What would cause inside front fender too rub frame?

P

parks

Joined Dec 2007

45 Posts | 0+

Vancouver Wa.

Discussion Starter
• Jun 30, 2008

• #1

Hello All,

I am no mechanic but I am trying too learn!!

A few months back I noticed my front steering stiffen up periodically. I attributed it to my setup( 17" Michelin pilot rear and 17" trials tire front)

I know this seems like a strange setup but it worked perfect for my type of riding. The trial tire in front allowed stability on gravel yet it was sticky enough to corner within my street ability.

Because the weather has finally gotten warm I decided to put the pilot 120/60/17 back on the front. The steering is still stiff!! I investigated further and it seems the front fender inside is rubbing. All fasteners are tight.

Any ideas what might be going on??

Thanks Mike

 

ned37

Joined Dec 2004

2K Posts | 248+

back in cottonwood, az

• Jun 30, 2008

• #2

one thing that comes to mind is a binding axle. when installing a wheel, always leave the axle pinch bolts loose, the holding the front brake, push hard to compress the forks several times to help locate the axle properly. then tighten the pinch bolts.

 

D

DaleEO

Joined Oct 2002

3K Posts | 21+

Sunland, CA

• Jun 30, 2008

• #3

If I read this right the front fender is rubbing on your front down tube, right?

You need to change the metal spacers around on the front fender. The washer top of the spacers on the rear bolts closest to the frame need to be between the bottom of the triple clamp and the plastic. While the washer top of the spacers on the front bolts need to be on the bottom of the front fender, where you can see them when you're bolting the fender on. This happened to me recently when I changed my fender and Buzzard's friend Brett straightened me out on this.

It doesn't seem like much, but, it is enough to keep the frender from rubbing on the frame. Have a look at page 35 of the 2004 spare parts manual and you'll see what I mean.

Dale

 

chilledspode

Joined Oct 2004

350 Posts | 1+

Yellowknife, NT Canada

• Jun 30, 2008

• #4

I read the original post like Dale and had the same thought - the washers are reversed...

Cheers

Mark

 

bushmechanic

Joined Jun 2007

4K Posts | 1K+

south east WA Australia

• Jun 30, 2008

• #5

ahm steering head bearings need grease?

just a thought

regards
Bushie

 

W

wildman

Joined Jan 2007

438 Posts | 0+

Bundaberg. QLD.Australia

• Jun 30, 2008

• #6

Hey Parks, my FE550E had seized headstem bearings at 20hrs. They had almost colasped & had just been tightened by the last owner until they were stuffed. Rip it apart & put new bearings in with real greasenot the snot they install from the factory. never have to worry again ( well not for another 60hrs anyway :lol: )

 

pollo

Joined Jun 2008

1K Posts | 98+

Simi Valley Ca.

• Jun 30, 2008

• #7

Thanks Dale, I'll be changing my washers now so my fender doesn't rub on the frame. Iv'e periodically been bending that stupid thing for almost a year now and have it so it barely rubs or just misses. And there's blue paint scraped on it also. Some of the simplest solutions seem to get beyond us sometimes

 

A

awilksch

Joined Oct 2006

746 Posts | 1+

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

• Jun 30, 2008

• #8

I had the same with my '05 FE550, I noticed it as soon as I had assembled the bike out of the box, I just threw 2 x 316 stainless washers in between the front guard and the bottom tripple, it was a bit fiddly but I've had no problems since.

Azza.

 

P

parks

Joined Dec 2007

45 Posts | 0+

Vancouver Wa.

Discussion Starter
• Sep 3, 2008

• #9

figured it out!!!!!

Here are pics of the problem. Not sure how to get grease down to this bearing?

 

Attachments

• husaberg2.doc

  1.6 MB

A

awilksch

Joined Oct 2006

746 Posts | 1+

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

• Sep 3, 2008

• #10

RE: figured it out!!!!!

If thats the problem, then the fender rubbing on the downtube would be the least of your worries.

Azza.

 

ned37

Joined Dec 2004

2K Posts | 248+

back in cottonwood, az

• Sep 4, 2008

• #11

RE: figured it out!!!!!

put a grease fitting in the frame head.

 

J

jockular

Joined Jun 2008

102 Posts | 0+

Argyll , Scotland

• Sep 8, 2008

• #12

RE: figured it out!!!!!

yep, my 08 had very little grease in the bearings from new and had partially seized within weeks, heaps of grease required, also the lip seal on the head stem was fitted poorly allowing water ingress. Apparently their only allowed 1 tube of grease a week at the factory.

 

Johnf3

Joined Oct 2005

935 Posts | 21+

Texas

• Sep 8, 2008

• #13

Re: figured it out!!!!!

parks said:

Here are pics of the problem. Not sure how to get grease down to this bearing?

Click to expand...

The only way to gease the lower clamp bearing is to take the clamp assembly apart enough to access it, unless you install a grease fitting like Ned said.

On yours, you need to press out the steering stem and clean it up before you install the bearing. Pressing out the stem will remove the old bearing as well, since it looks like it is rusted to the stem.