Topic: steering bearings.. steering stop wont hit now.

[73nancy]

hey guys upgraded to needle steering bearings. i put the washer on the bottom now my steering stop wont hit. wondering if anyone had this problem. if so what did you do. i was thinking on maybe trying to tighten it up some more or drill a hole in the steering stop and put a bolt in there. i dont want to take the forks off cuz i have 5 days before i need it done for a show

[camelman]

What bike?

Sounds to me like you didn't seat the washer down low enough, or didn't get the race down low enough.  That, or you put the washer on a bike that doesn't need a washer.

[domer]

id be willing to bet you didnt need the washer, or needed a smaller one

[fmctm1sw]

I've heard of this happening before here.  That's one reason mine is still in the packaging.  Look for posts in the last few months, I could swear someone just posted about this...

[Johnie]

There is a nice thread on this board about the steering head bearings. It is 20 pages last I saw with the most recent post this month I believe. It is excellent and will help you through the problem.

Found it:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=1516.0

[MCRider]

hey guys upgraded to needle steering bearings. i put the washer on the bottom now my steering stop wont hit. wondering if anyone had this problem. if so what did you do. i was thinking on maybe trying to tighten it up some more or drill a hole in the steering stop and put a bolt in there. i dont want to take the forks off cuz i have 5 days before i need it done for a show

As others have said I think you used a washer or the wrong size washer under the race on lower stem. Sorry, forks and lower stem has to come off.

OCICBW

[73nancy]

its on a k1 750... man that sucks its going to have to come back off. i thought i needed the washer because it will bind at least thats what someone said..

[MCRider]

its on a k1 750... man that sucks its going to have to come back off. i thought i needed the washer because it will bind at least thats what someone said..

There is a way to measure and predetermine if you need the washer or not. I don't know what it is. I think some kits come with 2 thicknesses. I needed the washer but it went under the lower race in the steering stem.  Otherwise I would have your problem where the steering stops don't hit anymore.

Its been so long since I did mine I don't remember the details. I had the "green box" kit vs the AllBalls kit.

[Johnie]

The all balls kit tells you to line up the old balls, race, washer and seal. Stack that next to the new All Balls kit to get the same height as in the pic. That will give you the correct washer you need. My All Balls kit came with a thin and thick washer for under the lower bearing. The thin one gave me the correct thickness for the steering stop and correct height for proper fitment of the fork ears.

[MCRider]

Johnie: Thx for that explanation, should be helpful.