Topic: Steering stem play question

[Toxic]

Is it just me but...

When assembling the front end the manual calls for the steering stem to have enough free play so that the triple tree will slowly rotate to the steering stop when given a light tap.

This is with the front end assembled and the weight of the forks and wheel provide the needed weight to turn the steering.  When you are putting together the front end with just the triple tree on, how do you know how much to tighten down the steering stem thread?  That's the collar you use the special ring spanner on.

I don't want to crank it down too tight.

[mystic_1]

Just snug it down enough to hold it in place for now.  Come back and adjust the bearings once the rest of the parts are installed.

mystic_1

[Johnie]

Yah, you do not want to wrench that thing down.  Just snug it.  I believe earlier in a post it said to snug it then turn the bars from stop to stop a few times, loosen it, snug it again and turn bars stop to stop again.  The tighten 1/8th past that spot.  See how this works for you.

[Toxic]

Great that's what I did.  The manual is kind of vague on this issue.

[Johnie]

Correct...the manual does not say anything about it.  My 1980 CM400 manual does say the same thing about the sung, loosen, snug and then 1/8th.  I used that on my steering head after packing grease in the bearings and all is well.

[gregory1975]

Why can't they just give a torque setting?

[Johnie]

Why can't they just give a torque setting?

A torque setting would be extremely low since it is just a bit over hand tight.

[Alan F.]

Why can't they just give a torque setting?

A torque setting would be extremely low since it is just a bit over hand tight.

And after a few miles you may want to recheck just for peace of mind.

[razor02097]

if they are angled roller bearings you want a slight preload.  You want enough you don't have play but still rolls side to side smoothly.

[rhinoracer]

The tighten 1/8th past that spot.  See how this works for you.

Is that 1/8th of an inch or 1/8th of a turn? I don't want to ovetighten in case it's just 1/8".

[Johnie]

1/8th of a turn.

[ev0lution7]

if its ball bearings your right....

BUT tappered roller bearings are different... most common mistake made with roller bearings is that people never SEAT the bearings...

you must OVER tighten the bearing then back off... and then move the bars and then adjust ti'll when you move the bars it should "fall away" at a smooth even rate not fall away fast... to the lock and it should move slow to the lock with its own weight...

if you do this right you WONT have to come back and RE-Tighten! same goes with car wheel bearings that use the same design i've got 1--+ in my S-10 with the same design of bearings and i followed the same sequence of tighten and i felt totally confident that my wheels were not going to come off at that speed!