Steering Head Nut

[sparky3008]

Does detailed instructions exist on properly tightening this?

I remember seeing instructions somewhere.

Do we have to remove the top nut, triple, and then tighten the steering head nut then put the triple back on and then tighten the top nut?

As many may know I seem to have a few problems with my front end.

First it seems to pull to the left but after going out yesterday and locking the steering and kicking the crap out of the wheel it seems straighter.

I do however experience a fairly bad vibration approaching 100. Now please spare me the speeding lectures. I have had many cruisers that were smooth as silk at 100 and if my so called sport bike can't do 100 smoothly something is wrong.

I wanted to start with trying to tighten the steering head nut.

Thanks

 

[twowheelnut]

Just the top nut? 85 ft lbs (or is it lb ft?). I set the TW to 40 and wrench, then 60 and wrench then 80 and wrench. If it's other head nuts, there is a distinct sequence to follow. I don't have the manual here, but I'm sure someone will post it shortly. Oh, and some wise doods suggest going 10% less on the torque values...

...and no wise-ass comment. Wadaya know. <_<

 

[C&C]

Are you talking about the steering head bearing? If so, you repack your bearings with grease, torque to 37 ft lbs, back it off, retorque to 13 ft lbs.(This requires the special spanner wrench) Then the top nut, as previously mentioned, is torqued to 85 ft lbs.

 

[sparky3008]

Just the top nut? 85 ft lbs (or is it lb ft?). I set the TW to 40 and wrench, then 60 and wrench then 80 and wrench. If it's other head nuts, there is a distinct sequence to follow. I don't have the manual here, but I'm sure someone will post it shortly. Oh, and some wise doods suggest going 10% less on the torque values...

...and no wise-ass comment. Wadaya know. <_<

No wise ass comment, Now I feel like I am being excluded. Thanks a lot.

I was probably calling it the wrong thing. Some have mentioned that high speed wobble's might be from the steering head nut but on some of the other posts it seemed that they indicated using the special wrench and such so I wondered what the whole procedure was.

Thanks

 

[sparky3008]

https://www.fjr1300.info/howto/lube.html

I think this is what I read before.

Hey C&C he mentions no pre-load. Is that the same thing as you suggesting to tighten to 37 and then backing off?

 

[twowheelnut]

Just the top nut?  85 ft lbs (or is it lb ft?).  I set the TW to 40 and wrench, then 60 and wrench then 80 and wrench.  If it's other head nuts, there is a distinct sequence to follow.  I don't have the manual here, but I'm sure someone will post it shortly.  Oh, and some wise doods suggest going 10% less on the torque values...

...and no wise-ass comment.  Wadaya know. <_<

No wise ass comment, Now I feel like I am being excluded. Thanks a lot.

I was probably calling it the wrong thing. Some have mentioned that high speed wobble's might be from the steering head nut but on some of the other posts it seemed that they indicated using the special wrench and such so I wondered what the whole procedure was.

Thanks

C&C has it right, but I seem to recall a bit more detail involved. The last guy I know to post a thorough detail was OCFJR. You may wanna ping him here or over at .ws.

And don't feel excluded. I'm in a 12 step program to correct my humor problem.

 

[Yambone]

I thought teeRex51 had a great description of the steering head procedure in that thread you guys were on a couple of months ago. Check his second post:

Steering Nut

...tighten to 37 and then back off?

Correct. The manual says tighten the lower ring nut with a spanner wrench (37 ft-lbs). Then loosen the lower ring nut one turn. Final tightening called for is then 13 ft-lbs.
Also, the FJR Service Manual actually provides a nice sequential description of the steering head tightening procedure (for once, they do a nice step by step). It's worth the price of admission to get The Book.

 

[sparky3008]

I thought teeRex51 had a great description of the steering head procedure in that thread you guys were on a couple of months ago. Check his second post:Steering Nut

...tighten to 37 and then back off?

Correct. The manual says tighten the lower ring nut with a spanner wrench (37 ft-lbs). Then loosen the lower ring nut one turn. Final tightening called for is then 13 ft-lbs.
Also, the FJR Service Manual actually provides a nice sequential description of the steering head tightening procedure (for once, they do a nice step by step). It's worth the price of admission to get The Book.

Thanks I own the book and will use it but sometimes people who have done it first hand can point out the books short givings.

Thanks

 

[Yambone]

I own the book and will use it but sometimes people who have done it first hand can point out the books short givings.

Agreed. I go with FJRTech, Micapeak and Bounce articles first, and then the FJR Manual a distant fourth, usually. The Service Manual is good for exploded diagrams and torque values, but is (usually) woefully lacking in how to really do stuff!

 

[Bounce]

Servicing the Steering Head Bearing