8.8 Steering stem components

7. Bearing cover

8. Upper bearing inner race

9. Upper bearing

10. Upper bearing outer race

11. Lower bearing outer race

12. Lower bearing

13. Lower bearing inner race

14. Dust seal

15. Bottom yoke and steering stem

headlight and turn signal assembly in the sockets in the bottom yoke, making sure the mounting bushes are in place.

13. Install the top yoke, steering stem nut and washer. On R, T, V, W, X and Y models, ensure the headlight assembly stays locate correctly in the top yoke (see illustration). Leave the steering stem nut finger-tight to allow for alignment of the fork legs when they are fitted. Install the front brake hose clamp (and horn on SW, SX and SY models) to the bottom yoke.

14. Install the front fork legs to align the top and bottom yokes and tighten the steering stem nut to the torque setting specified at the beginning of this Chapter. Complete the installation of the front forks (see Section 6). Install the handlebars if removed (see Section 5). Follow the procedure for the installation of any remaining disturbed components.

15. Carry out a check and, if necessary, readjust the steering head bearing freeplay (see Chapter 1).

9 Steering head bearings -

inspection and renewal

^

Inspection

1. Remove the steering stem (see Section 8).

2. Remove all traces of old grease from the

8.6 Adjuster nut (a) and bearing cover (b)

a C-spanner or a suitable drift located in one of the notches then remove the lockwasher, bending up the remaining tabs to release it from the adjuster nut if necessary. Inspect the tabs for cracks or signs of fatigue. If there are any, discard the lockwasher and use a new one; it is advisable to renew it as a matter of course.

6. Supporting the bottom yoke, unscrew the adjuster nut using either a C-spanner, a peg-spanner or a drift located in one of the notches, then remove the adjuster nut and the bearing cover from the steering stem (see illustration).

7. Gently lower the bottom yoke and steering stem out of the frame.

8. Remove the upper bearing inner race and the caged bearing from the top of the steering head (see illustration). Remove all traces of old grease from the upper and lower bearings and races and check them for wear or damage as described in Section 9. Note: Do not attempt to remove the races from the frame or the lower bearing from the steering stem unless they are to be renewed.

Installation

9 Smear a liberal quantity of grease on the bearing races in the frame. Work the grease well into both the upper and lower bearing cages.

8.13 Ensure assembly locates correctly at points (a) and (b)

10 Carefully lift the steering stem/bottom yoke up through the frame. Install the upper bearing and its inner race in the top of the

1. Steering stem nut

2. Steering stem washer

3. Top yoke

4. Locknut

5. Lockwasher

6. Adjuster nut

steering head, then install the bearing cover and thread the adjuster nut onto the steering stem (see illustration 8.8). Tighten the nut lightly to settle the bearings, then slacken if off so that it is finger-tight. Using either the C-spanner or drift, tighten the nut a little at a time until all freeplay in the bearings is removed, yet the steering is able to move freely from lock to lock. If the Honda adapter tool (pt. no. 07946-4300101) is available you can apply the torque setting specified at the beginning of this Chapter. Now turn the steering from lock to lock five times to settle the bearings, then recheck the adjustment or the torque setting. The object is to set the adjuster nut so that the bearings are under a very light loading, just enough to remove any freeplay (see Chapter 1, Section 19). Caution: Take great care not to apply excessive pressure because this will cause premature failure of the bearings. If the torque setting is applied and the bearings are too loose or tight, set them up according to feel.

11. Install the lockwasher on the adjuster nut and thread the locknut onto the steering stem and tighten it finger-tight. Tighten the locknut (to a maximum of 90") to align the tabs on the lockwasher with the slots in the locknut. Hold the adjuster nut to prevent it from moving. Bend up the lockwasher tabs to secure the locknut.

12. On R, T, V, W, X and Y models, install the

6

6*12 Frame, suspension and final drive

advantageous to curve the end of the drift slightly to improve access.

5. Alternatively, the races can be removed using a slide-hammer type bearing extractor; these can often be hired from tool shops.

6. The new outer races can be pressed into the headstock using a drawbolt arrangement (see illustration), or by using a large diameter tubular drift. Ensure that the drawbolt washer or drift (as applicable) bears only on the outer edge of the race and does not contact the working surface and that the race fits ail the way into its seat. Alternatively, have the races installed by a Honda dealer.

-BEARING RACE