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The Clunk - SAFETY UPDATE

Fri, 2008-09-12 02:47 — paulinokc

I thought this needed a new thread. It is also posted on the Clunk Poll thread.

Big Red has been in the shop for 2 days looking for the clunk. I stopped by the dealer to see what they have found. Service manager told me I had a "clunk in the front end". No shit Sherlock!!!..... and it took 2 days to figure that out!! He has a call in to Yamaha because he can't find it.

Not one to give up, I gave Shane at S&S Customs a call to pick his brain. He said there are 2 causes of the clunk that he has found. Take note - one is scary.

#1 Apparently, YAMAHA SHIPPED A BATCH OF BIKES WITH A CROSS THREADED LOCKNUT ON THE STEERING STEM. THE STEM DOES NOT TIGHTEN PROPERLY (IT APPEARS TIGHT AND TORQUES TO SPEC) AND IT IS THE TRIPLE TREE CLUNKING EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP. SCARY - CHECK YOUR BIKE IF YOU HAVE A CLUNK. THIS WILL BE A CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE - IF THE STEM/TRIPLE TREE/LOCKNUT TURNS LOOSE.

#2 The 1300 front end is the same as the 1100. The springs were not heavy enough for the 1100. The 1300 is longer and heavier and the fork tubes are bottoming out. $69.95 spring kit from S&S is the fix.

I have relayed this info to my dealer and am waitng for Yamaha Customer Relations to call me back.

IMPORTANT - If you have the clunk, err on the side of safety. Go get the stem locknut checked and make certain that it is not the root cause of the clunk on your bike. I don't know about you, but I have no desire to be astraddle Big Red when the front end falls off!!!

Safety first..........................paul

‹ Bike popping or back firing Erratic Speedo ›
Mon, 2008-09-15 22:04 — Jean-Mau

S&S

I am also interested in the S&S solution for the front fork springs.
Can you provide links and details on part number?

Jean-Mau

Tue, 2008-09-16 00:14 — BoomerSooner

Link

Here's the SS Custom page. Scroll down to the progressive fork springs section. You will see a line for the 1300 after the paragraph.
http://www.sscustomcycle.com/products/accessories/suspension.shtml

I have a set of these sitting in my garage, just waiting to get the time to put them in. It's a quick install, though.

Shane ships fast. I ordered them, and 3 days later they were in my hands.

Boomer Sooner
Potestatem obscuri lateris nescis

Mon, 2008-09-15 22:20 — paulinokc

part #'s

look on the "Clunk Poll" There are part #'s and a link to S&Sposted there.

Mon, 2008-09-15 19:53 — whitrt

Could you give me a link to S&S

Could you give me a link to S&S? Your right $70 isn't worth getting killed over.

Thanks

whitrt
Carbondale, IL

Sun, 2008-09-14 07:06 — DaveK

Corss threaded locknut on steering stem

Paul,
I don't doubt that the majority of front end clunking is caused by the progressive springs but on my bike it was the cross thread locknut. I brought my bike into the dealer for the 600 miles maintenance and when the tech did the test ride he noticed the clunk when he hit a pot hole. He thought it was a loose locknut but when he tried tightning the lucknut and he noticed it was stripped. He called Yamaha and they replaced the triple tree under warranty. I have heard this same issue from a couple of other riders. I guess I got one of the cross thread batches.

Oh Yah the clunking has gone away as well after the repair.

Dave

Sat, 2008-09-13 06:06 — skearns

Scott Kearns I just talked

Scott Kearns
I just talked to Yamaha today and they say that this clunk is not a safety issue. Where did you get this info about the cross-threaded nut.

Sat, 2008-09-13 17:21 — paulinokc

cross threaded nut info came

cross threaded nut info came from Shane at S&S. He should know - he sees lots af Yamaha bikes thru his door.

Sat, 2008-09-13 08:40 — MORG_kw

CLUNK-B-GONE

Rather than becoming upset with it, worrying about it, or creating more out of it than what it's truly worth, $69.99 from Shane gets you new Progressive Front Fork Springs, which 100+ of us have successfully installed on our 1300, which immediately accomplished 2 things: 1. eliminated the clunk; 2. improved ride and handling, but without adding any harshness to the ride.

Easy, quick and no more worries or concerns. Life is good.

Morg

Sat, 2008-09-13 18:09 — paulinokc

I don't feel like I should

I don't feel like I should have to pay to fix Yamaha's screw up. Yamaha put un underdesigned/defective part on these bikes and they should fix it under warranty. As someone else said...If Cadillac had a clunk in the front end off their cars, they would step and fix it. The Cadillac customers would not stand still for a minute if they were told it wasn't an issue, go fix it yourself.

Mon, 2008-09-15 04:03 — MORG_kw

clunk

re: don't feel like I should have to pay to fix Yamaha's screw up. Yamaha put un underdesigned/defective part on these bikes and they should fix it under warranty.

I understand fully what you're saying, but I have to also add.... this problem is just not worth the aggravation a few of you are putting yourselves thru, considering it's such a small issue and one that is easily correctible for $70, after which you can go about riding and enjoying your bike. Plus the fact, in addition to eliminating the clunk, your bike will ride and handle better with the new springs. Life's too short...make it easier for yourself, rather than more difficult.

Tue, 2008-09-16 06:41 — rusnsc

Clunk cont'd

As many of you have experienced I too have the clunk. Rather than fight with Yammie I ordered my new springs from Shane and SS. Can't see putting myself through the frustration and grief for a relatively inexpensive and easy fix. Will check the nut on my triple tree while I am at it. On a philosopical level Yammie should do the right thing and fix it! That much I will agree. Wake up Yammie not a good way to get return customers.

Rusty

Tue, 2008-09-16 07:58 — chadvicki

Is the clunk only on major

Is the clunk only on major bumps? I hear it on mine on severe bumps but I thought it was the cheap headlight assembly. Do I have a clunk??

Chad

Tue, 2008-09-16 16:54 — paulinokc

you have the clunk

you have the clunk