Front 'clonk'

[Savak]

Hi all

I hear this 'clonk' from the front end (650 v6) when I go over a shallow pot hole or over a small height speed bump.
Is this normal?
Steering and ride are smooth, engine tuned etc, brake pads within limits etc.

Any ideas on what to look/feel for welcome if not a problem I'll contine to enjoy the bike

Graeme

[Alba]

I would check for play in the front wheel bearing and the steering head bearing. Small movement there could result in the noise your are hearing.

You need to get the front wheel off the ground to check.

Starting point at least.

[Lumiya]

I concur, clonk's on the front end are one of two things, head bearings need tightening up or replacing..


OR....

You;ve left the disk lock on!!!

[Alba]

OR....

You;ve left the disk lock on!!!

That's the clonk of your ar*e hitting the ground, been their done that oh then wanted the T-shirt and they say kids do not learn

[Savak]

OK

How do I tighten the bearings, I'm not much of a mechanic but can do things if told how!

Graeme

[Lumiya]

Normally needs the use of a C-Spanner and tightening up to a specified torque setting, but I normally just tap mine round with a small flat punch bit by bit until it starts to bind then loosen off by 1/8th of a turn..

No idea though is the TA is the same but 90% of bikes are the same

BUT before you do it raise the front wheel off the ground and pull forwards on the upper part of the forks..if you get movement then it's the headrace bearings, if not then pull forward on the lower part of the forks, if you get movement/click then could be the fork bushes..

[moon]

just before you start on the mechanics

a couple of years ago I had a similar "clonk" develop. It hapenned whenever the front forks compressed (pot hole or braking). I rode home very gingerly thinking that something was badly ( & expensively) amiss. My usual mechanic found the problem in about 2 minutes, the speedo drive cable was not running smoothly through the guide thing bolted on the mudguard & every tim I compressed the forks it would bend & then relese with a pronounced "clonk" which, amplified by the dash & fairing, sounded really nasty...

hope it's nothing serious

[Savak]

Had a try tonight having got a suitable socket for the top nut.

I tightened the castlelated nut finger tight plus a bit more in stages whilst checking the forks play. I eventually turned the nut 180 degrees, from which I guess is tighter than it should be, and still have play in the forks by pulling them forwards and backwards at the wheel.

I can only come to the conclusion that I need new bearings.

Is 6500 miles on the clock, from new, abnormally early to change the bearings?

Thanks
Graeme

[Alba]

Is 6500 miles on the clock, from new, abnormally early to change the bearings?

Thanks
Graeme

I would have thought so, I believe they need to be slightly adjusted when first fitted after a couple of hundred miles, so if this did not occur it could be a contributing factor.

I'm sure those in the know will be along shortly.

[Savak]

Got this sorted but in an unusual way.

When I take the slack out with the castleated nut and put everyting back on the steering seemed stiff and cornering felt dangerous and there were spots when the steering seemed to drop into a slot.

Then when I slackened the castleated nut sufficent to allow some fork movement when pulled backward and forward and everything put back on and tightened to the right torque all seemed fine. No clonk, light and free steering.

Any thoughts about anything else being at fault?

Graeme