Steering question - Chinese 150cc

[ikillbugs]

Hi guys.

The past couple days I noticed something in my steering that I don't recall having been an issue before.

Let's see if I can describe it.
When I turn the handlebars the steering comes "out" of center position like it is "seated" at center. When I steer back to center it will go to center, like there's something in there that will "hold" it in place. Maybe a video will be more helpful. I might make a short vid tomorrow so you can see what I'm talking about.

Anyway, I was just wondering if this was normal. I don't remember it doing that before. I noticed it when riding at low speed, it seemed harder to maintain control, that's when I realized this was happening.

Any thoughts?

[theswede]

Probably a bad bearing in the stem. You should pull it apart and check it, it will most likely not get any better and it could prove dangerous in the end.
A new bearing kit is cheap, but it is a fair amount of work to swap them out as one usually needs to remove all panels surrounding the stem.

[ikillbugs]

Thanks for the info.

I did find a little tidbit on the web describing the same issue and that's what it looks like. First thing in the AM I will head to the auto parts store and get some bearing grease before taking it apart. Maybe it just needs a good repacking. It's only 1 month and 500 miles old.

Hopefully this will be an easy fix, or as easy as it could be considering what I need to do to get TO the problem.

[theswede]

Sounds like a good plan. Try to go for grease packed in a squeeze tube if you can find it, it can be a bit problematic to get the grease into the bearings if you don't remove them completely otherwise.

[ikillbugs]

Video Posted Here:

[ikillbugs]

OK, solved for now.

I loosened up the top nut to reveal the bearings at the bottom. I remembered I had a grease gun still 1/2 full of grease from when I lubed the chassis on my van. Not quite bearing grease but still. Anyway, I did a pretty good job squeezing the goop into the bearings and using gobs on my finger to get where I could not reach with the grease gun then tightened it back down.

Hmmm... this time it "found center" a bit to the right of center. What I ended up doing is tightening that top nut all the way then backing off just a hair. Put it all back together (with 2 extra screws left over ... they were for the plastics somewhere, no biggie). Took it around the block and I didn't die so.... we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for the input and encouragement.

[ikillbugs]

As I posted my last ("solved") comment I read your comment more closely, theswede. "... a bad bearing".

It makes sense now. I could not see how I could get the entire thing off of there, but I did manage to move the bearing assembly around a bit. It makes sense that the "bad spot" would be moved over after I moved the assembly around. One bad bearing.

OK here's a question... is it possible to just "pop" one of those bearings out and replace it rather than replacing the entire ring (which would require much more effort and aggravation)?

If this is the case I will ride until it acts up again and do just that. Those plastics are a pain in the arse but will be easier now that I have removed them once.

[Rebel]

I think you should just put new bearings in for safety.

[ikillbugs]

Yeah that would be ideal, but for the life of me I shudder at the thought of having to remove the whole assembly. I don't know if you caught what I asked in my last post.

Is it possible to replace the bearings, or at least the offending one WITHOUT removing the entire ring or are they in there so as to have to replace the whole piece?

Remember though, I did tighten the assembly back down and then backed off maybe 2 degrees and that's it. The retaining nut and main nut are tightened back down, so it's not loose and there's no play whatsoever... and those bearings are generously lubed.

[justbuggin]

go for new bearings and races i know it will be more work but it will be done right and the spot in the race will not tear up the new bearings