Topic: steering head nut

[Dirk]

Can anyone tell me what the torque should be on an old P&P girder steering head nut?

[NobleHops]

Neat frame, faux hard tail.

The answer unfortunately is "enough". Too much and you'll introduce a slow-speed weave, not enough and you risk shimmy and head shake.

One of the methods Honda prescribes specifies unweighting the front end, removing the wheel, and torquing the bearing till it takes 7-10 lbs of pressure to move it by pulling on the upper fork tube with a strap, measured with a spring scale (think "fish"). But on a chopper? Who knows. I think you're going to have to do this by trial and error, but read this for some educated advice on how to go about it:

http://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/shucking.html

[Dirk]

Thanks for the info NobleHops. The strange thing is at slow speeds it seems fine, at highway speed the rear end  seems to weave back and forth. I haven't had a chance to try the method you mentioned but hopefully I will this weekend.