2015-04-03 Popping Sound Lifting to Centerstand

Almost every time I put KrZy8 on center stand, right at top of lift, a very loud popping sound. Energy bound, released. Sent forks and shock for rebuild at GP Suspension. They found 'the worst worn cartridges we've seen'.

 

Installed newly serviced forks/shock. POP remains.

 

How loud you ask? Clearly audible even with ear plugs in.

Sounds like from the triple tree. Kind of. Hard to tell. 

 

Took KrZy8 to local dealer for advice. Of course, KrZy8 would NOT perform. No POP. 

 

With front end airborne, no looseness in triple tree. Travel, stop to stop, is smooth. 

 

Upper tree clamping bolt nice and tight. 

 

Soo then, when all else fails, tear it all down and look. 

 

About 6 years ago I replaced the stock steering head bearings with tapered rollers, Timken. Not the shitty All Balls. 

 

I haven't seen the lower race yet, but the upper race was not as lubed as I would hope. All surfaces were dry, but not pitted or galled. Still, shiny. 

 

Of course, being me, I did not remove things like the front wheel before removing the upper triple.. not so smart, but I recovered.

 

Now then, where from here? I was able to re-clamp the upper tree, remove the tire, calipers, etc..

 

Tomorrow - fork removal then triple tree inspection. 

 

Question - last time, used Mobil 'red' grease. This time, thinking of using NeverSieze. Any comments pro or con?

 

Question - has the collective decided upon on torque value for tapered roller bearings?

 

Question - anyone else experienced similar 'POPPING' sound when lifting to center stand?

Just an off-the-wall query .... Could it be the center stand spring catching, then jumping?

Question - last time, used Mobil 'red' grease. This time, thinking of using NeverSieze. Any comments pro or con?

 

Question - has the collective decided upon on torque value for tapered roller bearings?

 

Question - anyone else experienced similar 'POPPING' sound when lifting to center stand?

DC, I'd use a quality disc brake grease to repack the Timkens, no way in hell use anti-seize for bearings, it's not meant for that. Do a quick search for Timken bearing installation and you'll get the correct procedure for setting them.

 

I've got Timkens in my '09 and never experienced any popping as you've described.

 

--G

It's your vertebrae

 

(I think Twigg may be onto something.  The center stand spring is actually two springs, one inside the other.)

I forgot to mention I cleaned and lubed the center stand pivot points and springs.

So what did today's inspection[s] yield?

 

--G

--G

 

Cleaned and lubed, re-tourqed Timken steering head bearings. 

 

Still POPs LOUDLY like something is freaking in the process of breaking.

Do you have a safe, secure means of raising and supporting the bike so you can check the action of the center stand?

Carver, you gotta narrow it down. What's popping? The centerstand?? Is it coming from somewhere else, can you tell? The only thing that moves when you put the bike on the stand is the stand itself and the front tire, just a little bit.

I'm betting on a jammed up spring somewhere. No bolts have backed out underneath? Maybe getting hung up on something. 

^ yep, I agree with AJ.  That's why you need to isolate the probable source:  the center stand

I would recommend, after safely securing the bike in an upright postion, remove the spring and check the relaxed center stand for play and looseness.  I am thinking you will find a significant amount.  Time for a new one, or just ignore it for a year or so.

Following this with bated breath until the answer is identified. (And to see how much other, gratuitous maintenance Don can get done before finding the answer). 

AJ, it sounds like the top right of the fork area, near the battery. I know that sound can travel from the true source to a place closest to your ear.

 

Will attempt it on a lift with jack underneath and check the c-stand.

If it might be coming from just below the fork then take a look and verify that you have the large plastic rivet that goes under the nose in the center. I had that come out and the cowling would catch on the big plastic 'steering cover' that is attached to  the triple tree. 

Update - pretty much confirmed it's not the center stand. If I dismount making sure to not allow the forks to extend, put it on side stand, I can get it to pop by lifting up on the right handlebar. Sometimes it pops twice. A little pop followed by the big pop. It's loud. If you heard it person you'd most likely say WTF! 

 

I'll keep looking - and Geezer I'll look for loose stuff under the triples and and for the big plastic rivet. Not exactly sure what it is you speak of, but will look for it...

Is it something inside a fork tube, Don? Do you have a stethoscope you can tape to a fork tube while you do your magic creating the pop? 

Sounds like you've isolated it to the front end and it's not the triple trees, steering head or bearings. You know as well as I what's inside the fork tubes and I think we both have the GP Suspension upgrades there. Have you somehow worn or broken a spacer or washer or the delrin spring guide bushing they inserted so that a fork spring is catching and then unloading when the front is unloaded to create some space inside? Are the cartridges securely affixed and torqued in the lower legs? 

Damn baffling, but like Ray says - you put some stress on motorcycle parts and do break shit. ;-p 

Is it something inside a fork tube, Don? Do you have a stethoscope you can tape to a fork tube while you do your magic creating the pop?

Sounds like you've isolated it to the front end and it's not the triple trees, steering head or bearings. You know as well as I what's inside the fork tubes and I think we both have the GP Suspension upgrades there. Have you somehow worn or broken a spacer or washer or the delrin spring guide bushing they inserted so that a fork spring is catching and then unloading when the front is unloaded to create some space inside? Are the cartridges securely affixed and torqued in the lower legs?

Damn baffling, but like Ray says - you put some stress on motorcycle parts and do break shit. ;-p

 

Good idea for the stethoscope. I would hope it's not in the front forks, just had GP completely rework them.. I will be changing rear tire soon, will check linkage down there too.. sound can carry really well through aluminum..

It's your vertebrae

 

LOL!  That got me laughing.  

 

Maybe it would be helpful to setup a video camera and record it from both the left and right sides.  You could replay the video in slow motion and identify the exact point in the process when the POP occurs.

You just had the forks reworked? How long after did the noise start?

If VERY recent, I'm betting on something amiss inside the fork. 

Right, what Ross said. What do you mean by "recently worked on?" Does that mean you reinstalled them and a week later you started getting this noise? I would be HIGHLY suspicious of the shock's internals.