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#42951 Crusierbob (User) Platinum Boarder Posts: 1267 My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   Help guys, I need to retorque the steering head on my scooter, and the special Yamaha Tool is $48.95. There has to be another source for a spanner that can do the job. I have tried other sources like Sears and all they had was pin spanners the smallest being a 3" radius. That seems a bit large for the steering head and it does not attach to a torque wrench. I read a post on a home made tool, but the photos did not come through. I have limited fabrication ability so would rather purchase a tool to do the job. What have you all done. Makes me wish I had kept my old Motorcycle tool kits as they all came with a spanner to tighten the steering head   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #42953 2005Roadstar (User) Proper Prior Planning Prevents PissPoorPerformance Expert Boarder Posts: 562 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   What I've been doing for years (first with my Vulcan and now with the Road*), since I don't have the special spanner that fits onto a torque wrench, is to tighten the steering stem nut 'til you can feel a slight drag on the bearings when you turn them from side to side, then back the nut off slightly, 'til the drag is gone. That may not be the proper way to do it, but it's worked so far. I've got over 70,000 miles on the Vulcan with the original bearings; relubed them every two years like the book says and no problems. Maybe someone has come up with a more sure fire way of setting the proper amount of torque though, without using a torque wrench. I'd also be interested in seeing the homemade tool you're talking about. That way there's no guesswork involved. Good luck! In The Wind, Aaron   Logged     Last Edit: 2007/09/27 11:28 By 2005Roadstar.     The administrator has disabled public write access. #42956 Crusierbob (User) Platinum Boarder Posts: 1267 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   I am not so concerned about the torque setting as to getting something that will actually turn the spanner nut on the steering head without messing it up. I have a little forward and back movement in the steering when I put the bike on a lift and know that it should be tighter. I may just buy a socket large enough to fit and cut a couple of opposing teeth in it to fit the splines on the spanner, unless somebody comes up with something better. Thanks for the input.   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #42957 Curt (Moderator) Never to old to ride! Moderator Posts: 12511 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   Guess I could make you one out of a cut off box end wrench and an adapter for the torque wrench. Not hard to fab at all.   Logged     My Site Black Ice is Shiny, Black Ice is Deadly, Ya Wanna Ride My BlackIce?   The administrator has disabled public write access. #42960 Crusierbob (User) Platinum Boarder Posts: 1267 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   Thanks for the offer, no need to make something up. I think I will take a large socket and notch it to fit the splines. Then it will go on the torque wrench. More interested in how others have done this. I just noticed the front end loosening up and checked it and found a slight movement. I will pull it apart, pack the bearings and tighten it all back up. Just want a tool for the job and did not want to pay $48.95 for it. Mama Yama gets real proud of this stuff....   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #42962 2005Roadstar (User) Proper Prior Planning Prevents PissPoorPerformance Expert Boarder Posts: 562 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   Cruiserbob, I like your idea using a large socket. Sounds like a plan for the next time I have the front end apart, which hopefully won't be for awhile since I just did my steering stem bearings a couple of weeks ago. Definitely something to keep in mind though. In The Wind, Aaron   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #42987 DocShadow (Admin) Hmmmm .... send beer Admin Posts: 17615 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   I bought the special tool but it seems to sit in the tool box now as I torque my nut tighter than the stock setting. I use a pipe wrench and tighten the nut down until the front wheel is very difficult to turn side to side - this seats the bearing in the race. I then back it completely off and tighten it until the wheel flops to one side without it banging real hard against the stop. Doc   Logged     My Bike Website   The administrator has disabled public write access. #42988 Crusierbob (User) Platinum Boarder Posts: 1267 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   Now a pipe wrench I have!! I just don't want to booger up the splines on the nuts.   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #43070 Flashback (Moderator) Just the facts, Ma'am.. Moderator Posts: 9221 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   sounds like you set it up the same way as I do wheel bearings on a car..   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #43073 DocShadow (Admin) Hmmmm .... send beer Admin Posts: 17615 Re:My Turn for Dumb Question 4 Years, 8 Months ago   Probably. I have some torque wrenches but hardly ever use them. I guess I have the touch. Doc   Logged     My Bike Website   The administrator has disabled public write access.

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