Just 1 minute.

Mechanic Monday Tip of the week....

Just 1 minute. That's it, 60 easy seconds. Your bike is asking just one additional minute of your time. What can you do in just 1 minute? You can do a quick check of all of the bearings on your bike that are not part of your engine. Start with your bike on a stand and both tires off the ground and extra secured so it will not tip over or fall off the stand.
1. To check your front and rear wheel bearings. Do this, Place one hand on your bike and the other at the 12:00 position on your tire gently push and pull the wheel sideways while looking at the hub where the axle enters it. Even the tiniest bit of up or down movement that you can see or feel at this point is a sign of a worn out bearing.

2. Next slowly rotate your wheel and feel for any unusual drag not associated
with your brakes or chain. Any notchy feeling is grounds for a bearing replacement.

3. To do a quick check on your rear suspension linkage. Start with your chest over your rear fender and use both hands to grip your rear wheel at the 12:00 position. Gently lift the wheel upward if you feel any movement before your shock starts to compress you may have worn linkage or shock bearings.

4. Now place your hand on your back tire at the aft end at the 3:00 position and try to move it side to side and watch and feel for any movement at the swing-arm pivot point.

5. Next, it's time to look at the fork bushings and steering head bearings. Position yourself in front of your bike and grab the bottom of both fork legs and pull them toward you. You can feel 2 different items here the bushings inside your forks and the bearings in the steering head. You should be able to discern which if any of these is providing any movement felt. If you need to, have someone pull on the bottom of the fork legs while you place a finger alongside the bearings to feel for any movement. be sure not to turn your handlebars when your fingers are next to the bearings or you can get a nasty pinched finger. Next with your fingers out of the way slowly turn your handlebars side to side any notchiness is a sign of worn bearings.

If you are ever unsure of how any of these items should feel to you, simply swing by your dealer's showroom and do the same test on a new bike.

This is only a quick check to do a more detailed inspection of your bearings you will need to get access to each bearing which will be in another article. Stay greasy my friends.

Dave