Steering Stem Bearing Service - How-To

Sooner or later you need to service your steering stem bearings. With the right tools it is a simple job. As with any major service I feel it's best to wash the bike beforehand. A clean workspace free from misc parts nuts bolts ect, is good.

First Remove front tire, front brake caliper, odometer, headlight and front fender. Loosen upper triple clamp pinch bolts, remove T-stem nut. Pull upper triple clamp off of fork tubes, leave handlebars attached, place upper clamp on gas tank.

Here is the Motion Pro Wrench in action, first use it to loosen the 32mm nut.

Then use it to loosen the castle nut, this picture shows the Top clamp still on, if you were actually dis-assembling it would be off.

The order of disassembly is as follows: 32MM Hex + Washer, top clamp (loosen 4 pinch bolts), loosen lower clamp pinch bolts and remove fork tubes, loosen castle nut & remove seal, be careful when removing castle nut and seal as the bottom clamp will want to fall out of head tube.

Keeping things organized is always a good thing.

On the left is the castle nut, this is the nut you use to take the slop out of the steering bearings, first you sinch it down good to seat bearings and then you find the happy spot where any slop is gone but the movement stays smooth, if it feels "chunky" or not smooth it's too tight.

On the right is the Hex nut....this gets tightned up good.

These are the two nuts that the Motion Pro tool is used for.

The nut in the middle is for the front axle.

Clean bearing races and head tube of old grease, I like to use old t-shirts for rags, carb spray is a good solvent.

Clean bearings of the old grease, I like to use carb spray, it really gets in and cleans up the bearings nicely.

Apply some new grease to the bearing races, wipe of any excess that gets on frame or other places.

Pack the bearings with new grease, use your hands and fingers to get the bearings good and packed with grease.

I used some anti-seize on the stem threads, I feel that anti-seize should be applied sparringly. Brush into threads and use a rag to wipe off excess, you only want a very light coat.

I also use Anti-seize on the Triple clamp and front axle pinch bolts, all other fasteners get blue loctite.

Notice the light application of compound...

Re-assemble the triple clamps, tighten the castle nut (adjustment nut)to remove play but not so tight as to bind the steering. Tighten the main nut tight!

Install other parts in reverse of dis-assembly. Make sure you use Blue locktite on the brake caliper bolts!

The MVP's !!

8,10 & 22MM sockets, 8 & 10 MM gearwrench's, 8 & 10 MM T-handles, 5MM T-Handle allen, Small Flatblade Screwdriver, Phillips Screwdriver,Flashlight, Maxima Grease, Blue Locktite, Carb Spray, Anti-Seize Compound

And the most Important Tool....The Motion Pro T-stem Wrench!!

This "How-To" written by CRF's Only member "Dust Devil" or otherwise known as DD.