question for you techie/mechanical types (yea, i know...Tech board....blah, bla)

[RedValk]

on my Valk....97 Tourer with 105k miles....for SEVERAL years i've noticed when i stop ....and i almost always use more (or only) front braking....i hear a "crack or loud clunk" sound coming out of the front end...near the top of the forks or around the windshield area.

years ago, it just did it once in a while...when stopping with front brakes HARD. now, the last year or so....it does it ALMOST EVERY TIME i stop (again, i usually use mostly front brakes). If i stop pretty sudden or hard....it WILL DO IT EVERY TIME. it does it most the time now, even with not so hard stopping/braking. It's like when the weight of the bike shifts forward....."crack"...there it is...a loud pronounced CRACK...one time. EACH time i stop.....

i told the Honda shop about it....you know, just verbally described it...and they wondered if maybe it could be the steering head bearings...or something like that?

Anyway.......THOUGHTS from you knowledgable folks? You can take my bike out in a parking lot...get up to speed...brake mostly with the front brakes...and CRACK....as the weight shifts forward. one time...each stop...but loud and pronounced. it's not a soft dound....but a "hard" sound...again, like a "Crack".......

[Bobbo]

Check the front brake rotor bolts.  A few of mine came loose, and it made a pop or cracking sound when I stopped.  The caliper pins could also be worn or very dry.  Also, check the pinch bolts where the forks mount to the triple tree.  That could cause a pop when pressure is put on it if they are loose.

[stude31]

Hopefully my buddy up in Vermont will chime in (Wildman).

I think he had mentioned to me last year when we were changing out his front tire that that noise can come from your caliper.  Not sure if there is a fix for it or not.  I know this doesn't help but hoping that Tom will post some clarity on this one...

My 98 tourer has done it too

[Grumpy]

First I would get a torque wrench and check all the fork clamp bolts, and caliper mounts for play. Some thing is shifting under load, I would give it a thorough check before riding it, be a bad thing if some thing came loose.

[Gryphon Rider]

I suspect your Honda shop is on the right track...steering head bearings.  If you know about the tech board, why not post there?  It's not like you have the bike apart in your garage and you need the instant help that the more popular General board might offer.  And people searching the tech board with a similar problem won't find the replies you get on the general board.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I don’t have an answer but I’ve been chasing the same problem or similar for quite a while. It happens on my bike right at the end of a stop just before the bike comes to a complete stop. Not every time but most of the time and it’s been pretty much the same for the past several years.

I’ve checked the torque on all the front end and brake bolts, several times. I’ve replaced the wheel bearings twice. I’ve rolled the wheel around listening for something loose in it. I’ve rebuilt the forks. I’ve replaced the steering head bearings. I've replaced the brake pads several times since it started.

It started the same year that I installed progressive fork springs but not right after I installed them. I’ve finally given up and decided to ignore it.

[six2go #152]

"If you know about the tech board, why not post there?"

Cuz Tim is SPECIAL! 

[Super Santa]

I have a similar pop on mine.  Not sure, but my thinking is along this line.

I know I have had a slow leak on my left fork seal.  I think most of the oil is now out of it.  I think it may be related to that fork seal being dry and just popping sometimes when forks are compressed.

Just my thoughts.  And an uninformed SWAG.  (Scientific Wild A$$ Guess)

[Daniel Meyer]

I'd vote for head bearings...especially if they've not been changed/lubed/torqued before. Replace them and go from there!

I have a similar pop on mine.  Not sure, but my thinking is along this line.

I know I have had a slow leak on my left fork seal.  I think most of the oil is now out of it.  I think it may be related to that fork seal being dry and just popping sometimes when forks are compressed.

Just my thoughts.  And an uninformed SWAG.  (Scientific Wild A$$ Guess)

There's a LOT of oil in each fork...if it all leaked out in any kind of reasonable time your bike will be splattered with it from front to back This I know....and hope I have time to fix before Inzane! (I'll post pics later  LOL!)

[Thunderbolt]

turn the wheel all the way to the left and this will give you access to the right side bolt and vice versa.

