steering head bearings.

[tnpete]

Well looks like I will be tearing into the steering head bearings next. Got the tags today, and insurance. Got back mounted the tag. 68 degrees and sun is shinning. Man what a day for a ride.
Ride .8 miles out to the end of our road. Speed is showing now and that is good for sure. Left turn and ride 3 miles to the end of that rode. Everything is nice and enjoying the ride.
Turned out on the Hwy, its in a banked curve to the left then back to the right. Might have been running 30 MPH. All Hello happens, and its come to meeting time. Handle bars and slapping left and back to the right. Not good in a banking curve. I get it back under control. Then next bump around 40 MPH and it starts again. This time in a straight away but meeting 3 cars.
Again get it under control. Slow and wonder on the way home. 3 more miles and I can turn left. But man its one long nasty bump for 2.3 miles to the house. so keep it around 25 MPH.
Guess when I get back home Sunday evening. I will get started on finding the issue Monday. One good thing, bike should be in 100% ride ready shape after that. Not much that I can think of that might go wrong.. If so I may be selling it and buying a horse. Then I know its going to buck and throw me . HAHA

Pete

[triton28]

Google : youtube kawasaki voyager XII steering stem bearing adjustment.
The Norcal Voyagers did this video and it is the definitive on the subject, hosted by fellow member Don Medina.
Could also be tires/pressure/balance but my money is on the preload of the bearing.

[Nails]

I also suggest searching this thread for "steering wobble". This is common with XII; and they're usually easy (or at least cheap) to fix. I remember posts listing probable culprits, first being the head bearing pre-load. Many of us bought a tool that you'll want from Gene -- I think the vid talks about that.

One of these days I'll pick up an XII for about nuthin just because it has this wobble. There are many posts here about trying to talk folks (generally scared shitless) out of selling their XII just because of this.

Mine ended up inspiring confidence even taking bumps in curves. But it sure didn't start there.

[tnpete]

Thanks guy's, watched that video last fall. It and the 1 or 2 other videos Don did. Wish they were all in one spot. Or the DVD was still for sale.
Have a email in on getting the socket. But may have one for that now. As I have about a Dozen of those type sockets. Even had to make one 2 years ago. Dump Trailer, with 1979 year model axles under it. Takes that type socket. No one had one can't be found. So Took about 35 minutes and had one in hand. Nice having friends with good tools.
Will say when that wobble starts in a curve. It will snap you back to real life. Did not scare me stupid. As I had it in the back of my mind. That could happen! That may be one of the reason's the other guy was ready to sell it so fast.

[ekap1200]

the wobble you are having is not usually the stem bearings, check your frame bolts on the right side

[Nails]

the wobble you are having is not usually the stem bearings, check your frame bolts on the right side

Yeah, those were loose on mine, too.

[tnpete]

the wobble you are having is not usually the stem bearings, check your frame bolts on the right side

Is that the main frame? I re torqued all of those when putting the bike back together. Or is there some hidden under the front I may have missed? Will dig into it Monday. Right now about frozen, watched 9 endings of baseball. 43 degrees and 15 MPH north winds. Be glad when the second game is over tomorrow.

[Nails]

It's a subframe that holds the fairing up.

[ekap1200]

It's a subframe that holds the fairing up.

No Nails, it has nothing to do with the fairing.... It supports the engine on the right side. It has two bolts down by you right foot and two bolts up by the head set. One has to cover all aspects of front end parts to troubleshoot steering issues. Sometimes it is as simple as not having your front wheel balanced properly.

[tnpete]

Thanks I know all lower bolts are tight. Torqued all those when I put everything back in. As I had the tank and swing arm off. But nothing under the Faring. I will check on the bar that comes off when removing the engine.
Also with the front end jacked up. Everything is tight and smooth as can be. Can't feel any tension on the bearings. Steering or front wheel. But will check the front tire balance and every bolt and nut I can.
Man I wanted to ride today. 70 Degree and sun all day. But until I check this out not going to ride. Looks like ran the next 14 days here in Wet West Tn. Man we get 2 days sun. Then a week to 10 days of rain. Flood gates at Pickwick dam has been open for months. Almost 100 year flood a year ago Jan. 2 weeks ago within 5ft of that again.

ekap1200 thanks and what is a good time to call you Monday or Tuesday.

Again thanks guys.

[ekap1200]

hello tnpete, anytime after 5:30 pm eastern time

[tnpete]

Took off the front plastic today. All frame bolts are tight. Went over everything I was told to check out . Nothing was found wrong.
BUT, you know there's always a BUT. And most will never guess what was wrong. Nope it was not that, or was it that. But it was that.

Click For Full-Size Image.

Click For Full-Size Image.

It may be me, but don't see any inserts in there. So someone else had the fender off. But did not put the inserts back in there. So wonder if this is why I got a good deal on this bike? Carb's were just a small piece of it.
Pete

[ekap1200]

Hello from NJ, nice easy repair, "now you will have " a fork brace/
Gene

[VoyKimmer]

I’m surprised the fender isn’t cracked real bad. My 2002 when I brought it brand new didn’t have the inserts installed but I caught it in time before the fender cracked. My 96 did not have the inserts installed either but I didn’t catch it in time. The fender cracked beyond repair , in fact so bad on a trip almost fell off. According to Carl this wss a dealer bike assembly problem . The young bike build up crew just doesn’t know where everything goes.

[tnpete]

I'm almost sure, someone stripped this bike before I got it. As in the fender had the trim with lights around it. Not sure why they would have pulled that off? But also going to check the front axle for work. To make sure it did not have the rotor covers on also. I also find where I think it had the trim around the saddle bags also. Plus had the brackets for drivers back rest. But no backrest with it. Also had floor boards, as it had a heal/toe shifter with normal foot pegs. This was a piece made and bolted with 2 screws to the factory shifter. Pulled that off hate the heal part.
Old man that had it passed away. So it may have been his son that took some stuff off. Or the the guy that got it from him. I figure it was the guy before me. But I did get the trailer with the bike. Would have figured he would not have let the trailer go with it. If he was pulling parts off to sell.
Going to get all the Measurements for Gene today. And try it again after getting the fender inserts taken care of. Did the factory get paint down into where the inserts goes? If so it may well never had them. Not a scratch inside that socket. But paint does not look fresh at all.

[triton28]

Unfortunately the instructions for fitting one of those front fender trim brackets advises to "Remove the 4 shoulder washers from the fender- you will no longer need them". This may explain the missing washers if someone followed those instructions.

[tnpete]

Unfortunately the instructions for fitting one of those front fender trim brackets advises to "Remove the 4 shoulder washers from the fender- you will no longer need them". This may explain the missing washers if someone followed those instructions.

Gene is making a set, then will install them. Should take care of the issue. I did get lucky the fender was not cracked beyond repair. Glad something went right on this one.

[coffeeboy4]

I had a bad tire on front and it gave me a bad wobble.
Just saying.

[ekap1200]

I had a bad tire on front and it gave me a bad wobble.
Just saying.

Yes it will..... the bearings are the last on the list. It don't take much to make them wobble.
Just sayin !

[tnpete]

Rode 15 miles today, lots of potholes and bumps. So far no shake. Shows to be in mid 80's tomorrow with sun. will go for a 50 mile or so ride.