Whine in front end....

imported post

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.