Chisel?

 

yea, i understood what you were getting at..I was trying to make a point in how wrong that is..i still stand by my previous post..

 

Like the man says,check it out properly. Remember a CBR has a racing pedigree and needs to be treated like a thorough-bred. Does this guy still work for Harley's!!!?

 

I will check it once when the weather gets better. The guy doesnt work at harley anymore. I dont know much about bikes since this is my first bike and im new to sport bikes. I will get the book and start looking into everything so it can be good to ride.

 

The ONLY way to torque the steering-head nut properly is with the special
socket/adapter. Finding one is a pain and expensive for a one-use item.
(Hopefully, you upgraded to roller-bearings, which should last the rest of
the bike's life.)

Making one is feasible (and also quite the pain). If you want to be absolutely sure,
either spring for the adapter, make one, or pay someone with the proper tool to do
the final torque.

(Taking money for work when you don't have the proper tools/knowledge
and follow proper procedures, is criminal in my book. That, however, is an entirely different subject of discussion.)

That said....

I used a pipe-wrench and a spring scale (to measure the resistance turning side-to-side,
using a value listed in the manual). Doing so, hasn't caused any discernable
handling/safety issues, imo.

************************************************** *********
I DO NOT recommend ANY variation from the procedures defined in the manual for others.
I've been working on/riding bikes long enough, that in my judgement, the risk was acceptable for ME.
I almost didn't post the "that said" portion of my comment, but there are others on these
forums who have the knowledge/confidence to try similar 'short-cuts', as well.
Thus, I'm presenting that section for peer-review/comments.
************************************************** *********

Ern

 

i was waiting for you to say "a little hotglue held it right in place"

 

Hah! lol ;-)

I know I get overly serious/cautious at times, I just worry some inexperienced
mechanic will screw up and have a critical failure resulting in injury.

Ern

 

Being overly cautious in areas such as steering and suspension is a good thing. I've converted the steering head bearings on my '75 cb550 to the All ***** tapered bearings early last year and I think they're well worth the investment.

 

A Harley mechanic? You let him loose on a Honda?

 

Thanks for all the input guys. When schools over im going to check the bike out fully. The guy's son had a cbr for his bike also and now he has a gsxr. My fork has been fine since but i havent riden it in some time now.