How tight do head bearing nuts go on?

[yesterdayze]

Okay, replaced the head bearing on my bike last night. No big deal, put on some all balls tapered ones. Done tons of bike work, just not ever needed to do head bearings. What I am unclear on is the nut that goes right on top that sets the torque on the head bearings... how tight should this be? I have read people saying 'tighten till it is to hard to go further then back off a half turn' and people saying 'finger tighten, but no force'. Both seem extreme.

Anyone actually know? It's 98 GSXR SRAD if that matters...

[slammp]

When I did mine I tightened till I couldn't then I backed off a bit and checked the steering for smooth movement. When it felt like it did turning before I did the job it set it and tightened the top bolt down.

[yesterdayze]

When I did mine I tightened till I couldn't then I backed off a bit and checked the steering for smooth movement. When it felt like it did turning before I did the job it set it and tightened the top bolt down.

That is basically what I did I just wasn't sure.... have you had any trouble since?

[yesterdayze]

So I finally found the torque specs...they call for 45nm.... Not sure how the hell I'm supposed to measure 45nm's with a tool that doesn't have anyway of hooking up to a torque wrench... guess we'll go with the wing it method... lol

[slammp]

i've had no trouble, but i did check it again after the first 50 miles to make sure it didn't back off at all.

[scubasteveRR]

When putting my buddies 600RR head set back together we took the spanner wench for the rear shock that fit in the notch of the head seat nut and with a dremel I notched a square in the handle so i could put my torque wrench on it.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.508 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Pm dbkromz. He has the special tool for that.

[Currently]

My factory manual says to use a fishing scale and when it takes "x" amount of tension to move the clipon, you have the right torque on it.

SV650

[Rambunctous]

So I finally found the torque specs...they call for 45nm.... Not sure how the hell I'm supposed to measure 45nm's with a tool that doesn't have anyway of hooking up to a torque wrench... guess we'll go with the wing it method... lol

Those nm's are on my torgue wrench. I have never used them.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.508 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

When putting my buddies 600RR head set back together we took the spanner wench for the rear shock that fit in the notch of the head seat nut and with a dremel I notched a square in the handle so i could put my torque wrench on it.

You changed the fulcrum so your torque reading needs to be adjusted I believe.

[Kurlon]

My factory manual says to use a fishing scale and when it takes "x" amount of tension to move the clipon, you have the right torque on it.

SV650

That's the method I use.

[yesterdayze]

Hmmm.... well, I didn't have a good tool to do it with and am a ways away from dbromz so I just tightened it down till it still could go further but was definetely tight then I backed it off 1/2 - 3/4s turn and made sure it turned smoothly and that I couldn't shake anything. Still tight but not 'brake it' tight. Def more then 'finger' tight though.

I'm hoping it's okay. I took it for a test run - (without fairing.... mirrors... blinkers... anything... cops would have loved that) and it seemed fine....

I do this stuff a lot though so I will doubtless have more head nuts like that to deal with so I suppose I will get the tool. I'll try getting a scale as well. Any recommendations on a good tool?

[slammp]

just get a large adjustable plumbers pliers (the ones with the grooves in the jaw for different width) and make sure you get rubber handled so it does not scratch. Thats what i use, works fine.