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/phpBB3/v...=15961&start=0

eagle · 04-22-2010, 02:39 PM

Thanks for your time and advice. I'll look into that now.

cactusjack · 04-22-2010, 02:43 PM

I have no idea what year your Nomad is or how many miles it has, but you would also inspect the bearings and races for excessive wear and replace as appropriate.

eagle · 04-22-2010, 02:44 PM

The Nomad is a 2001 model. There are 45,000 miles on it. 66,000 km.

**ringadingh** · 04-22-2010, 05:06 PM

Its probably time to take it all apart and grease the bearings, then youll be able to see if they need replacing as well.

**Kawhead** · 04-23-2010, 12:23 AM

I mentioned this on another thread Ring. I tightened my spanner nut to 20 lbs and and I'm still in steering heaven. As an after thought I wish I had tried 10 first.

eagle · 04-23-2010, 09:37 PM

I went to the local Kawi Dealer. He showed me where the bolt was on a Vulcan 900. I got home and could not find this bolt visually without taking apart the majority of the front like mentioned in the instructions. I still would not know where to find the bolt to tighten by taking off the bucket and risers and bars.

Yellow Jacket · 04-23-2010, 09:59 PM

Check out this section of the service manual. This is for the 1600 but should be very similar to the 1500.

http://www.kawanow.org/pdf/VN1600Manual-Steering.pdf

The "Steering Stem Nut" is what gets adjusted to set the preload on the bearings.

04-22-2010, 01:49 PM	#1
eagle Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Posts: 291	Loose Front End? Does anyone know how to tighten up the front steering column to reduce wobbling? The chrome top center bolt is tight. Does this get tightened from the underside? I feel a very slight clunk (possible play) when I rock the bike forward and backward with the front brake held on. Or could it be my front tire that's causing some wobbling? It's a Bridgestone with lots of tread and some minor cupping beginning to appear. __________________ 2001 Nomad 1500 FI - Sold 😟 2005 Harley Davidson Road King Classic 2003 Honda GL1800 Goldwing Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-22-2010, 02:39 PM	#3
eagle Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Posts: 291	Loose Front End? Thanks for your time and advice. I'll look into that now. __________________ 2001 Nomad 1500 FI - Sold 😟 2005 Harley Davidson Road King Classic 2003 Honda GL1800 Goldwing
	0

04-22-2010, 02:43 PM	#4
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Loose Front End? I have no idea what year your Nomad is or how many miles it has, but you would also inspect the bearings and races for excessive wear and replace as appropriate. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

04-22-2010, 02:44 PM	#5
eagle Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Posts: 291	Loose Front End? The Nomad is a 2001 model. There are 45,000 miles on it. 66,000 km. __________________ 2001 Nomad 1500 FI - Sold 😟 2005 Harley Davidson Road King Classic 2003 Honda GL1800 Goldwing Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-22-2010, 05:06 PM	#6
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Loose Front End? Its probably time to take it all apart and grease the bearings, then youll be able to see if they need replacing as well. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

04-23-2010, 12:23 AM	#7
Kawhead Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 6th Floor up at the The Nervous Hospital up in East Central State, NC Posts: 7,454	Loose Front End? I mentioned this on another thread Ring. I tightened my spanner nut to 20 lbs and and I'm still in steering heaven. As an after thought I wish I had tried 10 first. __________________ ??-Mar.2,2012 "Rocky" My Beloved Dog RIP Mike Tripp VBA#767 '96 800 Vulcan Classic 06 1600 Nomad 07 1600 Nomad "The shoes you buy at the Salvation Army is already been broke in"- Aunt Kawhead
	0

04-23-2010, 09:37 PM	#8
eagle Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Posts: 291	Loose Front End? I went to the local Kawi Dealer. He showed me where the bolt was on a Vulcan 900. I got home and could not find this bolt visually without taking apart the majority of the front like mentioned in the instructions. I still would not know where to find the bolt to tighten by taking off the bucket and risers and bars. __________________ 2001 Nomad 1500 FI - Sold 😟 2005 Harley Davidson Road King Classic 2003 Honda GL1800 Goldwing
	0

04-23-2010, 09:59 PM	#9
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	Loose Front End? Check out this section of the service manual. This is for the 1600 but should be very similar to the 1500. http://www.kawanow.org/pdf/VN1600Manual-Steering.pdf The "Steering Stem Nut" is what gets adjusted to set the preload on the bearings. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
	0

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