How much play should your RT Steering have??

[Clary]

Just curious to know how much play should there be in the handle bar on my 2014 RT Ltd. I probably have a good 1 inch , is that normal?thanks and all stay safe and wear your mask.

 

[YumaGary]

My 2015 RTL has 0 play in either direction. Hope this helps.

 

[trikermutha]

No that is not normal.

 

[MONK]

I agree with what both of them said. Neither my previous 2018 RTL nor my current 2021 RT have more than a fraction of an inch deflection.

 

[FlyBoy2121]

Handelbars

I have a 2014 RTL has 0 play in my handelbars you have a problem.

FlyBoy2121

 

[Peter Aawen]

Earlier Spyders had some 'play' in their steering (particularly when the engine wasn't runnin), but it generally wasn't much at all (certainly less than an inch!) & AFAIK by the 2014's even that small amount of play had been 'removed'?!? :dontknow:

 

[2dogs]

0 play on my 14. Best to start looking for where the play is coming from before it gets worse and causes bigger issues. Safety first.

 

[trikermutha]

Check the union on the steering shaft and see if the screws loosened up

 

[PinkRosePetal]

I think an inch is a bit much but everything has some clearance, admittedly not much but it all adds up: Top steering shaft universal joint, top steering shaft bearing, lower U/J, steering drive mechanism, tie rod ends - 4 of them, top and bottom ball joints and then the rubber suspension bushes.

However, first stop is to check the tie-rod ends because I've had faulty brand new ones with excessive slack.

It takes two. Put your hand around the joint and grip it kinda carefully but completely, get someone to turn the bars or rock a front wheel. (Hold the tyre half way up on both sides and push with one hand and pull with the other so as to give it a steering input.) If there is play you'll feel a slight knocking/looseness.

You can reach in to the inner joint. If you reach in to the right-hand joint be careful not to dislodge the electrical connector above the joint, it's easy to get a sleeve caught on it accidentally separate the two halves just enough to break the connection. If the bike wont start afterwards, you need to get back in and squeeze the connector together.

The top ball joint can be checked similarly but the top of the wheel needs to be pushed and pulled with some force.

Checking the U/J's is a bit more involved and access is tricky, you need to be sure the lower steering arm is held or, at least doesn't move, while turning the handle bars.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Just curious to know how much play should there be in the handle bar on my 2014 RT Ltd. I probably have a good 1 inch , is that normal?thanks and all stay safe and wear your mask.

My 2014 RTS had a similar amount of play. I was able to get BRP to replace the steering column under warranty just days before my BEST warranty expired. In fact, the work was done after the expiration date. So no, you should not have that much play. The best I could determine it was occurring in one or both of the two universal joints that are part of the steering column. All the tie rod connections at the bottom end of the DPS were snug. That'll be a good winter project for you! The steering column isn't very costly, $125, but it will be a bear to get to it to change it. You might be able to get the play out by tightening the clamping screws of the U-joints and not have to replace the column.

 

[ARtraveler]

I just noticed that our 2014 RT-S has about 1 inch of play. We are at 46K miles on it. We are parking it for the winter. Come spring, its first ride will be to the shop for an oil change service and fix. This one is way above my pay grade.

Linda gets to ride the F3 now (and she likes it), and I can put more miles on my Vulcan.

 

[safecracker]

Smoak has good video about too much steering play. Bruce

 

[Stache]

If there’s more than none get it checked

 

[AlanSmith7]

I have an RTL that has 0 play in my handlebars you have a problem with your handlebar.