[Michvalk]

I just retorqued the stearing head bearings and stopped the very same noise/feel. Mine did this for almost 3 years

[John Schmidt]

Tim, put a lift a little forward under the engine so when you raise it, only the front wheel comes off the ground. Then center the forks and reach down and grab the wheel, give it a yank forward. If your steering head bearings are loose enough to make a sound like that, you should be able to feel the fork/wheel move when you pull on it. Also watch to see if the forks flop to the side with ease, actually kinda bang on the stops left and right. That should tell you if the front is loose.

When you raise it on the lift, have your wife jack it up while you watch the fork action and have your hand on the lower tree. If the stem is loose, you'll be able to feel some movement and in a bad case....be able to see it when the wheel comes off the ground.

[big turkey]

98 Tourer did the same thing.

Check bolts, jack the front end up and check for pay in the head stay bearings.

Sounds as if this is a pretty common problem.

If Brakes are performing as they should and the steering is not too sloppy rock on dude.

Big Al

[big turkey]

I would lighten up on Tim, he is a Big Felllow and I like him.

Big AL

[Warlock]

on my Valk....97 Tourer with 105k miles....for SEVERAL years i've noticed when i stop ....and i almost always use more (or only) front braking....i hear a "crack or loud clunk" sound coming out of the front end...near the top of the forks or around the windshield area.

years ago, it just did it once in a while...when stopping with front brakes HARD. now, the last year or so....it does it ALMOST EVERY TIME i stop (again, i usually use mostly front brakes). If i stop pretty sudden or hard....it WILL DO IT EVERY TIME. it does it most the time now, even with not so hard stopping/braking. It's like when the weight of the bike shifts forward....."crack"...there it is...a loud pronounced CRACK...one time. EACH time i stop.....

i told the Honda shop about it....you know, just verbally described it...and they wondered if maybe it could be the steering head bearings...or something like that?

Anyway.......THOUGHTS from you knowledgable folks? You can take my bike out in a parking lot...get up to speed...brake mostly with the front brakes...and CRACK....as the weight shifts forward. one time...each stop...but loud and pronounced. it's not a soft dound....but a "hard" sound...again, like a "Crack".......


[/e]All good advice. Had one guy had a piece come a loose in one of his forks. Just something else the think about if it's not the steering bearing. Would make a popping sound when applying the brakes.
David

[tedj]

If it's not the forks, this might help. Got it from this website.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/#NOISE

The Valkyrie is equipped with "floating" calipers. The calipers are attached to the caliper brackets (these, not the calipers, are bolted to the forks) by a set of rubber booted pins set in holes. The holes are larger than the pins so there is some free play there. When you back your bike up to turn it around and apply the brake in reverse, the calipers will move to the rearmost position. When you apply the brake at the next forward stop the calipers move to the forward most position and the pins strike the other sides of the holes.. CLUNK! You can see the calipers move if you apply the brake and rock the bike forward and back. When you stop at a red light, the calipers will move to the forward most position then when the bike "rocks back" after being stopped... CLUNK!

[Super Santa]

I like that answer.  Seems the most accurate if all else checks out.

[big turkey]

When I hit a square edge bump, like train tracks or the like.

After applying brakes, I heard the same thing metioned above.

Just keep riding and try to ignore it.

Or you can spend lots of money like the guy above did and still have the problem.

Or you could ride your Rune.

Big Al

[big turkey]

For some reason the Interstate I have does not have this problem.

Unlike the Tourer I used to have.

BigAl

[Six Guns]

Hey RedValk,

    I found this tidbit of information on Rattlerbars web site:


IT GOES CLUNK WHEN I STOP! It sure does! The Valkyrie is equipped with "floating" calipers. The calipers are attached to the caliper brackets (these, not the calipers, are bolted to the forks) by a set of rubber booted pins set in holes. The holes are larger than the pins so there is some free play there. When you back your bike up to turn it around and apply the brake in reverse, the calipers will move to the rearmost position. When you apply the brake at the next forward stop the calipers move to the forward most position and the pins strike the other sides of the holes.. CLUNK! You can see the calipers move if you apply the brake and rock the bike forward and back. When you stop at a red light, the calipers will move to the forward most position then when the bike "rocks back" after being stopped... CLUNK

[RedValk]

lots of good advice...i'll try to check ALL of this out. SOunds like several others MAY have had similar noise. It's a CLACK....very pronounced. It's done it for several years now........almost EVERY time i stop now. ....CLACK....

i checked rotor bolts...a few weren't real tight...so...maybe? Pinch bolts on fork were tight. I need to check steering head bearing tightness next........

again...thanks so much.

