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steering-head bearing adjusting

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Old May 7, 2018 | 09:15 AM
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Default steering-head bearing adjusting

So I put my bike on my lift. made sure it is level both ways and the Sterling will always fall to the right. will not say straight if I wanted it to. Guessing this isn't correct at all. Trying to find some video to help with adjustment since I learn better by seeing than reading it. Have the manual and it don't look to bad but just want to make sure this isn't normal. Also looks like I need to adjust the top of the triple tree since I can see the adjustment and I have not touched anything. Any in site would be great hoping to tackle this tonight. Also will setup a rig for the fall away test.
 
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Old May 7, 2018 | 10:10 AM
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The clutch and throttle cables can pull the forks around. Best practice is to remove them at the levers and tie them out of the way.

The star nut is always visible from the side.

The procedure is in the SM. Basically...Loosen the stem nut and one set of pinch bolts (upper or lower, there is some debate, I don't believe it matters.), adjust the star nut with a thin tool such as a screwdriver or punch, torque stem nut, torque pinch bolts.
 

Last edited by cggorman; May 7, 2018 at 10:16 AM.
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Old May 7, 2018 | 10:30 AM
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bad tappets
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cggorman is correct, remove clutch brake cable etc...

What you are trying to accomplish with the fall away test, is to see if the neck bearings are too loose, or too tight. Let's say you disconnect all cables and as soon as you lift the front wheel off the ground the front end immediately flops to one side or the other - your bearings are too loose. Conversely if you lift the front end up and it doesn't fall to one side or the other at all, even with a push; the bearings are too tight. Most bikes should not fall away from center on their own, but should fall away gently after being tapped off center about an inch.

I'm sure youtube has a video on it.
 
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Old May 7, 2018 | 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by bad tappets
cggorman is correct, remove clutch brake cable etc...

What you are trying to accomplish with the fall away test, is to see if the neck bearings are too loose, or too tight. Let's say you disconnect all cables and as soon as you lift the front wheel off the ground the front end immediately flops to one side or the other - your bearings are too loose. Conversely if you lift the front end up and it doesn't fall to one side or the other at all, even with a push; the bearings are too tight. Most bikes should not fall away from center on their own, but should fall away gently after being tapped off center about an inch.

I'm sure youtube has a video on it.
From what I am seeing my beck bearing to too loose. I will disconnect everything tonight to make sure but from the way it looks it just flops to one sire or another. I had another bike on the lift and it stayed straight and would fall away if I moved it etc. Mine just falls as soon as the tire is off the ground.
 
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Old May 7, 2018 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by cggorman
The clutch and throttle cables can pull the forks around. Best practice is to remove them at the levers and tie them out of the way.

The star nut is always visible from the side.

The procedure is in the SM. Basically...Loosen the stem nut and one set of pinch bolts (upper or lower, there is some debate, I don't believe it matters.), adjust the star nut with a thin tool such as a screwdriver or punch, torque stem nut, torque pinch bolts.
That is what I seen just want to make sure I am doing it right. Thank you.
 
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Old May 7, 2018 | 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by natedog_37
That is what I seen just want to make sure I am doing it right. Thank you.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...-bearings.html
 
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Old May 7, 2018 | 11:00 AM
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Yeah, sounds like yours may be a bot loose.

One of the trees has to be free to slide along the length of the fork tubes. I loosen the upper. I also tap the side of the tree in the pinch bolt area with a plastic mallet after torquing the stem nut just to make sure the tubes and tree aren't slightly cockeyed before I tighten the pinch bolts.

I recall seeing a good YT video several years ago. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Other people must like it, too. First result in YT search...


I don't go to this much effort, but also useful:
 

Last edited by cggorman; May 7, 2018 at 11:14 AM.
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