MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
-
- Member
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 11:48 am Mar 13 2012
- Country:
- Location: middle tennessee
MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
So I loaded my bike up after a race (bike steered fine) and when I got home i couldn't steer. It snags and sounds crunchy. Its obvious they are shot. So what about being tied down that made it go all the way bad? Side note, I am pretty sure the cause was an enduro where i crashed between 2 trees. It tweaked front end. I think that was the beginning of the end.
'98 KDX 200 (KLX300 Forks)
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 827
- Joined: 10:00 am May 29 2012
- Country:
- Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
I would recommend dropping the fork out of the frame and inspecting the steering head bearings. Mine seemed OK when I first got the bike, but up on the stand, the steering was kind of notchey. Found the steering bearings were freshly greased, but the bearings themselves were shot.
You might first try resetting the adjusting nuts. That enduro crash could have changed the settings.
You might first try resetting the adjusting nuts. That enduro crash could have changed the settings.
-
- Member
- Posts: 222
- Joined: 08:51 am May 30 2012
- Country:
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
Your crash may have packed dirt into your bearings or somehow thrown off your adjusting nut.
As pumpguy said, drop the front end off and have a look.
You can probably get away with just giving them a good cleaning, grease them back up, and slap it back together.
As pumpguy said, drop the front end off and have a look.
You can probably get away with just giving them a good cleaning, grease them back up, and slap it back together.
- KDXGarage
- KDXRider.net
- Posts: 14084
- Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
- Country: United States of America
- Location: AL, USA
- Contact:
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
Take it all apart and get to inspecting.
Check for a bent steering stem, as well as the normal checks.
Check for a bent steering stem, as well as the normal checks.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net.
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
-
- Member
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 11:48 am Mar 13 2012
- Country:
- Location: middle tennessee
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
Its really bad... Like to the point where I cant steer at all. It is virtually seized. I have replaced before and its no big deal. The strange thing is I loaded the bike after the race and it felt fine.... When I unloaded it it was seized... Its just strange.
JASON, What is the tolerance for the stem? any good points on checking it for bend?
JASON, What is the tolerance for the stem? any good points on checking it for bend?
'98 KDX 200 (KLX300 Forks)
- KDXGarage
- KDXRider.net
- Posts: 14084
- Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
- Country: United States of America
- Location: AL, USA
- Contact:
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
I think the manual just says replace if bent. A straight edge would be good. Also, a piece of glass on the edge of a table to roll check it.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net.
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
- bufftester
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 3462
- Joined: 06:03 pm Oct 31 2012
- Country: USA
- Location: University Place, WA
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
sounds like the bearing cage gave up, as most of us use tie downs on the bars ratcheted down it puts a lot of strain on the steering bearings...likely they were getting ready to go and that just helped them along. Should be an easy fix, drop the front, new bearings (hopefully the races are still good) and go.
-
- Member
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 11:48 am Mar 13 2012
- Country:
- Location: middle tennessee
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
Thanks. That's helpful. Tied down for a 600mi road trip too. That makes sense.
Reuse races huh?
Reuse races huh?
'98 KDX 200 (KLX300 Forks)
- KDXohio
- Supporting Member
- Posts: 825
- Joined: 06:04 pm Jun 19 2013
- Country: United States
- Location: Dayton, Ohio
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
zepplin153 wrote:Reuse races huh?
No it's never good to re-use races in any case it will case premature wear 100% of the time. Bearings once installed the cup and cone wear into each other causing a matched pair don't replace one without the other. Repair it right the first time not the second, third.........
1990 KDX200 FMF Fatty, Answer VFC silencer, VForce 3 Cage, Wiseco Piston, KX125-J series KYB USD fork conversion, Race tech goldvalves, J series front brake assembly, air-box snorkel removed, Acerbis Headlight, KX450F Front fender, Pro Taper RM bend bars, ASV front Brake lever, MSR Clutch perch and lever, RB Head mod, 36mm PWK carb, Trail Tech Kickstand.
-
- Member
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 11:48 am Mar 13 2012
- Country:
- Location: middle tennessee
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
This was my thinking. And its only a few extra min worth of work.KDXohio wrote:
No it's never good to re-use races in any case it will case premature wear 100% of the time. Bearings once installed the cup and cone wear into each other causing a matched pair don't replace one without the other. Repair it right the first time not the second, third.........
'98 KDX 200 (KLX300 Forks)
-
- Member
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 11:48 am Mar 13 2012
- Country:
- Location: middle tennessee
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
Just figured I would give an update. Replaced bearings and races a few days after this post.Bearings were shot. I mean really bad. I think the initial damage came from an impact with a tree about 2 months prior, and deteriorated from there. The final blow was the road trip. Replaced and working perfectly.
'98 KDX 200 (KLX300 Forks)
- Actionman
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 621
- Joined: 09:08 pm May 22 2013
- Country:
- Location: Parts unknown
Re: MMMMmm... Crunchy steering.
i just paid $24 for bearings and races on ebay. you may as well replace em.
2002 KDX 200