headset adjustment

[knick620]

riding feels like either wheel bearing or headset bearing needs replacing/adjusting. I am happy the wheel bearing is fine so must be headset, any members have the relevant pages from the manual or offer any talk through?

[davenowherejones]

OK, what is the underlying problem?

The front end of my Forza 300 was crap when I first got it. I suspect that it had no oil in the forks.

Mine was a rebuilt wreck, it fell over in a parking lot. I think the insurance company (government ) wrote it off because of plastic damage or maybe fraud.

Mine was made in the first week of production.

The fork bolts up at the headset were loose. The torque specs for the bolts is very little. I tightened then up a fair bit and it seemed to be better.

BUT ignoring all of the above, the Forza is a SCOOTER. It does not have a triple clamp and the motor is part of the swing arm. A MAXI-scooter handles differently from a scooter or a regular motorcycle. Tire pressure is also more important, I run 25 front, 29 rear for my 200 pound heavy ass. I also have the rear springs as soft as they go.

[knick620]

The bars are easy to wobble, it feels like it is going into a tank slapper, steering is not positive, different feel each time I lean into a corner - the scoot holds back then over commits.

Tyre pressure is as per manual, I have just bought the scooter (12,000 miles) and have serviced it (oil + filter, plug, air filter, brake pads/fluid) as it has covered the majority of that mileage in the last year according to the MOT schedule and had not been serviced.

[you you]

Good advice by Dave...Jones.

To check the headrace put the bike on the main stand. Grab the bottom of the forks, lift the wheel, and pull then backwards and forwards. Excess play will be really noticeable and “clunky”.

[knick620]

The headset bearing needed adjustment, anyone have the torque settings for the locknut and the bolts?

[GeorgeSK]

Steering Stem Locknut is 74 N-m or 55 ft-lb.

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[knick620]

Thanks GeorgeSK, thats tomorrows job sorted.

[knick620]

....and thanks to Davenowherejones for the pm, as a newbie can't pm back yet.

[springer1]

Nice going with the support everyone !!

[davenowherejones]

The service manual is sometimes online "somewhere" for this obsolete Honda product.

[aguim]

First, removing the stem locknut (55lbs torque) requires a very deep special socket, 32mm octogonal,
unless there's an equivalent replacement available.

Under that is the adjuster nut itself (initially torqued 15 lbs, then loosened, then finally torqued 2lbs,
no more). Again, a costly special tool apparatus is recommended -but not really needed (I tightened.
it using an old, short Yamaha shock spanner, to 'around' 2 lbs (and it has worked just fine for the
last 13,000km).

I found most of the front end bolts/nuts to be grossly overtightened, not loose in any way. Used
anti-seize everywhere and tightened them more reasonably

[aguim]

Thursday...yet no news from this guy (he profusedly thanked those who provided him with INSUFFICIENT information, then boasted about having the job "sorted" by... WEDNESDAY !!!

Well, my guess is we'll never see the end of that one (the guy is still struggling with the
250 lbs-thai-gorilla torqued handlebar post...

Forums are useless. As usual. I'm out.

[knick620]

None of the above post makes sense to me?

I had enough info to loosen the nuts and adjust the bearing (I used a 32mm crowfoot spanner with a torque wrench on a bar), I didn't have the torque settings, but a pm and the pages from the manual were more than enough, thanks for confirming the detail though.

The job is complete and it has sorted out the problem.

[davenowherejones]

So I know what to look out for, was this a manufacturing problem or a wear problem?

[aguim]

Oops...

I'd sure like to have a look at those crowfoot spanners. Try as I can, no way I could find a 32mm octogonal one. Did you use an equivalent, non metric, 12 pans one?

[aguim]

So I know what to look out for, was this a manufacturing problem or a wear problem?

Dave, you have inherited a car lot crashed, hastily rebuilt mess of a scooter. Stop pretending it
has 'manufacturing defects'.

Then you should have checked/adjusted that steering WAY before 60K, poor you. Now that its
bearings are probly toast, are you gonna cry lemon again?

[davenowherejones]

My steering is fine and the Forza handles pretty good since the forks got oil.

I have snow on the ground today and the Forza is probably going to stay parked till next year.

I last rode it on Dec 18 2017 to Boston Bar up the twisty Fraser Canyon. I had to make a few quick swerves to miss rocks on the road from the mountains.

The China Bar Tunnel lights switched off when I was half way through, very disturbing.

I did 26839 km this year so far. What a blast! Spent $1130 CDN on gas and $2512 CDN other stuff (Insurance, parts, repairs, farkles, motorcycle gear). I think hookers and drugs would have been cheaper.

[davenowherejones]

So I know what to look out for, was this a manufacturing problem or a wear problem?

Dave, you have inherited a car lot crashed, hastily rebuilt mess of a scooter. Stop pretending it
has 'manufacturing defects'.

Then you should have checked/adjusted that steering WAY before 60K, poor you. Now that its
bearings are probly toast, are you gonna cry lemon again?

You are mostly right but it is now impossible to tell if it was defective before the tip over and what the previous owners did to the Forza. I suspect the manufacturing problems might have caused the tip over. I have no way of telling for sure.

I would not recommend buying a motorcycle made in the first few days of production (#98). Oh well, shit happens and then you deal with it.

0.3 degrees C right now. I don't ride in snow. 67643 km on the odometer!!!

[aguim]

Happy that it handles good, but 68K without steering adjust/lube beats me. Well...another testimony
of Honda typical quality, isn't it...

Then having that done by the dealer will probably cost an arm+leg, with little chance of it beeing
done right ...and things getting worse by the day. So hurry up, Dave...

I have the nut tool here if you need that. Err...aren't you living a continent away ?