Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

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luigipasto
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Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

#1

Post by luigipasto »

From what I understand, the steering of my 76 was originally fitted with ball bearings. When I took the thing apart I found tapered bearing. I also found two dust seals fitted. One on the steering stem below the race, the other at the top just below the steering head nut. I'm using new All Balls tapered bearings, which come with 2 dust seals, and following the instructions posted by Mark King. In his diagram, he does not include a second dust seal at the top. Any ideas about whether I need the second dust seal at the top?

Relatedly, apart from specs in the shop manual, any considerations regarding tightening the steering head nut?
1975 GL1000, on the road but patiently awaiting restoration
1976 GL1000, in the middle of a frame-off restoration.
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Whiskerfish
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Re: Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

#2

Post by Whiskerfish »

To me the spacing is what would determine the second seal.

For tightening what I do is crank down HARD then back it off. With the wheel and everything installed the front of the bike in the air turn the handlebars just off center and it should slowly fall back to the stops. If it falls and bounces off the stop it is too loose. This is the method I read somewhere long ago and what I have always done and it has worked for me.
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luigipasto
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Re: Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

#3

Post by luigipasto »

Thanks Whiskerfish. Just to make sure I've communicated this well, the second seal was at the top of the frame just below the steering nut. It doesn't really affect any spacing on that end. The bottom end, around the steering stem, the spacing is just fine with one spacer and the dust seal.
1975 GL1000, on the road but patiently awaiting restoration
1976 GL1000, in the middle of a frame-off restoration.
redglbx
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Re: Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

#4

Post by redglbx »

Luigi, my buddy who’s done far more head bearings than I uses the method that Whiskerfish describes above with good results, myself I initially torque the bearings to 35-40 ft lbs and then back them off to loose and then retorque to a final torque of 18ft lbs. I may do the tighten , loosen & retorque sequence a couple of times before the final torque of 18ft lbs.

I will add that at the final 18ft-lbs torque the front end will hunt when riding a bit for a little bit and then settle in and you’ll need to recheck the torque at something less than 1000mi after initial install and recheck the torque at regular intervals until you find it just stays. That’s how I do it.
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luigipasto
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Re: Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

#5

Post by luigipasto »

Thanks redglbx..
1975 GL1000, on the road but patiently awaiting restoration
1976 GL1000, in the middle of a frame-off restoration.
Figor
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Re: Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

#6

Post by Figor »

I torque to spec then back off 1/8 to 1/4 turn.

Here is some other information about setting up the entire front end. It applies to all motorcycles. Fairly simple.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pNEmOqY02EU
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luigipasto
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Re: Steering bearing replacement went smooth, except....

#7

Post by luigipasto »

Thanks Figor!
1975 GL1000, on the road but patiently awaiting restoration
1976 GL1000, in the middle of a frame-off restoration.
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