'Click' coming from front forks

[bluenova]

Hi all,

Over the last couple of days I've developed a 'click' when going over bumps which I think is coming from the front forks. It started on Sunday after riding over some cobbled stones. I thought at first it was just the radiator cover or the fairing over the front wheel was loose but everything was secure. Last night I tried pumping the forks up and down with the front brake on and I'm pretty sure the click is coming from the forks.

Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be air or dirt in the forks? I did replace the front brakes recently but they are secure and don't move at all.

 

[LERecords]

are you sure its not from the motor.. could be valve chatter.... bring it to a shop and have a mechanic just look at it, maybe they can determin what it is..

 

[wrightme43]

Well check your steering head bearings. I recently picked up a simular noise.
Mine is a broken mounting hole on the front fender. I took it off today and a big chunk of the little fender is just missing.

 

[bluenova]

are you sure its not from the motor.. could be valve chatter.... bring it to a shop and have a mechanic just look at it, maybe they can determin what it is..

No, not engine related. Engine is off, it's when compressing the front forks.

 

[bluenova]

Well check your steering head bearings. I recently picked up a simular noise.
Mine is a broken mounting hole on the front fender. I took it off today and a big chunk of the little fender is just missing.

Yea I was thinking about the steering head bearings, only it sounds like it's coming from lower down, just hard to tell when sitting on the bike compressing the forks.

 

[Kilbane83]

I'd say tighten the stearing head. I almost guarantee that's your problem. I have to tighten mine every time I change oil. The spanner wrench in the tool kit works pretty well for it. Just get the front end off the ground and tighten the bottom ring down until you feel the resistance when you move the handlebars.. then back it off a bit. Tighten the top ring down and put the lock washer back on. Torque the crown nut on and you should be good for the next 3k miles.

 

[Red Wazp]

Let us know if that was the problem.

 

[Pimpson]

Mine used to do the exact same thing. It was the lower pinch bolt. Check that one also.

 

[LERecords]

yea.. if its not the engine, its something else.. good info here though

 

[ozzieboy]

I know it's harder to do, but you could try compressing the forks by holding the rear brake on. At least you'll know for sure it's not caliper related if it still clicks.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Kamloops]

If you rule out your steering head bearing then most likley it is perfectly normal, most do it. Mine does.
it

http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-technical/7045-something-loose-front-end.html

What it is, is the brake rotors are what is called a full floater type disc. If you look there are little buttons that hold the disc to the hub carrier what is
happening is with the load of the brakes being applied the disc is moving
on these buttons. Not Yamahas but on certain exotics you can actually grab
the disc and move it about two mils. This is normal, THEY use this
technology 'cause the components are thinner than automotive and it's one of
the tricks to keep the disc from warping. ( heat generated under heavy
braking is intense... enough for a burn to blister if touched ).

 

[VEGASRIDER]

+ 1 On the steering head bearing.

This is probably the only dissapointment I have with the FZ6!

I had to get mine tightend up at the dealership at 14,000 miles, and at 26,000 miles, it's loose again, and has been loose for quite a while. Probably needs to just get replaced with the every so popular "All Balls" Bearing that everybody recommends.

There are numerous members who have or currently experiencing the same problem. It's to a point that I think it should be recalled, but who makes that decision.

Best advice to make sure it's your steering head bearing, place your bike on the center stand while sitting on the bike, and rock it foward and back and see if you can replicate the rattle, click or noise. Also you can sit in front of your bike and grab the front end of the forkss with both hands while the bike is on the centerstand and see if it moves back and forth too. Or have someone sit on your bike for ya without using the center or sidestand and you can try jerking the forks the same way.

 

[Kamloops]

This is correct, but if you have someone hold the front brake and then pull back and forth on the wheel, and your hear the noise near the caliper, this is normal for an fz6

If you feel and hear it without holding the brake, then most likely steering head

+ 1 On the steering head bearing.

This is probably the only dissapointment I have with the FZ6!

