If there is a small amount of movement in the forks, can you tighten/adjust the steering head bearings on a 2016 Sherco, or will they need replacing?

Any video links showing how?

Thanks

 

It's a feel thing adjusting taper roller bearings.

Adjust them so there is a slight amount of drag with the top yoke off, when everything is tightened back up the wheel should stay pointing straight until given a light push but shouldn't take any real effort to move

Remember, you sometime get confuse by the play on the front brake. Make sure that what you feel come from the bearing.

Guy

On 9/9/2019 at 1:07 PM, guy53 said:

Remember, you sometime get confuse by the play on the front brake. Make sure that what you feel come from the bearing.

Guy

I had considered if it was the loose pads and floating disc that were giving me that bit of movement/sensation.  I am still unsure.

Get the bike supported firmly on a box below the sump then test for play by moving the fork ends by hand.  Easier with a pal sitting on  the bike to prevent it moving and he can feel for play at the bearing.

Yup. Get it off the ground, grab the fork at the axle and try move it for and aft. 

For adjustment, find the magic preload spot between slop and drag.

If that spot doesn't exist, the bearings are shot, which is pretty unlikely in a steering neck.

Mine's road registered and so I have to get it MOT'd every year. The tester reckoned the head bearings were a little loose, so after leaving it for a month or two I finally got around to taking a look...

Turns out the nut that tightens everything above the upper yoke had cracked right through; it's only alloy.

Got a new one and then realised I didn't have a C spanner to tighten up the headrace nut under the upper yoke. I improvised with an old wooden clothes peg and a mallet!

All sorted now.