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Front wheel wobble

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by bill, Apr 23, 2009.

  1. bill

    bill Active Member

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    OK need some opinions - tell me if I am missing anything.

    Found I have a slight wobble - mostly noticeable at lower (<40mph) speeds.

    Facts
    1) not really noticeable if holding bar
    2) slightly noticeable if one hand on bar only
    3) builds slowly if no hands on bar
    4) Jacked up the front and head appears to have no play
    5) wheel bearings seem to be fine.
    6) no noticeable handling issues

    So I'm thinking front wheel balance issue. I will try to get that checked tomorrow.
     
  2. scarecrow

    scarecrow Member

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    that would be my thought or could be the tyre its self
     
  3. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    How is your tire Bill? Could a problem with it.
     
  4. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Tire appears to be good - has good tread - even wear. It is 4(?) years old but shows no signs of dry rot or anything.
     
  5. scarecrow

    scarecrow Member

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    4 yrs i'd get a new one just to be safe
     
  6. bill

    bill Active Member

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    I almost replaced it when I did the rear tire but it is in excellent shape. I'm going to take it down and have the balance checked - if it is balanced ok then I will replace it. If that does not fix it I'll do the head but I think it's fine.
     
  7. pictishusa

    pictishusa Member

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    mine has the same problem, ive had it balanced twice but by the same guy, im gonna try another shop to do it one more time it may be thwe tire itself since it all started when i put the kenda tire on.
     
  8. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

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    You might also lift the front end and turn the head side to side. Feel for any notchiness. Pitted bearings will have a spot they want to hang up in and the front end will hunt around that spot.
     
  9. JoeFriday77

    JoeFriday77 Member

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    Any chance that a belt in the tire could have popped?

    Before you take it in for a balance, if you can make a makeshift rack, I would put it on there and give it a few spins by hand to see if you can tell if it has a heavy spot or gives any indication of being out of round.
     
  10. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Bearing feel smooth Carl. I checked twice go a second opinion. Not ruling them out though.
     
  11. bill

    bill Active Member

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    I did that installed with the front jacked up. I'm going to pull it tonight and I'll try it. Looks like a lot of folks agree it is probably tire or balance. I may just have a new one put on but I'm curious what the problem may be.
     
  12. cly_adams

    cly_adams Member

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    let us know what u find! i just put new tires on a few weeks ago and noticed a very small whooble in slow speeds. Im pretty sure it just needs to be balanced since i didnt have them done :lol:
     
  13. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Believe it or not it could also be worn rear shocks, or swingarm bushings. The front and rear of a motorcycle transfer loading effects to each other that you'd never imagine. Another possibility is something being less than TRUE not necessarily out of balance; and once again it could actually be at the rear. For instance, worn swing arm bushings on my Triumph were causing a "headshake" that I COULD NOT figure out for the longest time.

    I'm not saying that's it, but if you can't find anything obvious up front, you may need to check the other end too.
     
  14. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Fitz my rear tire was pretty bald ( I should have replaced it a while back) and when I replaced it I did notice better handling - less of a feeling the bike was following road grooves so I know what you mean. I also think this is why I noticed the wobble more now.

    Is there an easy way to check the swing arm or do I have to tear it down and check?

    I'm thinking front tire issue as it is noticeable < 40 or so but 50 and above not really seeing it.
     
  15. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    A worn out rear tire can and will contribute to uneven wear on the front tire, that could be it. How OLD is that front tire, anyway? Maybe time for a new one?

    You can check the swingarm bushings by just grabbing the rear wheel and forcing it from side-to-side when the bike's on the centerstand. Just don't mistake the bike's play at the centerstand pivots for a swingarm issue. The easiest way to tell is wedge a finger in between where the swingarm meets the frame first on one side then the other while an assistant jams the wheel from side to side; if it's shifting you'll feel it pinch/unpinch your finger. With 42K new bushings might be in order.
     
  16. bill

    bill Active Member

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    I think its about 4 years old - I checked a month ago. I'm leaning towards replacement due to age but dang it looks good - nice tread - no cracking appears to have even wear....
     
  17. bill

    bill Active Member

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    I decided this afternoon to replace the tire so I found one locally and will do that tomorrow. I have a 200 mile ride this weekend. In the interest of science:

    On my way home I payed closer attention. It seems the wheel hops a bit. I spun it and it looks fine. I also looked again and it will soon have it's 6th birthday (even more reason to replace it). On very close examination I see some uneven tread wear. No noticeable swing arm issues.

    I'll let you know later how it rides with the new tire. Thanks as always for all the suggestions. Always helps to get multiple opinions.
     
  18. bill

    bill Active Member

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    I decided this afternoon to replace the tire so I found one locally and will do that tomorrow. I have a 200 mile ride this weekend. In the interest of science:

    On my way home I payed closer attention. It seems the wheel hops a bit. I spun it and it looks fine. I also looked again and it will soon have it's 6th birthday (even more reason to replace it). On very close examination I see some uneven tread wear. No noticeable swing arm issues.

    I'll let you know later how it rides with the new tire. Thanks as always for all the suggestions. Always helps to get multiple opinions.
     
  19. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Well I go the new wheel on and I don't see the low speed head shake anymore YEAH!

    I'll know better after our ride tomorrow and let you know for sure.
     
  20. cly_adams

    cly_adams Member

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    did u get the tire balanced as well before u put it on?
     
  21. JoeFriday77

    JoeFriday77 Member

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    Good to hear Bill. Hope it works out for you on the ride.
     
  22. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Yea I had the shop do the mount and balance - they could get the tire today and no one else could - they charged way too much to mount it but I was in a hurry. Won't get any more of my $s - shame they are nice folks.


    Whole story if u care They charged 37.50 labor for the mount and balance $3 for 4 weights to balance it ( funny I had 4 or 5 on it when it went in) and $3 disposal free and I carried the wheel in not the bike.

    Great price on the tire though. The dealership did the rear for $20 flat and I didn't even buy the tire from them.
     
  23. cly_adams

    cly_adams Member

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    With it on this shop wanted 80 bucks plus weights and such, with it off They wanted 40 plus the weights and stuff. SOo haha least thats not the only expensive shop out there makes me feel better about mounting them myself :lol: , I mounted the tire and was going to have them just balance them and they still wanted to charge 40 a tire just to balance it :( ripp offs
     
  24. bill

    bill Active Member

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    Check around - our local dealer does it for $20 like I mentioned.

    We had a great 200 mile ride today - Wobble is gone but as things go I think the forks are not holding air - I hope to check that out tomorrow. Easy fix but a bit of work.

    I now have dunlop 404s on front and rear. I like them so far. We went over 3 bridges with the grooves today (both ways) absolutely no tracking issues. Bike was solid. that made me happy :D
     

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