Ohlins adjuster bracket failure / UJ vibes

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:01 pm

Is it just me or has anyone elses bracket broken through fatigue?

I had one break early June last year and I've just found the replacement part hanging by the strategically placed cable ties (rather than in the back wheel) - must have happened during todays trip to London and back as it was OK last time I looked.

Harris are a little concerned but are sending me another replacement FOC.

Adam

boxerpan · Post by **boxerpan** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:57 pm

Adam,
mine's done about 11k between myself and Tony Smith with no difficulties, think there's been one or two on the Pelican gone fatigued.

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:28 pm

I had one go quite early on mine.Replaced FOC by Harris.
There seems to be some vibration issues going on with the shaft etc on the S.That's why I think the rear footpegs seem to self destruct quickly!
Bailey.

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:51 pm

bigblackfalco wrote:I had one go quite early on mine.Replaced FOC by Harris.
There seems to be some vibration issues going on with the shaft etc on the S.That's why I think the rear footpegs seem to self destruct quickly!
Bailey.

Which leads me nicely to my next question... WTF is my bike vibrating like a barsteward at anything over 4500 rpm? It's currently the worst it's ever been, more than when it only had 6k on it and it's been like this for the last +3k, not long after the oop norf weekend in fact.

I thought it might be the dead CAT but the new one is no better or worse. I've got semi-synth oil in the motor (as used before with great results), valves and TB balance have been done and plugs are perfect colour. Loads of bottom end grunt and short shifting makes for smooth and rapid progress but start spinning it up and it all gets a bit tingly

It's defniitely engine related as when the clutch is pulled in at any speed it coasts smoothly, then rev the motor and feel the buzz.

The only thing that has occurred to me is it feels as though there may be a touch too much free play at the throttle (making for jerky on/off filtering) would this possibly have an affect on TB balance? Certainly wasn't noticeable on the rods when revved.

I'm tired of numb fingers so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Adam

winger · Post by **winger** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:02 pm

Adam

Do you still run your bike with a cat??? bloody hell,to be honest if you do you'll never the bloody thing to run anywere it's optimum,but to have any chance you'll need a twinmax oddly enough i've found useing one a few times it stays fairly static after that,but sounds to me as it's yer classic BM motor thats been pasted to the SoF and gone out of synic.

We've been over this lot a million times but fresh plugs/Optimate/Twinmax/and cool damp weather is the only way they'll run anything like and thats assumeing that one also has a open non restricting pipe on.

Chris

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:54 pm

The fact that you just said when the engine is not under load the vibration vanishes suggests to me that your bottom UJ is on the way out.

This is exactly what happened on my S.Infact,thinking about it,the Ohlins bracket failed because of the worn UJ.
I can't remember who had their UJ go last time.Was it Gus or Jason??
Bailey.

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:58 pm

Chris

Even with the CAT it's been pretty smooth up until now, especially 18k through to about 24k but since then it's got gradually worse - I've not had numb hands or feet until recently.

I'll try new plugs, valves (again) and the twinmax to see if I can improve it. Thinking about it the plugs are NGK - I wonder if this a recent change at Balderstons. Where can I get Bosch plugs at a sensible price?

I take it you mean Optimax fuel? Tried it a few times recently but still too many vibes for my liking.

Adam

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:03 pm

bigblackfalco wrote:The fact that you just said when the engine is not under load the vibration vanishes suggests to me that your bottom UJ is on the way out.

This is exactly what happened on my S.Infact,thinking about it,the Ohlins bracket failed because of the worn UJ.
I can't remember who had their UJ go last time.Was it Gus or Jason??
Bailey.

Ooh bugger. More details please. 31k seems a bit early for this sort of failure.

Would this not have been seen when the paralever bearing was being done by Balderstons?

Adam

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:10 pm

It's not just a mileage thing.It's a mixture of suspension set up,road surfaces, and speed you ride over bumps.Also age comes into it.I think they tend to suffer from corrosion too.
Balderstons wouldn't have checked the UJ whilst doing para bearings.
Another thing you'll notice is that there is a slight feeling that the brakes are on.....a slight sapping of power.As soon as you pull the clutch in the bearings inside the UJ are allowed to float thus the vibration vanishes.
You'll notice that the bike seems to go a little faster when you pull the clutch in too.
Whilst the bike is stationary in neutral i bet it feels smooth as silk?!
Bailey.

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:26 pm

Double bugger. The symptoms sound rather familiar and I'm not shy of hammering down bumpy roads. Which part of the pretty picture are we talking about?

What sort of cost am I looking at for the parts alone?

I take it if ignored I could be looking at an exciting lock up of the rear wheel that can't be released using the clutch

Thanks

Adam

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:33 pm

I can't point it out cos I can't host pictures.Think It's around a £100 for parts.Not a hard job.About an hours labour.
Bailey.

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:36 pm

Forgot to say that a very small amount of play in the bearings gives big results.Think I rode mine in this state for quite a few thousand miles!
But eventually you will come a cropper!
Bailey.

adamski49 · Post by **adamski49** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:40 pm

Bailey

Do a refresh (CTRL + F5 on a PC, not sure on a Mac) - is it the bits circled in red? Will the dealer know all the bits I need?

The past 3k has been the worst but it's been pretty poor for the last 6k so I think I'm pushing my luck now.

Thanks

Adam

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:53 pm

that's the baby.I think i got a secondhand one off motorworks for £60 which lasted OK.
Bailey.

Boxadog 2000 · Post by **Boxadog 2000** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 8:09 pm

I have exactly the same symptoms, have changed para lever bearings and even fitted new tyres have done the the tappets twice and have ballanced the TBs several times and fitted new plugs twice in the last 2k miles.

Bugger.

Good job I get the Tiger on Saturday I will then pull the final drive apart and check the UJ.

Can you note any clicking or notchy bits when you pull the UJ out?

As Bailey stated feels like the brakes are on and the bike seems to speed up when you pull the clutch in.

Bob