[twisty]

imported post

1984GL1200A wrote:

I just got the 84 Aspy back together after changing my front tire and took it for a ride. It has a whine sound to it now that sounds like bearings. Also the front end feels extremely heavy now.

I had my front wheel loose about a month ago to change out my rotor covers. I could not get the left cover off without removing the nut on the end of the axel. When I replaced the nut, I found that I did not have a socket big enough to fit the nut so I guesstimated the torque using an open end wrench. I had no problems and the bike operated normally and I had no noises and the front end felt the way it did before I messed with it.

Now, When I was putting it back together after replacing the front tire, I had a socket and torqued it down to what the book says. I have bearing noise and the front end feels very tight and heavy.

I just talked with a friend of mine and he asked one of his co-workers, who was rode nbikes all his life and he said that he never torques the front axel down to what the book says. He claims that it is far too tight and it will cause bearing noise. He says that he just tightens them down very snugly and does not worry about torque and has never had a problem.

Would it hurt to back it off a little and see what happens? I don't think that once everythig is together that there is anyway for the axel to come apart is there? All opinions are welcome as I need to get this thing back on the road.

1984GL1200A, there is a spacer inside the front wheel hub that spaces the inner bearing races apart. Because of that spacer the front axle nut torque (as long as within reason) should have no effect on the wheel bearing peload. DO NOT leave that axle nut loose as that keeps the forks lined up & keeps the load even on the axle when a bump is hit.

Did you get the R/H lower fork cap back on facing the correct direction? Also make sure the wheel spacers are in the correct location so the front rotors are centered precisely between the front forks.

Did you get the speedometer drive back on correctly? It's also possible you changed the wheel off-set side to side & have a front brake rotor dragging in a caliper or you have a sticking caliper that won't retract & is now dragging a front brake.

It's even possible you have a failing front wheel bearing.

Twisty

 

[twisty]

imported post

1984GL1200A wrote:

You mentioned a spacer inside the wheel hub that spaces the bearings. Is that something that is inside the wheel? Would I see this spacer without removing the bearings? Could it fall out some way?

1984GL1200A, that spacer is inside the front wheel hub & runs between the bearings. You should be able to see it (looks like a piece of pipe running between the bearings inside the wheel hub). It can't fall out & I don't think it can move inside the hub far enough to allow the axle through without going through that spacer.

Front axle nut torque shouldn't matter (within reason) as it would have to collapse that spacer pipe to effect bearing preload.

Twisty