knotchy head bearing

[Duane Ausherman]

That is way too much to spend on that job unless they also align the front end and very few shops even know that it must be done. I would imagine that few shops even know to align the forks.

Also, don't assume that your local shop knows how to properly adjust the steering bearings on that old of a bike. Having done many dozens and knowing what I know, I would be afraid of taking it to a shop, even if they did it for free. I am sure that some (few) shops can do it very well, so find out first by asking questions.

[Major Softie]

A properly adjusted taper bearing will last almost indefinitely but a badly adjusted one will have a very short life...

Rob

Hmm, I don't know. Even a taper bearing is still designed to roll, not sit there taking impacts in one spot. Certainly a line is a greater contact surface than a point, but it's still a tough application for that bearing.

Still, you could be right. I've never worn out a tapered bearing that I've put in myself, but I've never put enough miles to really test on one I've replaced either.

[enigmaT120]

Sometimes it is not the bearing, but old hard grease, it cam be worth it to clean the existing bearings and regrease, before going down the full replacement route.

A clean and re-grease did the trick on my R65.

[anandabandit]

Thanks for so many weigh-ins. Depending on which fellow I speak with at the shop the knotchiness ranges from "nothing to worry about" to "deteriorating." I'm a novice mechanic, so no welding for me (unless we are talking plumbing).
It's $70-ish part with $68 p/hr labor - current guesstimation $480 = peace of mind. I think I'll be happy to slow turn easily.

[Jean]

Be careful of NEW BMW shops. Duane's telling you good advice.
If they don't work on "old" bikes, they don't know what they are doing.
As you discovered, in that shop, there are widely differing opinions about your steering head.
Fnd another BMW rider with an old bike and ASK what THEY think.

[anandabandit]

I believe this turned out to be a good shop. The actual mechanic loved this bike and turned out to be the guy who has serviced it over the last 15 years (through 4 different dealership owners). He was a true airhead enthusiast.
Cleaning the head baring - about 5 years ago - could have made a difference. At this juncture, replacement was the best option. The prior owner, took good care of the bike, but in the last 6 years he'd put on less than 3000 miles. That sitting around will kill a bike.

It was a great southern California night ride home. Could have done with out needing to use the reserve 5 miles into trip....

seriously - I didn't put gas in it ASAP?! doh

[Airbear]

Lena, it sounds like you have found a mechanic you like and are willing to support. His knowledge of the particular bike is a bonus.

As mentioned above, the bearings sometimes settle in and need adjusting after a few hours of riding. This is a fairly quick job and worth taking back to the same mechanic for checking.

I reset the odometer trip meter each time I fill up, and note the mileage (kilometerage?) at reserve switch-over. It's also worthwhile carrying a fuel container on a couple of rides so you can test exactly how far your reserve will take you. That knowledge will be important one day.

[Chuey]

Oh wow, my cornputer wasn't working for the last week. Turned out to be the monitor light had burned out. Now, with a new monitor, I find this problem happened in my back yard and I wasn't available to help.

If you need to ever have help with your bike, I have quite a few spare parts and some knowledge. And.......I know what my limitations are and will say so. Anyway, if you just want to show off your new ride, you can come by the bike shop (in Oceanside) or contact for a ride or something.

I tried being in the Airheads for a year. The newsletter was kind of nice but I work weekends and wasn't able to make it to any events. I ride mostly on Mondays if I'm going to Palomar or to the winding roads out that way. I wouldn't want to get in the way of the knee draggers and knee dragger wannabees.

Who is doing your work?

Chuey

[Ridercam]

Just replaced mine at Greg Hutchins tech day here in Redwood City. once I pulled the triple tree and got a look at the bearing - they were ok. Greg bought me new ones and so we replaced them. The bike holds a straighter course than it has in years. Go to the next local tech day early and do if for free as you eat morning donuts and hamburgers in the afternoon!

Having the right tools make all the difference in the world. I know many here are airhead veterans - just know that most times it is old grease that makes the bearing seem knotchy. Cleaned and regreased is really all anyone really needs unless the bike took a hell of a wack, rode the bike until it was steel on steel scoring the races. Just know that triples trees will break before those bearing become broken from such a catastrophic impact. In my case with shattered snowflake wheel and broken tree clamp on my 40k mile bike still didn't wreck my old bearings - your impacts may very through.

I would recommend a 500 mile streering head adjust after you do it. Learn to do it your self. It will something you will address to tighten every other oil change or valve adjustment.