Hi,

my steering head bearing has to be adjusted because lately I often hear a faint crack during braking. When is the steering head bearing actually worn and how do I realize that?
I do not want to dismantle all the junk, set the bearing, and then find that it is broken and start over.

Jens

 

A pretty good test of the ***** and races are to pull the bearings a bit overly tight, then move the steering head back and forth. If it feels "lumpy" when it moves either the ***** are somewhat flattened or there are divots worn into the races. Either way, replace the set. If things feel smooth but tight and stiff, you're bearings are probably just fine.

 

Good tip! Thank you very much!

 

Tapered roller bearings in steering head....

Every once in a while you should disassemble the front end, remove the steering stem and inspect the bearings.

Here`s a pic of one of the outer races from my `89 Softail, this bearing has 140,000 miles on it, it was repacked once, at about 80K.

The steering felt normal, and the bearing feels smooth, but obviously failed the visual inspection.

 

How many miles on the bike? Check the front brake rotors. My bike has 35,000 miles on it. around 32000 I noticed a clink sound when I put on the front break and when I hit a bump some times. Turns out the break rotor bolt holes had worn to a point the rotors would move approximately 1/16" clockwise and/or counter clockwise. Not in and out but clock wise. I got new rotors, bolts, washers and spring washers and installed them last week. No more clinking sound.

 

WoodButcher66:

Those fasteners were on there way to snapping off...

Good catch.

 

I'm not quite sure what you're talking about. The brake discs are fixed with bolts (no "swimming discs") and they're firm.
It's an old bike from 90's with almost 75,000 miles on it. After such a long time, even a bearing can be broken...

 

What I do is: Lift the bike to clear the front tire from the ground, block of wood under rear wheel, firmly hold front wheel straight and try to move front wheel, forks and all, forwards and backwards, NOT left to right as if in turning. If you have slop in the head bearings, the forks and all will move forward and back. Also, when bike is raised, front end should return to center.

 

My disk would rotate back and forth. There was no play in and out, or along the axle. But if I took hold of the rotor with my hands and tried to rotate it it would move. The bolt holes had worn to a point the rotor was allowed to move. It wasn't much. As I stated above, the rotor would move maybe 1/16th of an inch. I probably never would have found it if the bike didn't start making a clink sound when I used the front break.
As you said, your bike has 40,000 more mile on it than mine. And you may have a bad bearing some where. I only mentioned my rotors so you would know and maybe check your and be sure that wasn't the problem.

 

Rwiw mine were replaced at ~21K because the dealer caught it. I was having other work done, and didn’t really notice anything weird in the front end but after it does feel better. My point is that as a rider you may not notice much as the change is gradual, right up till. You break a race/ crush something and its more catastrophic. You really need to get the bike in the air and runs some tests as above if your at all suspicious