Adjust Steering Bearings Advice - 1979 Model

[kkjellquist]

At this point I have the front wheel off, forks pulled to change oil, and the front end ready for adjustment.  I have the top allen bolt loose and was able to crack loose the finely notched adjustment 'collar'.  Based on the effort I can only image it was too tight and the steering felt stiff before I started.  As I tighten and adjust the collar how to I know when to stop?  Right now the bearings are smooth, turning is light, but it's hard to know how to get it set just right with everything off the front end and the dash hanging of the front. 

EDIT:  Think I just found my answer in the Clymer manual.  Tighten the adjustment nut by hand and then loosen until "free play is all but eliminated".  After reading this the bearings were WAY too tight from the PO.

[skippyc]

When I got my bike the bearings were clogged with hard grease and were skidding around and not rolling. Might be good to check them.

[Loan Rider]

I did this a few weeks ago on my 1979 R65. My advice is that having got this far you remove the top nut, separate the yokes, and clean out all the (likely disgusting and solid) old grease that you will find. You can then repack the bearings with a suitable grease (not wheel bearing grease, which won't warm up properly) and tighten down.

I followed the Clymer advice that you have found and after torquing down the top nut it was too tight. It took a few goes backing it off, backing the knurled not off a little, retorquing etc. until it felt right.

Note that the screwing down really tight of the knurled nut, then backing it off again, is especially important if you have regreased the bearings as you need to preload them before backing off to running torque. And I suspect that is what Clymer is really trying to say.