Author Topic: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?  (Read 9848 times)

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
I have recently bought two pilots. An 89 and a 90. they were stored in a shed open to one side but generally have cleaned up well. on the 89 the steering is tight, real tight. I dissasembled the front and it appears the ball joints in the a arms are tight. i am injecting grease and moving them, they are getting better. what might somebody suggest to free them up? there is some corrosion in them. with unavailable replacement parts looking for tips and tricks.

On the 90 it was parked because it poppoed a piston. He said he ran new carb to lean. unfortunately he left it with the cylinder and head off, with a towel stuffed in it. I do not think much got in it but sure something must have. Might a person be able to flush out the case with diesel or something?

besides a full service what do I need to be aware of on bikes that have been parked for 6 years?

I have wanted a pilot for years. I have a FL250 I fully resored 4 years ago, and I have an fl350.

they sure are fun.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2013, 02:10:59 AM by funinoly »

LiveWire

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1077
  • Karma: 20
    • View Profile
    • 85 Honda Odyssey FL350 Parts
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2013, 09:46:54 AM »
It sounds like you already figured out the binding is in the ball joints. You might try filling them with PBlaster which will strip out the corrosion. If what comes out looks rust colored, it is working. After that refill with grease, work more and repeat using the new grease to shove the contaminants out.

I have used mixed gas to flush a case, but diesel should work just fine.

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2013, 12:33:59 PM »
Do you think Kroil oil would work as well? I have some of that.
thanks

LiveWire

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1077
  • Karma: 20
    • View Profile
    • 85 Honda Odyssey FL350 Parts
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2013, 12:48:00 PM »
I am not familiar with Kroil. If meant break down rust though, it should.

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2013, 02:25:03 PM »
it seems to be working.
thanks

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2013, 10:54:29 AM »
I think I do not have stock a arms. they have stamped on them meyle germany 0255. any idea what I have and if ball joints are replacable?
thanks

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2013, 03:52:26 PM »
I found out the 0255 means they were made in january 25, 05

hoodlum

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 857
  • Karma: 11
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2013, 11:18:21 PM »
The lower arm looks stock, but the upper is definitely not stock.... The stock balljoint is not replaceable

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2013, 11:10:28 AM »
Cleaning out the ball joints helped. the arms are aftermarket and the ball joints are replaceable, just got to figure out what size they are.
thanks

shoubadaba

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 48
  • Karma: -1
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2013, 05:28:53 PM »
Your upper arms are atv racing replacement upper arms. The ball joints are superbeetle ball joints but they are turned down to fit the arm. You will have to turn them yourself or spend 40 bucks with atvr each for the balljoints

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2013, 08:21:57 PM »
what do you mean by turned down?
thanks

shoubadaba

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 48
  • Karma: -1
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2013, 12:04:16 AM »
Atvr puts the ball joint in a lathe and makes the outer part smaller to fit into the tubing on the a-arm.

funinoly

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 50
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2013, 09:36:17 PM »

This is from another thread, but a;lso applies to my original problem.

Upon further review it would appear that the previous owner did not know what he was doing when he replaced the a arms and tie rods. the center two tie rods were adjusted too short so the center pivot would not reach the stop. instead it would allow the tire to hit the A arm before it would reach the stop. Too bad because it cracked the tub by the outer pivot rotating too far around and one of the nuts from the tie rod end pushed up through.
on another note for what ever reason both ends of the center tie rods are threaded the same. So no easy twist it to adjust. NNNOOOOOO it was lets take it apart a ton of times. It worked out that there was little room for adjustment, because as I extended the center tie rods I had to shorten the outers which had just barely enough threads.
Wwill take it to my buddies alighnment shop and get it dialed in.
It would seem that this was also, at least part of my tight steering issue.

LiveWire

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1077
  • Karma: 20
    • View Profile
    • 85 Honda Odyssey FL350 Parts
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2013, 09:49:53 AM »
The ATVR anti bump steer setup causes extreme toe-out on turn. Weld in the holes in the flag and drill a new hole in the center. Mount both inner links off that hole. That will reduce the toe out on turn.

shoubadaba

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 48
  • Karma: -1
    • View Profile
Re: tight steering, what needs to be done post long term storage?
« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2013, 11:23:13 PM »
you could also remove the bumpsteer kit and run the stock tierods since you dont have longtravel