MOT advisory/ corrosion questions

[Riknos]

So I'm looking at getting a Hornet - I fancy trying one to get it out of my system I suppose.

Looked at a mk1 year 2000 one today and on the MOT there was an advisory for "Steering notchy" - the seller reckons this is due to the wiring causing it to be stiff? That true or is it something else?

Also - looking at another one that I haven't viewed yet as it's quite far away - seller reckons it's pretty rusty as left out in the rain. He says it's just the handlebars (and I can see the gear levers too) but just wondering what else could have issues? He says the chain and sprockets are new, anything else that doesn't like a lot of water exposure? dodgy electrics maybe?

[shunter V8]

The steering issue will almost certainly headstock bearings. I would avoid the rusty one as most likely not maintained if they can't even look after the appearance.

[Hooli]

I'd be expecting to change steering bearings on the first one. No experience of Hornets but it's always steering bearings that make steering notchy.

[CoolHands]

they sound a bit st. What's your budget? The notchy one is headbearings which is not easy / cheap to sort.

[Riknos]

CoolHands said:

they sound a bit st. What's your budget? The notchy one is headbearings which is not easy / cheap to sort.

Hmm interesting. Ideally I don't want to be spending more than a grand.

If it's not easy / cheap to sort I don't fancy doing that then. Fully prepared to get the spanners out and do some work at this end of the price spectrum, may look into diy head bearing change...

[Mr2Mike]

CoolHands said:

they sound a bit st. What's your budget? The notchy one is headbearings which is not easy / cheap to sort.

If the OP can use a spanner then it's neither expensive nor particularly difficult. However, you do need to have some method of supporting the bike when you drop the forks out (e.g. engine lifter, hanging from an RSJ or adequately strong rafter).

[Hooli]

Mr2Mike said:

CoolHands said:

they sound a bit st. What's your budget? The notchy one is headbearings which is not easy / cheap to sort.

If the OP can use a spanner then it's neither expensive nor particularly difficult. However, you do need to have some method of supporting the bike when you drop the forks out (e.g. engine lifter, hanging from an RSJ or adequately strong rafter).

This, it's an easy job on a naked bike. Took me longer to bend a bit of metal to the right shape to drift out the old races than anything else the first time I did them.

[bgunn]

Hooli said:

This, it's an easy job on a naked bike. Took me longer to bend a bit of metal to the right shape to drift out the old races than anything else the first time I did them.

Not even a hard job on a faired bike tbh, the plastics never take *that* long to get off if you're methodical..

[CAPP0]

Another vote for "easy job" if you're halfway mechanically competent.

[CoolHands]

lol to all the people above - how long would you say this job will take you from start to finish? Does the OP have the suitable tools? Even one missing tool can make it problem eg what if a hornet has a large hex front axle and you haven't got one? Straight away you can potentially have trouble getting the front wheel out! No centre stand so req some method of holding bike up straight and tilted back. Drifts to get race out? Removal of bottom bearing from stem? etc

In some senses no job is 'difficult' but in reality it's quite a time-consuming job, and to minimise it is not very wise IMO. Also it makes the bike sound a bit crap if the seller is stating the notchy steering is due to cables when it is head bearings. Having said that now we know the budget, we can see the problem - they're all going to be 10-owner stters at that price.

[N Dentressangle]

In my experience, bikes that live outside without a good cover deteriorate quickly. The water gets in everywhere, making all bolts a pig to remove, all bearings short lived and corroding electrical connectors.

At that age, the snotters and the better cared for bikes cost much the same, as far as I can tell. Better to find one that someone has looked after.

If the OP doesn't recognise that notchy steering means head race bearings are knackered, he probably doesn't have the mechanical experience or tools to fix it himself, making it a £100+ job at the local garage.

Edited by N Dentressangle on Friday 31st October 11:07

[gareth_r]

Head bearings can be a bit of a sod sometimes. I've had to introduce the bottom inner race to Mr Angry Grinder once or twice.

The bottom inner race is usually the most difficult to remove. If you hack the cage apart and remove the cage and the rollers you can often remove it by tapping the lip on the inner race.

There are videos on YouTube if you're not familiar with the process.

Edited by gareth_r on Friday 31st October 11:40

[Hooli]

bgunn said:

Hooli said:

This, it's an easy job on a naked bike. Took me longer to bend a bit of metal to the right shape to drift out the old races than anything else the first time I did them.

Not even a hard job on a faired bike tbh, the plastics never take *that* long to get off if you're methodical..

True, you might not even have to take them off. I found out there is room to do the job without removing any fairings on a Pan for example. It's just an extra step to make the job look harder really.

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

I've done V6 cam belts, head gaskets, owned a Renault etc...but doing head bearings is certainly not 'easy'.
There are plenty of better cheap bikes around...patience, and something better will come along.

[pozi]

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

I've done V6 cam belts, head gaskets, owned a Renault etc...but doing head bearings is certainly not 'easy'.
There are plenty of better cheap bikes around...patience, and something better will come along.

I have to agree, I am quite happy doing valve checks and shim swaps but could not be bothered to attempt the head bearings in my ZX6.

It is not for a lack of mechanical knowledge but having spent hours faffing about trying to improvise pullers and presses to get bearings out/in before it is easier to leave it to the people with the right tools in the first place.

[Mr2Mike]

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

I've done V6 cam belts, head gaskets, owned a Renault etc...but doing head bearings is certainly not 'easy'.

It only took about an hour to change the head bearings in my Fireblade. It wasn't difficult, just a little awkward to drift the top race out and the lower race in from below. Obviously you need the relevant tools and facilities to be able to do the job.