Acceptable play in telelever ball joint??

[Grey Sickle]

Hi, i'd be gratefull for any info on the front ball joint on an 99 gs1150, i have about 1mm play, levering the front wheel up with a plank / beam. Is it a needy fix as the weight of the bike would keep the gap closed..??
The bike doesnt feel bad in the steering, just lighter than other bikes i have ridden.. thanks for reading...JC

 

[Colban]

How many miles has the bike done?.
Generally,any movement in steering control is not a good thing.
You can buy the ball joint seperately new,or look around for a s/h unit.
Probably be worth checking its tightened up correctly first though.

 

[DrFarkoff]

if it's vertical lift and vertical lift only? it's more than likely safe enough

BUT if you have ANY lateral movement forwards and backwards or even across the frame I would look at getting it changed ASAP

Brand new Scania Steering Ball Joints have a service lift of 2 mm vertically from new and the Twats in MOT stations here whinge and turn them down then we'd put another new one in and it'd have play too! What do ya do??

 

[beermonster]

I have recently had to do mine, got play foward and back. You could feel it moving with the front brake applied whilst rocking the bike. As others have said if you have any foward/back movement it might be a good idea to replace.

Cheers

Simon

 

[Grey Sickle]

thanks for the come back, i have now found that it was loose, not instantly apparant due to the high torque. following the other threads on this issue someone suggested turning the main part 90' which seems to show an improvement. I will torque it with a luggage balance and extension factored appropriatley. Now is loctite 2701 the same as 648?

JC

 

[Stewart H]

thanks for the come back, i have now found that it was loose, not instantly apparant due to the high torque. following the other threads on this issue someone suggested turning the main part 90' which seems to show an improvement. I will torque it with a luggage balance and extension factored appropriatley. Now is loctite 2701 the same as 648?

JC

Do you mean that the nut was loose ? rather than there being play in the balljoint itself ?

Stewart

 

[MikeP]

Now is loctite 2701 the same as 648?

JC

Don't think so.

http://www.bearingshopuk.co.uk/inde...57&network=s&gclid=COiYhbvth5oCFQqF3godjVQoGA

 

[Grey Sickle]

some of both really. I have had the bike approx 5000m and its done 50000 total. it has i understand had a rebuild after an impact event. I have just torqued it up with the existing nut and no loctite and the play was still there, only up and down, not front back /side side. I then turned the joint 90 dgs and tightened again and it has lessened. I will glue that and monitor it. If i do have to change the ball joint one of the questions is can you do it with the fork bridge still in the bike?
I have not checked all my fasteners before, although a few months ago i did tighten my rear sub frame bolts and one of them stripped.£$%%"$. when i measured it though it, and the same on the other side was shorter than the Max fiche said it should be. fortunatley the thread in the engine / box had more on it so i changed both bolts to 50mm i recall, and am now happy with that.

 

[Stewart H]

Thanks for the info, have you looked under the rubber boot ?
Stewart

 

[Grey Sickle]

i am not sure if i will be able to get the boot back in again? it looks in good condition. I have just torqued it up, the slight movement is still the same really. I suppose the main question is do i need to get a new ball joint or not. will the thing suddenly pop out.? has anyone an old one that they have disected with an angle grinder...??

 

[Stewart H]

Its just a balljoint, during manufacture the pin/ball part are inserted into the socket and a machine swages the top to ensure it cant pull out, the socket is lined with plastic, certain ones might be tightened up by (technically) belting the underside, I dont know about these though. Problem being this is a bike, the same almost identical part for my car is £11 For the bike I believe they are over £100.

Stewart