I had to get mine tightend up at the dealership at 14,000 miles, and at 26,000 miles, it's loose again, and has been loose for quite a while. Probably needs to just get replaced with the every so popular "All Balls" Bearing that everybody recommends.

There are numerous members who have or currently experiencing the same problem. It's to a point that I think it should be recalled, but who makes that decision.

Best advice to make sure it's your steering head bearing, place your bike on the center stand while sitting on the bike, and rock it foward and back and see if you can replicate the rattle, click or noise. Also you can sit in front of your bike and grab the front end of the forkss with both hands while the bike is on the centerstand and see if it moves back and forth too. Or have someone sit on your bike for ya without using the center or sidestand and you can try jerking the forks the same way.

 

[Denver_FZ6]

I had to get mine tightend up at the dealership at 14,000 miles, and at 26,000 miles, it's loose again, and has been loose for quite a while. Probably needs to just get replaced with the every so popular "All Balls" Bearing that everybody recommends.

Keep in mind there is a maintenance at 12,000 miles interval to repack the steering bearings, and you would then re-torque during the install process.

 

[VDITRAINING]

mine does it only when going over a curb in my driveway.
New tapered roller bearings, i've tried tightening more, tried loosening more and it still does it, and never makes a sound when trying to replicate it with the brake.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Keep in mind there is a maintenance at 12,000 miles interval to repack the steering bearings, and you would then re-torque during the install process.

Yes, this is true, and this seems to be the limit when my bearings become loose again. I wish I would have bought the extended maintenance/warranty package when I bought my bike, as I would have come out ahead as I have over 26,000 and my bike isn't even two years old off the show room floor.

 

[bluenova]

Mine used to do the exact same thing. It was the lower pinch bolt. Check that one also.

Sorry for my dumbness, what is the lower pinch bolt? The pinch bolt is the bolt that runs through the centre of the wheel right?

 

[bluenova]

I know it's harder to do, but you could try compressing the forks by holding the rear brake on. At least you'll know for sure it's not caliper related if it still clicks.

Cheers
Mike

I'll give that a go tonight. :thumbup:

The bike shop is closed today anyway and I have no way to hold the front up at home to check the steering head so I'll take it in after work tomorrow to check that.

 

[bluenova]

If you rule out your steering head bearing then most likley it is perfectly normal, most do it. Mine does.
it

http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-technical/7045-something-loose-front-end.html

What it is, is the brake rotors are what is called a full floater type disc. If you look there are little buttons that hold the disc to the hub carrier what is
happening is with the load of the brakes being applied the disc is moving
on these buttons. Not Yamahas but on certain exotics you can actually grab
the disc and move it about two mils. This is normal, THEY use this
technology 'cause the components are thinner than automotive and it's one of
the tricks to keep the disc from warping. ( heat generated under heavy
braking is intense... enough for a burn to blister if touched ).

Hmm, I don't think it's releated to the brakes being applied as I feel it when going over bumps with no brakes. At the moment I'm thinking the steering head is lose just I need ot get it into the shop to check it out as I don't have any way to lift the front of the bike up.

 

[bluenova]

+ 1 On the steering head bearing.

This is probably the only dissapointment I have with the FZ6!

I had to get mine tightend up at the dealership at 14,000 miles, and at 26,000 miles, it's loose again, and has been loose for quite a while. Probably needs to just get replaced with the every so popular "All Balls" Bearing that everybody recommends.

There are numerous members who have or currently experiencing the same problem. It's to a point that I think it should be recalled, but who makes that decision.

Best advice to make sure it's your steering head bearing, place your bike on the center stand while sitting on the bike, and rock it foward and back and see if you can replicate the rattle, click or noise. Also you can sit in front of your bike and grab the front end of the forkss with both hands while the bike is on the centerstand and see if it moves back and forth too. Or have someone sit on your bike for ya without using the center or sidestand and you can try jerking the forks the same way.

Naked versions don't come with centre stands , and I only have a paddock stand for the rear wheel, so I need to get it to the shop tomorrow to lift the front.