Adjusting steering head torque

[tomhanaway]

Service manual is a little confusing. In adjusting the steering head "lower ring nut", it talks about an initial tightening torque of 37 ft-lbs and a final tightening torque of 13 ft-lbs (both for lower ring nut-only mention of torque for upper ring nut is "finger tight".

Shouldn't this be reversed. 13 ft-lbs to set and 37 for final???

Page 3-34 of manual.

Thanks in advance,

Tom Hanaway

Boynton Beach, FL

 

[Ignacio]

No. The 37 seats the bearings properly, but is too much for a final torque. Backing it off to sub 13--then to 13 makes sure things are right. It made more sense to me after I followed the directions.

 

[mdisher]

No that's right, using the spanner (if replacing bearings) you torque it down to seat em, then loosen it up and re-tourque it

Or if you aren't replacing them or haven't removed them, then tighten it up till it feels how you like.

Of course this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[tomhanaway]

Thanks for the quick replies. Makes sense.

37 sets it, then loosen and final torque to 13.