[whopiecat]

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Hey All,

I have a GL 1100i which has developed sway in turns. The sway is not so bad while increasing speed, but holding speed in a turn I can feel the rear sway.

Recent changes:

lighter fork oil, new brake lines, rebuilt brake systems, new pads.

Anybody have any experience with sway in rearend in long sweeping turns ?

Thanks

 

[axelwik]

imported post

When the fuel tank is about half fullmine sways a bit from sloshing fuel.

You might also want to check your swing arm bearings.

 

[twisty]

imported post

whopiecat wrote:

Hey All,

I have a GL 1100i which has developed sway in turns. The sway is not so bad while increasing speed, but holding speed in a turn I can feel the rear sway.

Recent changes:

lighter fork oil, new brake lines, rebuilt brake systems, new pads.

Anybody have any experience with sway in rearend in long sweeping turns ?

Thanks

Whopiecat, the first place I would look is at the rear tire pressure,, if OK there then look for an odd wear pattern on the tire (like a worn flat center or edge tread cupping).. If still all OK then look for loose or worn wheel bearings, rear axle nut loose, rear swing arm bushings loose or worn,, uneven or low pressure rear shocks, leaking rear shock,, broken weld..

In most cases it is a worn tire, or tire that is low on air.. You might also look for oil, brake fluid, water, or ?? dripping out & onto the rear tire..

Also check for even (side to side) loading of the rear bags or overloading of the trunk...

Never had my Honda poke it's rear end out in sweeper but sure have had my Harley do that..

Be sure it isn't the road surface, those long tar snakes (tar repair strips) can really make a bike slide when leaned over in a twisty..

Twisty

 

[whopiecat]

imported post

Hey,

Thanks for all the advice. It sounds like, and I have been riding long enough to suspect as much, as worn or loose swing arm bearings.

I would love to replace the wheel bearings while I am in the swing arm bearing job, but I can't seem to budge the retainer ring on the rim.

I have no tool for this so I tried tapping with a drift only to start messing up the notches in theretainer ring.

Has anyone replaced the wheel bearings on an 82 GL1100i which requires removing a different style retainer ring for front and rear.

Isure hopesomeone has done this retainer removal before and can clue me into the trick, or the correct part number for the tool.

 

[exavid]

imported post

whopiecat wrote:

Hey,

Thanks for all the advice. It sounds like, and I have been riding long enough to suspect as much, as worn or loose swing arm bearings.

If there's enough play in the swing arm or bearings to be noticeable in turns, it ought to be possible to feel the play with the bike jacked up. I had a similar experience with my 1500 and new tires cured that problem. If there's no obvious play in the suspension can't help but think tires.

:whip:Any damn brand of tires:whip:Yeah, yeah, we know your opinion, REDWING:tongue:

 

[whopiecat]

imported post

Hey exavid,

With the Wing on the center stand I can not generate any side play in the swing arm.

I would expect to have to remove at least the lower shock mount bolts for this inspection.

The rim and final drive were hot right after the ride (100+),something seems wrong.

Iwill have to look the tires over good when I get to the house, but I don't think it is tires. I expect swing arm, or rim bearings.

You don't happen to know of a place to purchase the proper retainer ring tool for the rims, do ya?

Thanks

 

[Patch]

imported post

whopiecat,

Look at the tires. First check the air pressure. If that is ok then put the bike up on the centerstand and slowly spin the back wheel with your hand and lightly hold your other hand on the surface of the tire while it is spinning. What you are feeling for is a "cupped" surface on the tire. You will feel it if it is there.

My back tirefelt like a washboard. Very, very bad.While riding, it felt like the bike wanted to jump out from under me when cornering. A new set of tires fixed her right up.:clapper:

I really feel that if you will look at the rear tire and examine it, you will find your problem.

 

[exavid]

imported post

whopiecat wrote:

Hey exavid,

With the Wing on the center stand I can not generate any side play in the swing arm.

I would expect to have to remove at least the lower shock mount bolts for this inspection.

If the swing arm is moving side to side, it would have to be quite a bit to be able to feel it. The shocks are mounted in rubber so they won't prevent the arm from shifting. Just use a piece of wood and lightly try to pry it back and forth. There really isn't that much side load on the swing arm in curves, mostly the forces in the turn are a slight increase in downward G loading since the bike banks, not side loading the tires like a car does.

I'm almost positive you've got either a bad tire with a lot of cupping, or your rear shocks are in poor condition, possibly out of oil and/or weak springs.

 

[Gambler]

imported post

too light a fork oil can cause a wallow in sweepers.

 

[whopiecat]

imported post

I inspected the rear tire with my hand when I got home and could find no problems.(new tire +/- 1 year)

The rear shocks are also new.

I have just changed the fork oil to a lighter oil, which I might could see how too light a fork oilmakes the rear slip. I may have leaked down the 14 lbs of air in the forks.

Rain in Tennessee right now so not much chance of a road test, yet

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[exavid]

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Gambler wrote:

too light a fork oil can cause a wallow in sweepers.

For sure, also no fork oil.

 

[twisty]

imported post

whopiecat wrote:

I inspected the rear tire with my hand when I got home and could find no problems.(new tire +/- 1 year)

The rear shocks are also new.

I have just changed the fork oil to a lighter oil, which I might could see how too light a fork oilmakes the rear slip. I may have leaked down the 14 lbs of air in the forks.

Rain in Tennessee right now so not much chance of a road test, yet

Thanks for the suggestions.

whopiecat,,

The rear shocks are also new.

Did the rear problem occur about the time you installed those new rear shocks? If so, make sure they didn't drastically change the rear height, rear control arm angle,or change the rear dampening. Too much rear height, or too much rear dampening can alter the rear wheel slip angle in a curve.

Twisty

 

[whopiecat]

imported post

Hey,

The rear shocks are not new as in just installed, but new enough that they should not be as suspect as the swing arm or rim bearings.

I had some problems pushing the bike out for the last ride and during the course of the ride the bike became easier to push. (when stopped at a stop sign)

Has anyone replaced a set of rim bearings ? Do you know the part number for the removal tool for the retainer ring on the rim ?

Lookin to replace rim bearings.

 

[exavid]

imported post

whopiecat wrote:

I had some problems pushing the bike out for the last ride and during the course of the ride the bike became easier to push. (when stopped at a stop sign)

Lookin to replace rim bearings.

I'd suspect a dragging brake pad more than bearings causing drag. If the bearings were bad enough to exhibit any drag you'd sure hear them!

 

[Patch]

imported post

I agree with Paul. If the bearings are bad enough that they are causing problems like you describe, surely they would be noisy and you would hear them. Have you looked at the brakes to make sure that they are releasing and not binding. Also, when you spin the back wheel, does it get tight, then loose, then tight, then loose? If so, you could have a warped rotor.

 

[07Silver]

imported post

I had swingarm bearings go bad on a Virago 1100 years ago, but pulling the back wheel didn't show it up. It was only when the wheel was stripped out that we could feel the play by pulling the swinger itself.

 

[whopiecat]

imported post

Well, this one goes to Twisy for being the first to mention tire pressure.

Along with my girlfriend who suggested checking the tire pressure even though she could not feel the rear slip.



yea, I felt stupid while at the same time glad to have a "stick to the line" rear tire,again.

I still want to be able to remove the retainer ring from the rims.

Once again, Thanks to all

Wing'in Away