Headstock bearings

good idea

garvey2003 said:

Any ideas on where I would get a 15mm allen key? been looking around today and nothing?!?!

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I bought a 15mm socket extension from Halfords.irate

Are we talking the centre headstock hex? :dunno If you have the original toolkit, then there is one in there that slots straight in.

caterpillar said:

Are we talking the centre headstock hex? :dunno If you have the original toolkit, then there is one in there that slots straight in.

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Yeah i've seen that nuts its still to small, its seems to be about 12-14mm and the hole is 15mm
off to Halfords to see what I can get today :thumbup

well after hunting the country for A) a C Spanner to tighten up the head bearings and B) a allen big enough to take the top cover off, i've given up.

Can't really afford to but its being booked in next week to get the bearing done. For something so simple I cant get over how bloody hard its been finding the right stuff, oh well such is life

Ive just checked and on my 00 its a 14mm key that is needed looky . I didnt use a C spanner. I used a big blunt screwdriver and a hammer. Because the taper bearings only need 20nm this did the job for me. When tightening it up you can check the free play of the yolks as you nip the rings up.

I used the one in the tool kit last week to remove mine when stripping the damaged parts. It does work honest! Re a c spanner, Hein Gericke normally have them in. Did you try George White? :dunno

caterpillar said:

I used the one in the tool kit last week to remove mine when stripping the damaged parts. It does work honest! Re a c spanner, Hein Gericke normally have them in. Did you try George White? :dunno

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Caterpillar's right. Ive just checked my tool kit and the blunt end of the plug spanner fits!irate

Mine was done up to bloody tight it would have buggered the tool, Managed to get a sump plug bolt thingy for a vauxhall today 14mm one end and 17mm the other and 19mm in the middle £1.64
Works a treat

Right so Ihave to remove the yoke then I can tighten up the headstock right? no yes?

garvey2003 said:

Mine was done up to bloody tight it would have buggered the tool, Managed to get a sump plug bolt thingy for a vauxhall today 14mm one end and 17mm the other and 19mm in the middle £1.64
Works a treat

Right so Ihave to remove the yoke then I can tighten up the headstock right? no yes?

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You can try that. Get the front of the bike off the ground. I use an Abba stand type of arrangement. You need to be able to rotate the forks freely.

Once off the ground check for play in the steering head by grabbing hold of the fork legs from the front and pushing and pulling backwards and forwards. There should be NO play. If there is play then either 1)Your bearing needs to be tightened up or 2) the bearing is shagged and needs to be replaced.

Ideally you need to take the forks out and take a look at the bearings but if you want to try ro tighten them up first then try this........

Take off the nose faring.

Undo the bolts holding the clip ons to the top yolk.

Undo your centre yolk bolt.

Undo the yolk bolts which grip the fork tubes.

Undo the bolts which locate the brake and clutch resv's

The top yolk should now be able to slip up and off.


Locate the tabs on the centre bolts tab washer and gently bend these flat using a small screwdriver.

You will now be able to undo the lock nut using a c spanner or a screwdriver and hammer or if you are really unlucky - your fingers!

Tighten the base nut to about 20 nm (Taper bearings) 40nm(ball bearings)

Re check the play. The forks should move freely - drop to side to side with the damper removed and have no for-aft play.

and then put it all back together.irate

Sabre, thanks, thats a top how to, get it added to the how to mate
Gonna have a look tomorrow.
then order the bearings if needed

Getting the rear tyre done tomorrow then its booked in for an MOT, god help :lol

Well I managed to free up some time last night and today:thumbup
Stripped it down and wow the nuts could be undone with my fingures.

Cleaned everything up and tighten. Re bent the clock frame back into shape and now everything lines up :lol

Moment of truth, too the bike for a spin and the headstock is as it should be

Booked in for the mot on Friday