Clatter near front wheel

[Heathen]

So i replaced the fork seals and put everything back together.  Now i have a terrible clatter from front wheel.  Not exactly sure if i put speed sensor back on correctly when i put wheel back on.  Replaced brake shoes also but can't see how it could be brakes.

Standard valk.  '99

Any ideas?

(I currently suspect speedo, but haven't found a guide on how to put that back on.

[..]

I'll bet it's the speedo cable not being right where it needs to be at the wheel end. Take it apart and reseat it.

[hubcapsc]

When it is properly seated, the axle will be flush like this:



When it is not seated right it clicks on stuff as it goes around...

-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

(I currently suspect speedo, but haven't found a guide on how to put that back on.

A guide?  You just place it on the center of the wheel. Make sure the nub is aft of the fork slam up against the stop. Boom!

[da prez]

  The centering of the front axle. Touque the axle , tighten clamp on side with hex. Loosen the nut a couple turns. Hold front brake and force suspension down and up several times. Re-torque front axle.
 Going by memory and that is not a good thing.

                                          da prez

[Chrisj CMA]

  The centering of the front axle. Touque the axle , tighten clamp on side with hex. Loosen the nut a couple turns. Hold front brake and force suspension down and up several times. Re-torque front axle.
 Going by memory and that is not a good thing.

                                          da prez

Well. It’s actually the clutch lever side lower pinch bolts that need to be loosened while bouncing the fork. The braking action centers the caliper on the disk. The brake lever side is locked in, it can’t move.

[Heathen]

Okay, so I figured it out. 

Scared the beejeezus out of myself for nothing.

The left front brake caliper had a cylinder that was not retracting after I squeezed the brakes.

I had cleaned it, but evidently not enough.  I took it apart and cleaned it more and then some more greased it all up and put it all back and lo and behold the clatter was gone!   I guess my rotor has little imperfections or a tiny slight warp or something and that's what was clattering against the brake pads.   

Sheesh.   

I also noticed some zerk fitting on the calipers!  Holy crap!  Was I supposed to be greasing the calipers all this time???    Yikes!!!

[da prez]

There is N O zerk on the caliper. It is a bleeder screw.

                    da prez

[Peteg]

My left front caliper did the same thing. It sounded like I was sharpening a knife with a butcher steel. Cleaned and greased all good too.

[Heathen]

There is N O zerk on the caliper. It is a bleeder screw.

                    da prez

Ha!  Thanks prez, glad I haven't tried greasing it yet!! LOL!!    looked like a zerk to me.   I never wanted to be a mechanic, but I'm having to learn lots of stuff to keep this bike in shape.  Seems most shops don't want to work on it, or want to charge more than my budget allows!

Cheers!

[Heathen]

My left front caliper did the same thing. It sounded like I was sharpening a knife with a butcher steel. Cleaned and greased all good too.

that's a good description!   Glad I'm not the only one..  Good on ya for figuring it out!  Had me stumped for about a day.

Cheers!

[indybobm]

Well. It’s actually the clutch lever side lower pinch bolts that need to be loosened while bouncing the fork. The braking action centers the caliper on the disk. The brake lever side is locked in, it can’t move.

Pay attention to what Chrisj CMA said! If the Left Caliper is not centered over the rotor, the brake pads can hit the rivots on the rotor.