Thu, 08 Oct 1998 16:14:22 +0100 - Message No. 4208
From: Peter

Subject: Re: Strange front end noise


Hi Panos,

> I own an RD04 (1992). Since I bought it, 2 years ago, I have been
> experiencing a strange noise accompanied with a gentle sort of hammering
> feeling from the front end of the bike, almost every time I hit a bump
> or a hole on the road. Almost is the key word here, because it doesn't
> happen if I ride fast over a speed bump or go off a pavement onto the
> street. The problem has the tendency to appear only in really small road
> variations, i.e. sharp and short bumps and small holes (really annoying
> for off road travelling).
> I have recently dismantled the whole front end to change the stearing
> head bearing and the oil gaskets in the fork. My mechanic said that,
> apart from the damaged parts, everything else seemed to be in good
> shape. I was really hoping that after changing the stearing head bearing
> the problem would disappear. Unfortunately it didn't.
> Another thing that pussles me is that it doesn't seem to get any worse.
> Could it be some small adjustment?
> I would really appreciate some advice!
> Thank you for your time.

Make sure all the cables etc that run through the front end are routed
correctly and not knocking anywhere when the forks are compressed, check the
calipers (They move) and make sure they are tight on the bolts to the proper
spec,
be positive that the noise is from the front end and not travelling from
somewhere else,
whilst trying to find the solution, dont be tempted to pump the forks up and
down too much or you just might end up having to get new fork seals again
:-(
find a spot on the road where it happens and ask a friend to stand there as
you ride by to see if he can hear where its coming from,
and finally make sure there is nothing dangling loosely below the
headlamps\fairing.

reminds me when I first got my 91 RD04, I was sure there was a rattling
coming from the right side of the engine (rear brake side) as I was riding
along, in the end it got louder and louder, so I took it to the dealer he
couldnt find any problem, but said "the chain is stuffed" so I said put a
new chain on.......problem disappeared!!
thats the last thing in the world I would have thought it was.

HTH.

Pete





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