• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Question about lubing headstock bearings...weird prob

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
A

Anonymous

Guest
Ok I was riding along jsut fine when my steering started to stick. No fun, when you need to trun! So as a temporary fix(I'm at work) I bought a can of WD-40 type lube/penetrating oil. I sprayed it in the joint between the head stock and the frame and presto! No more stiff handle bars, I only worked it in for about 30 seconds and the handle bars you can pussh with one finger while seated on the centre stand. Bearings seem tight, no play in the forks or anything. It just looks like it froze up a bit from 80,000 Kms of dirt. Ok so that's the good news, the bad news is this "Ho Chi Mihn" brand of an east German copy of WD-40 is not the best lubricant to treat your steering bearings. Is there any other Lubricants that will be easier on the bearings without having to take the whole thing apart untill next year? Would Maxima chain wax work well? It seems to spray in there pretty well and it is designed for high spinning rpms, as well as its sticky so it should last in there. Any suggestions? I do have some very high quality Gun oil for my guns that may do the trick. I need basically:


1. Something I can spray and penetrate so I don't have to take the damn thing apart.

2. Something that is runny enough to get in there but sticky enough to stay there and lube. Chain Wax ok?

I'm assuming this "wd-40" like oil is kerosene based, but I might be wrong it's a little thicker than wd-40.
 
bearings

bearings

Looking for magic are we??? its not that big of a deal to do the bearings 1 evening should handle it, and its done right
 
Yeah I know it needs to be done right but I use the bike to get to work everyday. It's freed up really well now I just don't have time until winter. I just would like a better "fix" untill I can take it apart. I have a full fairing 84' GS750EF. Believe me, changing the spark plugs is a big deal with all that plastic.
 
After taking a look again and a little more spray, lots of dirt just shot out from under the skirt. Now the action of the bars is extremly smooth. I'm hoping it was just a bunch of dirt causing the problem. Anyway I'll probably replace them in the winter anyway, what the hell. Thanks for your help guys.
 
bearings

bearings

AAAhhhhaaa, full fairing makes a big defference, I had a vetter on mine took it off asap and put a windscreen on it,
 
Sooo...

Do you have plans for that Vetter that you aren't using? :)
 
My bike has a grease nipple on the steering housing. Don't all bikes? I don't think any spray product is going to give you the protection you want with the penetration. Liquid wrench, wd 40, spray silicone, etc, won't last for very long. Spray lithium grease probably won't penetrate. You could try chain lube. But unless you get some high quality grease on those bearings your problem is going to reoccur.
 
Chain lube would be the longest lasting temporary fix. Steering bearings rotate slowly, so great gobs of grease are not needed. I would probably "blow" a full can of WD40 through to wash out the grit and gunk, then with the little tube that comes with the chain lube, spray a good bit of chain lube in there to grease it up. You may have to repeat the process, but it should get you through until you have an opportunity to do it right. Its a pretty easy task.

Earl
 
Is there any other Lubricants that will be easier on the bearings without having to take the whole thing apart untill next year?
Click to expand...

I use Kal-Gard 30/30 for a lot of things like door locks, hinges, etc. It is a thin spray that penetrates pretty well and the lubricant is wax based, so it does not attract dirt when dry. I don't know if it is still available or not, my can must be 15 years old and still going strong... There is a teflon based lube called Tri-Flon or Tri-Flow (the name changed a few years back) that works really well and would probably be a great choice if you can find it.

My bike has a grease nipple on the steering housing. Don't all bikes?
Click to expand...

Nope. I have never seen one come with a grease zerk from the factory. Some caring owner has likely done that in the past on yours. Anyone who tears down the front end should always take the time to drill and tap the headstock for a zerk to allow a bit of preventative maintenance and longer bearing life.

Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top