Pretty simple question for anyone with a service manual for an '09 sporty...I bought a steering stem bolt cover and I'm looking for the torque specs on the stem bolt.

In addition, if there is anything that sounds complicated replacing the bolt please post.

I know, I know....buy a service manual. Sometime soon I will.

Thanks in advance.

 

The fork stem bolt isn't "torqued". It is used to set the pre-load on the stem bearings, and there is a very specific procedure (explained in detail in the book) with the frame level and the front wheel off the ground and then checking for front wheel "fall-away" as you carefully make minute adjustments to the stem bolt. If you get it too loose or too tight, the bearings will be damaged and you'll have to replace them.

You need the book before you mess with that stem bolt.

 

Alright thanks for the advice...I guess this would be the time to break down and buy that damn manual.

 

I just remembered that you need a 2009 manual. There is a torque spec error in the 2009 manual.

The primary chain inspection plate is secured by two 1/4" x 20 x 5/8" Torx head screws. Those screws should only be tighted to about 4 ft. pounds, (40-60 INCH pounds) with Anti-Seize on the threads. The data base used for the Factory Manual somehow changed the screw size to 1/2" x 20 x 5/8" (wrong spec) and then plugged in the torque spec for the larger sized bolt, something like 90-120 inch pounds, which is incorrect.

When you get your manual, cross out the incorrect torque value (on two pages) and write in the correct value to avoid stripping out the threads in the primary cover. At double the max torque, they will strip. It has happened. The error was discovered by a few of us only last week.