Front wheel not rotating freely

[revhappy]

Hello guys,

 

I just bought a Bajaj pulsar 200 second hand and was doing some basic checks. I noticed that the front wheel doesn't rotate freely. It is disc brake btw. I know it's normal to expect a bit of resistance but still you should be able spin it And let go of you hand and it revolves a few turns before coming to a stop isn't it? But in my case I need to put significant effort to rotate it and even after that the moment I leave the wheel it stops. So definitely doesn't feel right. Although while riding i couldnt make out any diference, but then again its my 1st day with the bike so may be if the resisitancewasnt there i could go faster? Just wondering if anyone has come across this issue and what was the cause?

 

Thanks in advance.

[crazydj]

I have this same problem on my YBR ever since i bought it. I spin it, it moves only 1/2 of the wheel circumference. Changed 3 disc pads, cleaned caliper, nothing. Simply put, the resistance has no effect on my riding at all.

[ProFatSir]

Hello guys,

 

I just bought a Bajaj pulsar 200 second hand and was doing some basic checks. I noticed that the front wheel doesn't rotate freely. It is disc brake btw. I know it's normal to expect a bit of resistance but still you should be able spin it And let go of you hand and it revolves a few turns before coming to a stop isn't it? But in my case I need to put significant effort to rotate it and even after that the moment I leave the wheel it stops. So definitely doesn't feel right. Although while riding i couldnt make out any diference, but then again its my 1st day with the bike so may be if the resisitancewasnt there i could go faster? Just wondering if anyone has come across this issue and what was the cause?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

your wheel bearing need to be replaced.

 

sent from my Ericsson GH388.

[lollibear]

Check if your brake discs are hot after a ride. If hot, likely brake pads rubbing against disc. Many possible causes; old brake fluid, caliper pistons rusty, etc.

[revhappy]

I went to powerwheel, bikeshop behind tampines safra and got the front brake calipers serviced and the brake fluid changed. Also changed the brake pads(I had carried the brake pads with me, that I had spare).

 

But unfortunately, the issue still exists. Damn! 30$ labour wasted. Actually before going to powerwheel I went to another uncle shop kim heng huat or something on the same lane and that uncle seemed very experienced, he told me that the issue cannot be solved unless you change the brake pump and the calipers too. He said although the tightness is there but its a non issue and not worth spending so much to change all those stuff. I wish I heeded to his advice. Anyways..

 

And profatsir, its not a bearings issue because after the calipers were removed, the wheel could be spun freely.

[crazydj]

I went to powerwheel, bikeshop behind tampines safra and got the front brake calipers serviced and the brake fluid changed. Also changed the brake pads(I had carried the brake pads with me, that I had spare).

 

But unfortunately, the issue still exists. Damn! 30$ labour wasted. Actually before going to powerwheel I went to another uncle shop kim heng huat or something on the same lane and that uncle seemed very experienced, he told me that the issue cannot be solved unless you change the brake pump and the calipers too. He said although the tightness is there but its a non issue and not worth spending so much to change all those stuff. I wish I heeded to his advice. Anyways..

 

And profatsir, its not a bearings issue because after the calipers were removed, the wheel could be spun freely.

 

You should have heeded my indirect advice as well.

[AbangKau]

Spray some lube! haha

[revhappy]

You should have heeded my indirect advice as well.

 

Yeah! I remembered your post as well. Funny thing is the mech at powerwheel is telling me the reason it is hard is because I changed the brake pads to new ones so it need to sand in. lol.

[naim]

i suspect ur brake caliper piston seals are worn out or the pistons itself has some corrosion. it is supposed to have minimal resistance. if u carry on riding this way, the constant pressure on the disc = heat buildup and then eventually can cause ur disc to warp. happened to mine b4.

 

wen u mentioned service, did u mean jux cleanup or did they dismantle and change the seals and polish the pistons?

[revhappy]

i suspect ur brake caliper piston seals are worn out or the pistons itself has some corrosion. it is supposed to have minimal resistance. if u carry on riding this way, the constant pressure on the disc = heat buildup and then eventually can cause ur disc to warp. happened to mine b4.

 

wen u mentioned service, did u mean jux cleanup or did they dismantle and change the seals and polish the pistons?

 

They dismantle everything and cleaned with pressure water and that metal brush. They didnt change the seals, just cleaned and reused. So wat do you suggest bro? Change the calipers and piston only or need to change the lever and reservoir on top and the hose too?

[ezzyoiler]

could be a case of non retracting caliper...ie caipler issues...imho

 

the constant rubbing of the diac by the pad will damage the disc...get the caliper repaired or replaced

[crazydj]

What bike are you riding?

[revhappy]

Bajaj pulsar 200

[farhanians]

eh i had the same problem first when changing to new brake pads, wheels cant spin freely, i pay $20 labour at mech he say need servicing of brake system, utterrubbish. still have the same problem, THERES only one way, ignore it, after around 1-2 week of riding the problem gone, i believe ive slim down the pads.

[revhappy]

eh i had the same problem first when changing to new brake pads, wheels cant spin freely, i pay $20 labour at mech he say need servicing of brake system, utterrubbish. still have the same problem, THERES only one way, ignore it, after around 1-2 week of riding the problem gone, i believe ive slim down the pads.

 

Thanks bro, you do a lot of riding in 1-2 weeks. For me I guess it will take a month or more, haha. For the time being I am ignoring it.

