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Steering Head Bearing Adjustment - Shortcut Method

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Steering Head Bearing Adjustment

Shortcut MethodCompiled from Forum discussions

NOTE: Steering head bearing adjustments should only be done by a qualified and certified Yamaha technician. Should you decide to undertake this procedure yourself, you are on your own as far as any liability is concerned

Background

Improperly adjusted steering head bearings can cause several handling problems. The recommended procedure for making this adjustment requires removal of the fairing and partial steering head disassembly. For this reason, this can be a very costly job at your Yamaha shop.

Several crafty members have devised a method of adjusting the steering head bearings that can be done quickly and without high cost. This shortcut method is outlined below.

Testing for Proper Adjustment

Raise the front wheel off the ground and with the forks turned to the stop, give the handle bars an easy flick. If they bounce back and forth more than once, they are too loose. Another test is to center the forks and give the bar a very gentle push with your pinky. If the forks take off and flop to the side on their own, the adjustment nut is too loose. If you feel resistance, it's too tight. You should be able to easily push the handle bars from side to side, but when you stop pushing, the bars should stop moving.

Shortcut Adjustment Procedure

When performing this adjustment, it is critical to have the front wheel off the ground. You cannot feel or adjust the bearings properly unless the front wheel is off the ground.

To adjust the steering head bearings:

1. Loosen the crown nut. Do not remove. see drawing

2. Using a screwdriver and mallot, loosen or tighten the adjusting nuts as needed.

3. Tighten the crown nut.

When all the nuts are tight, check for proper adjustment as described above.

Last update: 06:16 PM Sunday, September 26, 2004

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