Steering Stem Nut

[kawiman]

Finally decided to torque my steering stem nut to see if that would help my steering "wobble". It has worsened since last year and was hoping it was the tire. I got a few miles left before changing the tire so I decided to check the torque of the stem nut to see if that will take care of it.

Gadgets page says for the VN 1500 14 ft lbs. The VN 1600 43 inch lbs. Mine is the 1600 and I'm just wondering about the difference here. Anyone know if 43 inch lbs is correct? Why is there such a big difference here?

Have to tell ya, Ive never even used a torque wrench. ::)

[Cajunrider]

The service manual gives the following torque valves for:

The Steering Stem Head Nut 65 ft lbs
The Steering Stem Nut 43 in lbs

[kawiman]

Thanks terrebone. Just wanted to make sure it was right. The Vn 1500 is about 4 times that for some reason. Now I just need to go borrow a smaller wrench! ::)

[Top Cat]

Dumb quesrion;
What is the difference between foot pounds and inch pounds.
Do you need a different wrench for each?

[VulcanE]

TC, there is a difference. it takes 12 in lbs to make one ft lb. 43 in lbs is roughly 3 1/2 ft lbs. and yes they are different torque wrenches. there is different inch pound torque wrenches too. One that'll go down to a few in lbs, and one that starts at 120 in lbs.

As to the difference in the 1500 & 1600, I don't know. I do know that they take the same bearings and races. ???

[Yellow Jacket]

That's correct. 12 in-lbs equals 1 ft-lb. So for the stem nut 43 in-lbs equals 3.583 ft-lbs.

The kicker is that the stem nut is a spanner type nut. It's round with four notches cut in it. You can't use a socket wrench on it.

You need the special tool "Steering Stem Nut Wrench" part number 57001-1100. There is a hole in the end of the handle. To use this wrench and apply the correct torque you need to use a spring scale (similar to a scale used to weigh fish). You put the hook of the scale in the hole in the handle and pull until the correct weight is showing on the scale.

To achieve 43 in-lbs or 3.583 ft lbs you need to apply 6.11 lbs of pulling force at the hole in the handle. This is because the hole in the handle is less than 12 inches from the center line of the steering stem nut.

This is a picture from the service manual showing the special tool:



This shows the special tool and the steering stem nut. The arrow labeled "C" is where you hook the spring tool and apply the 6.11 pounds of force to torque the nut to 43 in-lbs.



The real fun comes in when you replace the steering stem bearings. According to the manual you have to "settle" the bearings in place by torquing the stem nut to 58 ft-lbs. To do this, you have to apply 99 lbs of pulling force to the handle of the special tool. That will take one heck of a spring scale!

[Yellow Jacket]

Also, don't confuse the Steering Stem Head Nut with the Steering Stem Nut. The Head Nut is the nice shiny chrome one you see on the top of the steering head in between the handlebar risers. The Stem Nut is below the steering head which must be removed to gain access to the nut.

[Yellow Jacket]

I was perusing this site: http://home.insightbb.com/~kpmh.005/...-Home-Page.htm and came across a neat tool this guy fabricated. It will allow you to torque the steering stem nut with a regular torque wrench. One that reads in inch-pounds of course.

[kawiman]

Gadgets page shows where someone had ground down a 32 mm socket except for where the notches are. I went ahead and bought the wrench.

Do you think it would be safe to use regular fish scales to get the torque right? Ive read where some people just use a hammer and a screwdriver, but I figure without doing it right it defeats the purpose. I have borrowed a torque wrench to tighten the steering stem head nut, and bought the stem wrench, and if the fish scales would be ok, I already have that, and all I would need now is a 36mm socket.

I gotta get this done tomorrow, suppose to be 70's Friday and looking at 78 Sat. I WANNA RIDE!

[Yellow Jacket]

I would think that with the special wrench and fish scales you should be able to get it close enough. If you get the scale to show between 6 and 7 lbs that ought to do it.

I would pull it down pretty tight just by hand first to seat the bearings good. Then back it off and re-tighten it with the scale.

[kawiman]

Good idea Bob. Hadnt thought about that. The bearings should be seated already but it wont hurt anything to pull it down tight first. Thanks

[kawiman]

Okay I can count out the steering stem nut. Helluva lot of work for nothing, but it was worth it for the experience. At least I know how to do it now and if I need to change the bearings later at I wont feel intimidated by it.

Everything went ok but to anyone that tries it, dont freak out like I did if when you get everything back together, the front brakes arent there. Just had to pump them up some. Wasnt ready for that though.

I know now that I can rule out the stem nut and I am now shopping for a set of tires. I really like the Metzlers but Im thinking I might try some Avons. Got to do a little research on the subject before I decide. Got some miles left on both the tires but its not enough to worry about as far as being wasteful. Couldnt be much more than 1K left on both.

If I got only one thing out of this little project it is that I'm glad I'm not a motorcycle mechanic!!! ;)

[glwilson]

For what it worth; I solved me "wobble" with Metz's... so I wouldn't just automatically say that this is a "tire-brand" problem.

My mechanic told me my front tire had cupping even though I could not see it. Since he was experienced he could see it -- I could not.

He took a carpenter's chaulk-line and we held it against the tire's road-surface area and snapped it. It then became quite apparent to me where the cupping was. The cupping pattern was apparent where the chaulk-line was inconsistent.

Anyway; as I said... for what it is worth... your problem is likely tire-cupping; but not necessarily a "Metz" problem.

If you want to know what my mechanic thought was the reason for my front-tire cupping just PM me and I'll let you know. I am embarassed to say so on a post!! Ha!

[kawiman]

I'm not blaming the brand tire. Never know how long it sat in the warehouse. I bought it online. It could have been any brand. Metz just happened to be the tire I was using.

I was going to try another brand anyway since the only brands I have used are the stock Stoners and the Metz.

I'll send ya a pm just to see if there is something I am doing wrong. Thanks