steering head bearings???

[olddog1946]

I just got my forks back from the Honda shop with new progressive springs, sliders, bushings, oil and dust shields. Front end dive has been reduced big time....HOWEVER, I have always had a clunk when leaving the driveway, going over a manhole cover, railroad tracks, some bumps, since I got the bike. Having had front seal problems from day one, with work always done by non honda shops, I figured incorrect assembly to be the problem. I was correct about the assembly as the HONDA tech found the damper nut loose inside, many scratches on the tubes and even some wire left inside..So after re-installing forks, test ride, now have an even more pronounced clunk.

I did check the steering head for movement, slop etc. while I had the forks off and found no slop, nice smooth movement side to side.  What am I doing wrong to check this? Or should I just go ahead and replace the bearings since I do have a set? 

[Patrick]

I'm not sure what your 'clunk' is,, but,, if the steering head bearings are smooth and adjusted near where they should be [ appr 2# to start to turn forks] then there is no need to replace them.. The 'clunk' could very well be nothing more than the caliper slides..

[Ricky-D]

It would be a waste of effort to change the bearings even though you have the bearings on hand.

Simply throwing more parts at the problem is very rookie.

The clunking is coming from the shocks still.

Slow speed over bumps (not all bumps) will cause the clunking because (1) the shocks are worn-in and (2) the high amount of unsprung weight in the front end.

If you are really upset about the clunking, which I am sure is not constantly happening, you should look at the damping system in the shock absorber which is where the origination of the clunking is being allowed.

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[olddog1946]

I'm not sure what your 'clunk' is,, but,, if the steering head bearings are smooth and adjusted near where they should be [ appr 2# to start to turn forks] then there is no need to replace them.. The 'clunk' could very well be nothing more than the caliper slides..

I just put the bike up on the jack, with jack stands under the crash bars so I'd have a good solid foundation, grabed the bottom end of the forks and get no front to back movement at all, side to side is smooth and easy.
I am indeed upset about the clunking as it sounds like a hunk of aluminum being hit with a brass mallet..it's loud, not to mention embarassing and might even be unsafe. Noise and embarassment aside, I'm worried something is not as it should be and certainly don't want to find out while running at 80 mph.

I do get the caliper clunk, but this is happening with no braking. Unless my torque wrench is trashed and my calipers are hanging loose, I don't think it's the brakes.

[dreamchaser]

Hey Dog, sounds to me, from your description, that proper dampening is not taking place.  Have you taken it back to the Honda shop and had them do a test ride and further diagnose the problem?  I believe that there is something they will recognise and should fix free of charge, if you hand them the forks again, after the test ride.  After all, they are the experts who did a rebuild and returned them to you as correct and ready for use.  Good luck.  85 and a clunk doesn't appeal to me either.

[Chrisj CMA]

I do get the caliper clunk, but this is happening with no braking.

Floating calipers with loose pads will make noise when NOT braking.  While braking everyting tightens up and quiets down.  You can adjust the brass spring plates that hold the pads if they are loose so the pads dont flop around so much........its posible thats the cause but then again.......

[olddog1946]

Hey Dog, sounds to me, from your description, that proper dampening is not taking place.  Have you taken it back to the Honda shop and had them do a test ride and further diagnose the problem?  I believe that there is something they will recognise and should fix free of charge, if you hand them the forks again, after the test ride.  After all, they are the experts who did a rebuild and returned them to you as correct and ready for use.  Good luck.  85 and a clunk doesn't appeal to me either.

I rode the bike over to the Honda shop and they did take it out for a ride. Claim that the progressive springs are newer and stiffer than the OEM and they are topping out (extending full length) and banging against the damper.............NOT   ....it's a 100 mile round trip to the dealer, and every clunk I got on the road was during compression of the forks. At any rate,  their fix is for ME to replace the oil with 15 or 20 weight fork oil with no mention or offer to replace the oil...even if it is compression rather than extension causing the problem, the fix will most likely be the same thing, thicker oil..

[JaysGone]

Just dont try 15w fork oil.
I got zero dampening with it.
Bike sat up nice and high, but almost no movement in the forks themselves with 15w.

I have a similar problem since changing the springs from progrssive back to OEM stock springs.
I also have a slight clunking sound too.
Also seems fine and tight in the air.
It might be in my case just the adjustment of the cap locking nuts.
Ive had them locked all the way down, half way and just a thread or 2.
My forks are very sensitive to both oil weight and amount of oils.
I went by the OEM maual the 1st time, but used 15w oil and failed to notice where the nuts were on the rods.
Big mistake.

I finished it up last night yet again with 10w but didnt take it for a spin as it was raining last night here.
I look forward to what ends up your solution.
Im getting rather put off by the whole thing myself............