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Author Topic: I feel a little "click" in the handle bars..  (Read 1730 times)
F6CTrider
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Posts: 145


Denver, Colorado


« on: March 30, 2011, 11:48:34 PM »

I feel a little tiny "click" in the handle bars when I am starting out from a stop. Undecided
I do not hear it, and I can't reproduce it in the shop? I have 70K on the odometer.  No noticeable issues while driving.

My guess is the bearings in the steering head?  Is this a difficult fix? 
I had the front wheel off for a tire change, hoped to find something loose in the brakes, no apparent issues there.  Not sure I would have known what to look for. crazy2  Any other suggestions? 

Related item: I am at least the third owner.  How can I tell what kind of fork springs are in there?
Should I just suck it up and rebuild the whole thing (springs, oil, bearings, ??)  What kind of costs am I looking at and how difficult is this. 
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Blackduck
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Posts: 642


West Australia


« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2011, 02:36:55 AM »

Tough one.
Have you felt anything when braking? The front disc's can click but you normally hear that.
Would have a good look for anything loose around the cables and headlight area.
Possibly the bearings but think you would feel it more on turns.
Cheers Steve.
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2001 Standard, 78 Goldwing, VRCC 21411
Chrisj CMA
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Posts: 14791


Crestview (Panhandle) Florida


« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2011, 04:56:11 AM »

When I changed out my handlebars  (crash repair) I found the risers were just loose enough to do what yo are saying.  Slight movement.....must have been that way for a long time.  After getting them all tight, I did notice a quieter nicer front end....check riser bolts
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Momz
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Posts: 5702


ABATE, AMA, & MRF rep.


« Reply #3 on: March 31, 2011, 05:26:09 AM »

If you have the chrome radiator top trim, the lower triple clamps may be contacting it at full lock.
If that is what the problem is, don't worry about it.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2011, 09:44:42 AM by Momz » Logged


ALWAYS QUESTION AUTHORITY! 

97 Valk bobber, 98 Valk Rat Rod, 2K SuperValk, plus several other classic bikes
Ricky-D
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Posts: 5031


South Carolina midlands


« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2011, 08:57:14 AM »

It's possible that the wear parts in the front shocks is allowing a sloppiness in the shock assemblies that you are feeling as a click.

First thing to check is to see the stem bearings are not loose and the cause of the "click". An easy quick way to feel for looseness in the steering stem bearings is to:

Hold the front brake tightly with the right hand while at the same time, feel with the left hand at a place on the triple tree lower section, where the bearing is located. What you are looking for is any lateral movement between the the two pieces. (steering stem and the triple tree)

Ok, so while you are doing all this, you have to have the bike upright and balanced on the wheels, you need to shove the bike forward against the front brake using your thighs against the gas tank and then allow to rest. Do this a bunch of consecutive times and if the steering stem bearings are loose you will feel the movement with your left hand. You are looking for lateral movement in the bearings (front to rear) so you must keep the bars steady with the right hand.

Now, to some this may seem very complicated, but it is very easy and not dangerous a bit. I am sure there will be a few riders that will not be able to perform this task due to the restriction of the height of the bike.

I really think your problem is more likely the shocks are becoming sloppy and so I only post the stem bearing check as a way to eliminate that possible being the problem.

***
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2000_Valkyrie_Interstate
GREENDRAGON
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Posts: 93


Ft. Collins, Co.


« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2011, 02:49:33 PM »

I had the same thing going on for a while. found out it was one of my risers. Tightened them up and no more problems.
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GREENDRAGON
2qmedic
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Posts: 393


Simply Awesome!!!


« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2011, 03:45:26 PM »

Interesting...
Last year when I had a fork seal blow, I then heard a metalic click-click when compressing the forks. I rebuilt the forks and never found anything at all in them that would have caused the noise. Hmm...
O-well, once they were installed, I never heard it again. Go figure???
Good luck and let us know what ya find.
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Thunderbolt
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Posts: 3726


Worthington Springs FL.


« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2011, 06:10:09 PM »

I had one that caused something similar.
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Rio Wil
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Posts: 1357



« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2011, 08:02:43 PM »

Check the big chrome nut on top of the tree between the handlebar risers...bet its loose.  Mine was finger tight and made a little click when starting off.
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N8171S
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Posts: 184

Marlboro, Mass


« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2011, 02:25:18 PM »

After fork seal replacement I forgot to tighten one of the upper pinch bolts and had a clicking untill I figured it out.
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