As for the Tech board, i just know there are MANY like me....I NEVER go on there....or..almost never. To get the LARGEST number of repsonses...i just feel like the General board is THE place to go. Likewise on the RUne board i run, MANY NEVER GO to any of our other forums...but the General forum. That's just human nature i guess?............

[stude31]

Funny you mention "not many go to the tech board".  Up until last InZane I NEVER came to the General Board.  I would come over here and people would be talking like they knew each other.. I felt like an orphan over here in the general board.  But after InZane last year I learned just how great of an extended family that I was embarking on.   I have had the amazing honor of being able to call some members on here best friends.  It is truly a blessing to have found the VRCC and the knowledge and advice comes in masses.   

I am forever grateful to Oz and all those that have dedicated so much time into the VRCC.  I come here and "lurk" at times and it is a place that I come to first when I fire up the computer.  Great folks, great bikes, and one amazing website...

Hope you locate your problem soon my friend.....
 

[big turkey]

Louder Pipes is always the answer.

The Harley I own came out with a Six Speed, that had 5th gear whine.

Nothing wrong with the gear or tranny just whined,

Come to find out it is a square cut gear that is whining and it does it in first too, guess what a square cut gear there too.

The noise tests are performed in 2nd through 4th for the EPA.

So they saved a little money and made the fifth gear stronger for performance but it became an

issue with all of the bikes that had a fairing to reflect the noise.

They fixed the whine in 2008 , the next year model with a rubber compensator.

For only 350 bucks that same compensator can be placed in my 2007,

But instead since it is not a mechanical problem, louder pipes sufficed.

Always the right choice for me.

Those little noises are annoying, due to the fact they could be a precursor to flaming death.

 



Big Al

[Mickey Runie]

Tim, if this problem persists, YOU MUST BRING IT TO MISSOURI.  Do not delay.  Don't ride it another mile.  Give it to me and I'll take care of it for you.

I've been thinking about adding a Valk to the garage, and this may just be the opportunity Ive been waiting for.

[RedValk]

truthfully, it's been going on for YEARS! but now, it's to the point where it does it 99% of the time ...when you stop. you know it's coming....sooner or later as the bike slows......wait for it.....CLACK.....very loud....very sharp....no missing it. It sounds like someone hit the top of my tripletree with a hammer or something. i'm sure, that probably aint good?

Oh, the few times i use only REAR brake (which is VERY rare)...it does NOT do it. No front brake, means no "clack". But 99% of the time you use the front brakes...no matter how hard or soft....it does it....sooner or later during the stop.......

[Ferris Leets]

Sounds to me like the floating caliper has wallowed out the holes for the pins.  Before it was almost tight and could float.  Now it is loose so it moves forward and back enough to clunk.  I get a slight pop when mine come to the full forward positon on the IS.

[big turkey]

My 98 tourer did it too and just said after checking everthing, a engineering prob.

That I can't solve wihtout spending a lot of cash.

I t sounds good under power wiht that big six though don't it.

Big AL

[RedValk]

I just retorqued the stearing head bearings and stopped the very same noise/feel. Mine did this for almost 3 years

thanks for ALL the good suggestions....they were great advice. BUT IN THE END....this one nalied it! I retorqued to 75 ft-lb per service manual (it was at about 55)....and BINGO.....no more "crack". THANK YOU...for the good advice. 

[Stanley Steamer]

I just retorqued the stearing head bearings and stopped the very same noise/feel. Mine did this for almost 3 years

thanks for ALL the good suggestions....they were great advice. BUT IN THE END....this one nalied it! I retorqued to 75 ft-lb per service manual (it was at about 55)....and BINGO.....no more "crack". THANK YOU...for the good advice. 

Are we talking about the...."Come to Jesus nut"?.....