 

In my case it was tight before changing the pads. The big mistake I did is when I asked the mech to service the caliper for tightness, I also changed the pads. Now I dont know whether the issue is the old issue or is it because its new pads. Another mistake I did is I didnt keep the old pads.

 

I later went to UM and Ah Teck quickly removed the pads and filed them and put them back on and still it is tight. He told me ride some time and it will go. Now I am going to check back after about another 100 kms.

[crazydj]

Okay, that's good to know bro. At least you got to service your calipers, so there is some peace of mind there.

[revhappy]

Okay, that's good to know bro. At least you got to service your calipers, so there is some peace of mind there.

 

Noticed 1 related issue though, while riding when I close throttle the handlebar moves left-right left-right in my hands. While accelerating not much, but if I let go off both my hands the handle bar again starts nodding viciously. Need to hold the handlebars really firmly. Did you encounter this issue?

[crazydj]

Noticed 1 related issue though, while riding when I close throttle the handlebar moves left-right left-right in my hands. While accelerating not much, but if I let go off both my hands the handle bar again starts nodding viciously. Need to hold the handlebars really firmly. Did you encounter this issue?

 

No, not at all. My bike i can not hold the handle bars at all and it will go straight. Check your forks, triple tree, or anything related to you forks. You got drop the bike before? Or perhaps your brake disc is not straight.

[naim]

If handlebar keep swaying abt i shud be bearings issue. Possibly ur steering cone bearing/wheel bearing.

[Fried Rice]

Noticed 1 related issue though, while riding when I close throttle the handlebar moves left-right left-right in my hands. While accelerating not much, but if I let go off both my hands the handle bar again starts nodding viciously. Need to hold the handlebars really firmly. Did you encounter this issue?

 

maybe its because you have a big box behind? i am not sure if this could be the cause, maybe someone else might want to confirm

[revhappy]

No, not at all. My bike i can not hold the handle bars at all and it will go straight. Check your forks, triple tree, or anything related to you forks. You got drop the bike before? Or perhaps your brake disc is not straight.

 

If handlebar keep swaying abt i shud be bearings issue. Possibly ur steering cone bearing/wheel bearing.

 

maybe its because you have a big box behind? i am not sure if this could be the cause, maybe someone else might want to confirm

 

I see, thanks. My bike has normal jntan 40 Ltr box with only raincoat inside. I will get the brakes issue sorted first and then find out what the cause of the swaying handlebar.

[mild_slevin]

check if the brake lever been pushing against the master cylinder of the brake pump. had similar incident bef and my front wheel just can't turn.

[revhappy]

I have this same problem on my YBR ever since i bought it. I spin it, it moves only 1/2 of the wheel circumference. Changed 3 disc pads, cleaned caliper, nothing. Simply put, the resistance has no effect on my riding at all.

 

@crazydj, Just wanted to let you know that I got the issue of "Brake calipers holding rotor tightly" issue solved today. Went to Universal motors the agent for pulsar. The mech there bled the brakes and changed the Orings, sand papered the pistons and put back. Still no difference. Wheel still not rotating freely.

Then he removed the brake pads and filed them still no difference. Then we suspect maybe rotor problem. So he interchanged with a 2nd hand rotor lying around. Still no use.

 

Finally he interchanged the caliper part that secures to the fork with another 2nd hand one lying around. This time it worked! Turns out the caliper bent a bit, haha.

 

But you are right, there is not much difference before and after, the effectiveness of the braking is still the same, its not that effective, but psychologically feels great, that the issue is resolved .

 

You may need to go to a mechanic that has lots of time and patience to do this kind of trial and error stuff to get it fixed.

 

Also I got the handlebar wobbling issue fixed. First got the steering cone serviced, which is a very expensive and time consuming thing, but the issue didnt get fixed and was quite dissapointed, then went to LAB and got both the tyres changed and the problem went away, so for now, my bike is problem free

[bruce71]

@crazydj, Just wanted to let you know that I got the issue of "Brake calipers holding rotor tightly" issue solved today. Went to Universal motors the agent for pulsar. The mech there bled the brakes and changed the Orings, sand papered the pistons and put back. Still no difference. Wheel still not rotating freely.

Then he removed the brake pads and filed them still no difference. Then we suspect maybe rotor problem. So he interchanged with a 2nd hand rotor lying around. Still no use.

 

Finally he interchanged the caliper part that secures to the fork with another 2nd hand one lying around. This time it worked! Turns out the caliper bent a bit, haha.

 

But you are right, there is not much difference before and after, the effectiveness of the braking is still the same, its not that effective, but psychologically feels great, that the issue is resolved .

 

You may need to go to a mechanic that has lots of time and patience to do this kind of trial and error stuff to get it fixed.

 

Also I got the handlebar wobbling issue fixed. First got the steering cone serviced, which is a very expensive and time consuming thing, but the issue didnt get fixed and was quite dissapointed, then went to LAB and got both the tyres changed and the problem went away, so for now, my bike is problem free

 

excuse me, please excuse my curiousity! could you explain further how the change of tyres can fix your wobbling problem? the only explanation i can think of are that either your old tyres are faulty or underinflated, or is there another reason?

 

btw, if your caliper is at fault, i presume that your bike is 2nd hand since you only own it just a month? i have a squeaking rear wheel which i figured could be due to a old rear disc, but seems like i need to consider the caliper too! thanks!

Edited September 1, 2012 by bruce71

[revhappy]

Double post