Front wheel questions

[Barnfresh]

I removed the front wheel on my G to have a new tire mounted today and I have a few questions. The speedometer drive that the cable attaches to looks like the cast aluminum is broken on one of the raised areas... It looks like the PO or a shop may have tightened the axle without the drive tangs seated properly? Is this a common problem? Will it cause an inop speedo or bad things to happen?

Also, the front wheel bearings have grease, put they feel kind of jerky - not smooth. I believe they are sealed and cannot be cleaned, inspected and repacked... correct?

One more - I saw a service on-line that will grind the stainless steel disk rotors making them all smooth and happy ($50 x 3 = $150)... not necessary? They have a few shallow grooves and are rusty... Scotch-brite pad ok?

I may be riding in a few weeks if all goes well. Thanks for advice!

[natemoen]

The bearings are sealed. They are cheap as well. If they are tight and rough, just pop them out and replace them. Probably less than $8 for both of the bearings.

[jwhughes3]

rotors

Barnfresh - I would hesitate to grind away valuable rotor thickness, potentially making the rotor heat faster and affect your braking.

If you want to make the rotors pretty, maybe find some used? Grooves won't hurt anything - the pads seat into the grooves and everybody has friction and bike stops - no problem.

Try scotchbriting (is that a verb?) it and see how it looks - $150 seems like a lot of simoleans for grinding....

BTW - I really like brass brushes chucked in the air drill or die grinder for polishing the rust - is much gentler to steel and chrome than steel wire brushes....


John

[crazy steve]

I removed the front wheel on my G to have a new tire mounted today and I have a few questions. The speedometer drive that the cable attaches to looks like the cast aluminum is broken on one of the raised areas... It looks like the PO or a shop may have tightened the axle without the drive tangs seated properly? Is this a common problem? Will it cause an inop speedo or bad things to happen?

One more - I saw a service on-line that will grind the stainless steel disk rotors making them all smooth and happy ($50 x 3 = $150)... not necessary? They have a few shallow grooves and are rusty... Scotch-brite pad ok?

As long as the internal gear spins easily with no binding and the break isn't such that the grease can leak out or crap can get in, the speedo unit will be fine. That locating tang is simply to make it idiot-proof for getting the speedo cable pointed right. Once the axle is tightened, that tang does nothing.

As far as turning the rotors, John is right; if the rotors are bad enough to need turning (out of round, or really deep grooves), they will probably need replacing. Maroon scotchbrite pads work pretty good for cleaning them up without damaging the surface.

[DGXSER]

I removed the front wheel on my G to have a new tire mounted today and I have a few questions. The speedometer drive that the cable attaches to looks like the cast aluminum is broken on one of the raised areas... It looks like the PO or a shop may have tightened the axle without the drive tangs seated properly? Is this a common problem? Will it cause an inop speedo or bad things to happen?

Not familiar with the Standards, so I will leave it to the more informed members opinions there.

Also, the front wheel bearings have grease, put they feel kind of jerky - not smooth. I believe they are sealed and cannot be cleaned, inspected and repacked... correct?

Not necessarily true, there is a seal over them that can be removed and new grease packed into them, at least on the stock ones. However, if you can feel the notchy movement in the bearings, it may well be to late for grease. For what it cost, the difficulty involved (once you figure out the tricks ) and what is at stake, I would go ahead and replace the bearings. Getting them out is the hardest part. Mine cost me alot more than Nate quoted, more like $24 I think shipped, I got the ALL BALLS brand off an ebay seller. All the parts and seals for the front wheel, both sides.

[QUOTE=Barnfresh;324651]One more - I saw a service on-line that will grind the stainless steel disk rotors making them all smooth and happy ($50 x 3 = $150)... not necessary? They have a few shallow grooves and are rusty... Scotch-brite pad ok?QUOTE]

Key to it is to see if they are our of round. As long as they are within spec for out of round, the surface rust and minor scratches will clean up, heck the pads will wear those out over time. These disc are very tough stainless steel so it is almost hard to hurt them.

[crazy steve]

Not familiar with the Standards, so I will leave it to the more informed members opinions there...

Y'know, I can't for the life of me figure out why Yamaha built two different speedo drives; one for the standards, one for the specials. Other than the different speedo cable hook-up at the drive (requiring different cables), they appear to be all-but-identical. Same thickness, diameter, etc, with the only possible difference being a slight (and I mean slight) change in the angle of the cable when installed (2-3 degrees? If not less, and that may be machining tolerance). I don't see any reason why they couldn't be swapped as long as you use the matching cable...

[bikerphil]

Steve, if you try to put a Standard speedo hub on Special forks, the cable won't connect, it hits the lower part of the Special forks below the axle, BTDT.

[natemoen]

Mine cost me alot more than Nate quoted, more like $24 I think shipped, I got the ALL BALLS brand off an ebay seller. All the parts and seals for the front wheel, both sides.

If you need the seals yeah go the kit rout. If not then just get the bearings. I got nsk shielded bearings for the 2 front and the rear right bearing for $9 and some cents.

[crazy steve]

Steve, if you try to put a Standard speedo hub on Special forks, the cable won't connect, it hits the lower part of the Special forks below the axle, BTDT.

That's the only thing I didn't check, and you're right, it won't fit..

But you can go the other way no problem (special drive to standard forks), so that begs the question; why did they keep making two different drives after the special came out?

[Barnfresh]

Thanks - I ordered the ALL BALLs kit... matter of fact, that would be a good name when it's finally on the road.

My rotors will probablly clean up ok, but these would sure look cool...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAHA-XS750-XS850-XS1100-BRAKE-DISC-ROTOR-SERVICE-/300556726047?pt=Automotive_Services&hash=item45fa93af1f

[natemoen]

Thanks - I ordered the ALL BALLs kit... matter of fact, that would be a good name when it's finally on the road.

My rotors will probablly clean up ok, but these would sure look cool...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAH...item45fa93af1f

Drill the rotors yourself.