1981 K Neck Bearing adjustment

[Cabreco]

Fiona hasn't shown any issues but I am curious, does the neck bearing adjustment nut require a special tool??

The reason I ask is I just got done adjusting my Yamaha Venture & I had to buy a special "spanner" for that. When I was doing the adjustment on it, I was told that the forks should be firm and NOT drop to either side on its own. Of course they should not bind either.

I compared the Yamaha to Fiona & she is VERY easy to move. When the front wheel is off the ground, the slightest tip & the wheel turn to either side.

I also did a bounce test. On the Yamaha it should bounce off the bump stop & stop shortly thereafter.
Fiona bumps to the opposite bump stop.

I know I am comparing bikes of vastly unequal weights, the Honda neither wobbles nor clunks, and she is very stable on turns.

So I need to know if you think she needs adjustment?
And if a special wrench is needed?



 

[TOOLS1]

I just use the spanner wrench that adjusts the shocks, or a large pair of Channel Locks. In a pinch a hammer, and punch will get the job done. The bearings hardly ever need adjusting, but they do need greased. However if, you are going to pull it apart to grease the bearings, you may as well install an All Balls bearing kit. I get mine from Cycle-X.
TOOLS

[Cabreco]

I wasn't planning on it unless it needed adjustment.
This is the wrench I bought. Which looks like the shock wrench.


Fiona will be scheduled for a teardown next winter. I'll replace the bearings with the All balls setup then.

[TOOLS1]

That wrench should do it. Where did, you get it?
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

My steering neck flops around freely, but without any slack.No tension on the bearings at all.The way the bearings register on these bikes i'm not even sure you can preload the bearings like that.I like mine free and floppy.The bottom of the steering neck tube isn't really sealed up that great at all.The grease really doesn't want to stay in.You can probably just shoot some chain lube up thru the bottom from time to time and it will stay lubed.

[Cabreco]

TOOLS1 wrote

That wrench should do it. Where did, you get it?
TOOLS

A buddy of mine on the Venture Form sells them. The OEM wrench was $80
his was a lot cheaper! It's well made laser cut from 1/4" thick, 304 Stainless Steel,

Neck bearing spanner