Q & A
1999 SUZUKI BANDIT GSF600
Q : When I ride over small and big bumps in the road, I hear a banging from the front end. It seems to come from the left side at the top yoke steering stem. I have changed everything: wheel bearings, new fork sliders, bushes, seals, and even a new steering head. I set the steering play as per the Suzuki workshop manual. I tried tightening the bearings, but it made no difference. I noticed that in Pip Higham's article on head bearing adjustment he leaves the top yoke bolts done up and undos the bottom ones, but in the Suzuki manual they say to undo the top yoke bolts and stem nut, then adjust. I have also put new seals and pistons in the calipers so they're not loose. Al I bolts are torqued up to the right specifications/settings. When I push the bike and apply the brakes there is no banging or clicking, which I've heard can happen if the bearings are loose. I've also put new YSS fork springs in. Any help or suggestions will be appreciated as I'm at a loss as what to do next! Stephen Robinson
A : You need to loosen either the top or the bottom yoke clamps because by adjusting the steering head bearings you are altering the distance between the yokes. I do not think it makes much difference which ones you undo. Obviously you have double-checked that there is no detectable play in the bearings now and the top locknut is definitely tight? In that case one area which might be at fault is one or both of the fork legs; the brake calipers (the usual problem being a missing pad spring, which stops the pads from rattling); insufficiently supported brake hoses which can hit the fork legs; or some other item - possibly under the tank - which is not mounted correctly. Good luck!
BREAKER, BREAKER
Q : Could you tell me where you (Mark Haycock) got the chain breaker from on page 84 of May 2018 issue? Maurice Grieves.
A : It was from ebay. In common with most tools at the cheaper end of the range (the price is typically around the £20 mark), it was unbranded, though you will often find that the same tool is sold under different brand names. No instructions were provided. I think probably the easiest way to describe it is with a photo.
FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Q : Hi, with the possible introduction of the new green fuel in 2020 and some older cars not being compatible with the new fuel (figures suggest it may be as many as 634,309 vehicles), how will this affect our classic motorcycles? Will we still be able to buy fuel suitable for our older motorcycles? Would it be worth your journalists investigating the possible changes to fuels in 2020 and running an article to explain the possible implications to our classic motorcycles. Rob Smyth
A : I thought it was 634,310! There has been a little information, but rather too much uninformed speculation on this subject, just as there was with the introduction of unleaded fuel and the current £5 unleaded. Ok, this is a question that needs a longer answer than we have room for here so I shall look at this in a future separate feature. Meanwhile, check out the book for sale on page 11.