I really need to get an organized plan of attack on the rest of this build.
I wanted to install my steering head today, but before I started that , I wanted to install a zerk fitting on the side of the neck.
Then I went to install my new tapered steering head bearings.
This is where I ran into my first delay of the day. You may recall when I was prepping my frame for powder coat, I commented that the top of the steering neck looked like someone had gone around the top of the neck with a small hammer, I couldn’t figure it out and 2M suggested that the Dreaded Previous Owner May have let the steering stem get loose and the dust cup on top hammered around when the bike went over bumps.
I think he was probably right about that. When I went to install the races, the bottom had to be tapped in with a hammer, but the top, I could just drop it in and spin it around with my fingers. Not super loose, but not a nice tight fit. I decided to apply a liberal coat of red locktite around the race and then clamp it in there for a few hours to set up.
Periodically I went over and hit the steering head with my new heat gun to warm things up and expedite the curing.
After a few hours I installed the steering head.
These early steering heads are odd ducks. Lots of pieces , overly complicated and frankly I’m a little unsure about the proper procedure for tightening this whole thing up. First you have what you see above, just the bottom tree, the bearings, a dust cover and that collared nut with the notches.
Then this goes on. The top tree, that has a pinch bolt to grab onto the collared nut, then on top of the tree, goes a thick washers a tension spring and another nut.
Then , thru all of that, the long rod of the steering damper and it’s associated hardware.
I mean...phew! That’s a lot of parts! And a little confusing as to the tightening procedure. There are a lot of components that tighten up. Once you put the top tree on, you kinda cover up that notched steering stem nut.
So how tight should that be before you put the top nut on, because you can then add additional friction with the steering damper. The later steering heads were much simpler!