Steering Stem: How much thread?

Finnigan

Finnigan

Over 1,000 Posts
Installed steering bearing from allballs and now it looks like my steering stem shrunk. I used one washer under the bottom bearing but no other washers on top or bottom. I can get the 'thread steering' one full turn with a wrench but not much more. Whats left above the top bridge is around 6.4mm of thread for the top nut after the washer goes on. Am I grabbing enough threads with both nuts?

I'm confident the bottom bearing is fully seated. I've banged on the top race with a soft hammer and torqued down the nut to seat it all the way then backed it off a little (repeated several times) but the top race isn't flush with the top of the frame, is that normal?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3277.jpg
    IMG_3277.jpg
    972.6 KB · Views: 250
  • IMG_3278.jpg
    IMG_3278.jpg
    1 MB · Views: 256
sorry.......I just had some more coffee and woke up a little
Yes you have some threads but 1 turn of the top nut won't be enough
Recheck the seating of the bearings and races
Also, the washers in the bearing kit are not mandatory, they are there for you to use if needed
Need to measure before to decide if a washer/spacer is needed.......that may be the problem?
 
Measuring the stack of both would of saved you a lot of grief to see if the races are fully seated, but yeah if the "washer was the super thick one you can use just the seal/washer on bottom and a thin(r) case hardened washer up top, if using a double nutter with caged rubber washer toss the cage and rubber, tighten the thing with the first nut to tight and back off to allow for the front end to "just" fall under its own weight right or left (should be almost 0 resistance) then "snug the second/jam nut to the first.

Hope all that helps or your balls are too big HHAAAH :o
 
Finnigan said:
I hate to step backwards but is it worth it to pry off the bearing to remove the washer?
Click to expand...
Absolutely. The washer is only needed to keep the lower triple and stem from scoping too far into the neck and allowing contact between the lower triple and neck (or possibly other elements). Look at it the way it is now. How far is the lower triple from the bottom of the steering neck? Is it larger than the thickness of the spacing washer? If it is, you can leave the washer out altogether. Measure the gap now and determine how much more the lower triple can scope into the steering neck - that will guide you to how thick the spacing washer needs to be. The bearing does not care if it has a washer behind it or not.

These things can be pretty hard to remove without damage. Take your time, and start with a really super thin wedge to get it started.
 
Finnigan said:
I hate to step backwards but is it worth it to pry off the bearing to remove the washer?
Click to expand...

Lets just say... the front end wont fall off, but if the bars come loose in you hands, how comfortable are you in your no handed stops? :o
 
^^^^+1
take your time and carefully remove the lower bearing, pull out the washer and leave the seal (if you don't destroy it)
 
Tune-A-Fish said:
Lets just say... the front end wont fall off, but if the bars come loose in you hands, how comfortable are you in your no handed stops? :o
Click to expand...

i have not yet perfected no handed stops :-\
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light

    • Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom