Funny "tick" in the front end

[beRto]

I have this funny "tick" sound in my front end that I can't seem to track down. It only happens when the bike is on the centrestand and I press down on the front end. Every time I press down, there is a single distinct "click" about halfway through the fork travel.

The sound goes away when the bike is off the centrestand.

As far as I can tell, the sound is coming from in or around the headlight bucket or ignition.

Thinking it might be a bearing problem, I wiggled the front end around; there was no movement and no sound.

Any ideas what it might be? Does anyone else have this "tick"?

Thanks. 

[bombadillo]

while you're compressing the fork??  If so maybe a burr somewhere in the fork tube, or something of that nature.

[beRto]

while you're compressing the fork?? 

Yes, the sound happens midway through travel while compressing the fork.

If so maybe a burr somewhere in the fork tube, or something of that nature.

Thanks for the idea, but I don't think that's it. The sound is a distinct metal-on-metal click near the ignition switch. I have a headlight fairing, so maybe something is tapping that?

I don't think it's a major problem, it's just frustrating that I can't find it!  I only asked in the off-chance that someone else might have encountered this before.


edit:  It seems like someone else has experienced this problem before:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=9018.0

I don't have any squeaking, but the "tick" sounds just like Ed_in_Az's description... too bad he never followed up on this (I wonder if this is the same bike Kerry bought from him?).

Nobody else with Progressive springs has a "tick"?

[MArkRD]

Nobody else with Progressive springs has a "tick"?

Yup! I've got one. Only in different circumstances. I hear the same distinctive tick sometimes when braking. I can confirm that it sounds like it's coming from the bearings (not the wheel bearings but the other pair near the headlight).  I've noticed it a couple of weeks ago but no difference in steering.

Plans are to check it out coming weekend.  I'm guessing that the bearings are gone, though i can't feel any play on them. I think i'm gonna dissassemble the frontend to the last washer to find out..... Have to replace seals anyway.

I'll keep you posted!

[beRto]

Nobody else with Progressive springs has a "tick"?

Yup! I've got one. Only in different circumstances. I hear the same distinctive tick sometimes when braking. I can confirm that it sounds like it's coming from the bearings (not the wheel bearings but the other pair near the headlight).  I've noticed it a couple of weeks ago but no difference in steering.

Plans are to check it out coming weekend.  I'm guessing that the bearings are gone, though i can't feel any play on them. I think i'm gonna dissassemble the frontend to the last washer to find out..... Have to replace seals anyway.

I'll keep you posted!

Great... looking forward to your analysis and results! 

Don't forget to take pictures!

[ohgood]

Apply heavy pressure to your front brake.

Release the clutch a little in first gear, and see if it 'ticks' like you're describing. If not, Turn the engine off, and pull BACK on the bars as hard as you can with the front brake applied.

Then try again ^

I'll bet you hear the tick that time. You steering tube bearings need tightening, greasing, or possibly replacing, my guess.

[beRto]

Apply heavy pressure to your front brake.

Release the clutch a little in first gear, and see if it 'ticks' like you're describing. If not, Turn the engine off, and pull BACK on the bars as hard as you can with the front brake applied.

Then try again ^

I'll bet you hear the tick that time. You steering tube bearings need tightening, greasing, or possibly replacing, my guess.

Thanks for the suggestion... I'll try it out at some point over the next few days and let you know how it goes.

[MArkRD]

Well, I had a quiet afternoon. Not much to do at work, so in comes the GS (i love my boss).

I spent more then an hour trying to reproduce the problem and finally got it ticking the same way as Ohgood described.
I can confirm my steering tube bearings are bad. Besides the 'tick' i can clearly hear a grinding noise coming from the upper bearing.

Those bearings are coming out this weekend!
Does anybody have the dimensions of these bearings?


PS. there are some pictures and description here: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=38447.0

[beRto]

Well, I had a quiet afternoon. Not much to do at work, so in comes the GS (i love my boss).

I spent more then an hour trying to reproduce the problem and finally got it ticking the same way as Ohgood described.
I can confirm my steering tube bearings are bad. Besides the 'tick' i can clearly hear a grinding noise coming from the upper bearing.

Those bearings are coming out this weekend!
Does anybody have the dimensions of these bearings?

How dare you come back here and report news I didn't want to hear 

[MArkRD]

Sorry mate, hate to brake your bubble. 

If you really don't like to do the job, you can sent your bike to me and i'll do it for you (for free!!  ).


Shopping list: tapered bearing 32006X 30/55/17 ( ID/OD/H) and 32005X 25/47/15

[MArkRD]

Today is a good day. I spent all afternoon fiddeling with the GS.

I took care of the front end first


The handlebars are resting on the tank, headlight is hanging down. This gave enough space to remove the steeringstem.


To my surprise this nut was only fingertight where it should torqued to +/- 45 NM.


After cleaning & inspection i found that these bearings are in good condition. Grease'm up and reinstall...


Be sure to torque all the nuts & bolts to the corrected value!

So, lucky me. No more ticking! The front end feels a lot better. So good, actually, that i could feel my front tire was starting to wear out....

I hope, Berto, that you have a similair problem.

[beRto]

Try as I might, I could not get the tick with the bike off the centre-stand. Good idea on checking the torque of the steering stem bolt... I'll look at that next!

Thanks for following up on this thread.

[MArkRD]

Try as I might, I could not get the tick with the bike off the centre-stand. Good idea on checking the torque of the steering stem bolt... I'll look at that next!

Same here. It took some time fiddeling before i could reproduce the problem. Mind you, it's not the steering stem bolt but the nut with the four notches that was loose. I had to remove the upper steeringplate (where the clipons bolt on to) before i discovered that it was loose.

Good luck and let me know what you found