How to tighten the steering head

[KnightofNi]

for an 02 M750. it's the kind with the slot and holes around it.

Chris at CA-Cycleworks said I didn't need a special tool. he said i could use a drift and a hammer...what's a drift?


any other home remedies for this?

[Ddan]

[Speeddog]

Hammer and punch will do you no good, as this is what it looks like, right?



You need a tool, like this:



MotoWheels tool

They're out of stock per their website, perhaps desmotimes?

[KnightofNi]

that's what i was looking for speeddog, i can't seem to find anyone that has them and i'll be dammed if i'm paying $300 from ducati. (i don't know the actual price, that's what they wanted for the offset to remove the cyl head bolts though)

[Ddan]

http://www.amazon.com/Unknown-Adjustable-Pin-Spanner-Wrench/dp/B000MP81GI

Adjustable pin spanner

[A.duc.H.duc.]

A big-A flat head screwdriver works too. 

[Mr Earl]

http://www.desmotimes.com/ Click on Tools, scroll to Row 1, $39.99.

[scooby]

Use 2 long screws and a crescent wrench to turn them by gripping the wrench on the screws placed in 2 of the opposite holes... A screwdriver will destroy the slot in that very soft metal... Don't sak me how I know...   $40.00 for a tool to use once in a blue moon... Nope. I did a google search and came up with the above solution; but the guy who created it actually made a tool with the 2 screws...

[KnightofNi]

http://www.desmotimes.com/ Click on Tools, scroll to Row 1, $39.99.

thank you sir 

Use 2 long screws and a crescent wrench to turn them by gripping the wrench on the screws placed in 2 of the opposite holes... A screwdriver will destroy the slot in that very soft metal... Don't sak me how I know...   $40.00 for a tool to use once in a blue moon... Nope. I did a google search and came up with the above solution; but the guy who created it actually made a tool with the 2 screws...

i was debating making something like this, but i'm afraid i would actually screw up my whole headset.

[Capo]

The bearings need to be torqued to a specific value, so you really need to be able to put a torque wrench on whatever tool you use.

[rebelpacket]

There are two points for adjustment for the steering head.  There is a spanning nut under the upper clamp that adjusts the pressure on the steering head bearings themselves.  This should be snug enough to remove the play in the bearings, but not over-torqued, as it can damage the bearings. 

The picture showed is actually the fastener that secures the upper clamp to the steering stem.  If you have the tools and a little ingenuity, something like what scooby mentioned will work great (and has).  Also, your auto-parts store usually sells two-pin wrenches for somewhere in the neighborhood of 8$ that will remove/tighten that nut without an issue. 

[VisceralReaction]

The bearings need to be torqued to a specific value, so you really need to be able to put a torque wrench on whatever tool you use.

Thank you for saying this. I was reading down through this and was thinking the same thing.
You need to be able to put a torque value on the nut and with all the other methods you can't do this.
You need the proper tool and with the proper tool you are more prone to check your steering head bearings
for wear and grease etc.
M

[Capo]

There are two points for adjustment for the steering head.  There is a spanning nut under the upper clamp that adjusts the pressure on the steering head bearings themselves.  This should be snug enough to remove the play in the bearings, but not over-torqued, as it can damage the bearings. 

The picture showed is actually the fastener that secures the upper clamp to the steering stem.  If you have the tools and a little ingenuity, something like what scooby mentioned will work great (and has).  Also, your auto-parts store usually sells two-pin wrenches for somewhere in the neighborhood of 8$ that will remove/tighten that nut without an issue. 

On my S4R, the nut shown in the pic, secures the stem to the bearings, there is no second nut.

[EEL]

NO NO NO, Just use a heavy duty rubber strap wrench from craftsman. All these other tools are either expensive or destrucive.. Especially the drift and hammer.

See link below: And yes. I have done this before. Use the red one.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00945570000P?vName=Tools&cName=HandTools,GeneralPurpose&sName=Adjustable%20Wrenches&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a

[Capo]

How were you able to measure the torque when using a strap wrench?