--- In ipcrc@yahoogroups.com, "John" <turbo.john@...> wrote:
>
> Here is how I tightened my stock steering head bearings on an 89 PC with
13,000 miles, to get rid of the wobble. First, I searched and read all the
posts on the subject, which was very helpful. I decided to get to the bearing
nut by going in under the handlebars, and it worked well for me using basic
tools. Take off the side covers and gas tank cover. Remove the top plastic part
of the handle bars and disconnect both switches. Remove the handle bar clamps
and notice the mark or dot on them which indicates top and bottom so you can
install them correctly. With a towel or shirt on the windshield, I used bungee
cords to lift and hold the handle bars out of the way. Remove the air box and
cover the carbs so nothing falls into them. After removing the air box I could
get to the steering stem nut with a crescent wrench. Use a socket if you have
one large enough…I didn't. I used a home made extension (tube) on the crescent
wrench for more leverage. Now you can remove the triple clamp. At this point
you can reach the top fork clamp bolts from above to undo the triple clamp.
Next, getting the steering nut lock washer tabs bent up was a bit of a
challenge. After getting the lock washer off, I used a hammer and a long flat
head screw driver to tighten the bearing nut….checking the tightness of the
steering as you go, moving it all the way from side to side several times in
between tightening the nut. Mine was quite loose. I wasn't able to put a torque
wrench on it so I basically did it by feel, making sure that it wasn't binding
or too stiff to turn it back and forth. I had already taken my forks out to do
the seals when I was doing this. It may have been better with the forks on with
the front wheel, to get a better feel for how tight to go with the bearing nut.
Doing this fixed my head shake from 30 to 50 mph.
>
> Pictures:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ipcrc/photos/album/1354596639/pic/list
>
> John
> 89PC
> I did it the same exact way last summer before the Utah trip. I tightened the
nut about a quarter turn. I had just put on a new tire also and now with about
10,000mi. the tire is not yet cupped. It still shakes a tiny bit but not like it
use to. It doesn't shake at all with a hand or two on the handlebars.