Anyone know the correct fork stem torque setting on an '04 VRSCA? I've seen 45-55 and 70 ft lbs. I don't want to under or over tighten.
Fork stem torque
uncle goose
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It depends on what hardware you have.
The OEM nut (45718-60), locking washer (45717-63), and Al alloy stem can only be tightened to 45 to 55 ft•lbs.
This lower torque has been a problem for many HD models that used this combination of hardware (front end clunk) so a new flanged nut was made available in a kit (45736-07). This flanged nut (without a locking washer) can be tightened to 60 to 70 ft•lbs.
The other combination is the 45718-60 nut and 45717-63 locking washer on a steel stem. Steel stems were used on the lower chrome triple clamps (46752-01A, 46771-02A, 46788-06A, and 46860-06A) and lower triple clamps made in 2008. This nut, washer, and steel stem combination can be tightened to 80 to 90 ft•lbs.
All VRSC models from 2009 on use a different upper triple clamp and stem that use a bolt instead of a nut.
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That makes much more sense. I'm not sure if mine is OEM or not. I bought the bike back in April. This is the first issue I've had with it. I'll check it when I get home. Thanks for the help!
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After you adjust it pick it up on a lift (buy one if necessary, you'll want one) and if it's too tight it will feel lumpy when you turn the bars, but you'll only notice this if the weight of the wheel is removed.
Of course a lumpy feel can also mean you have rusty head bearings.
Of course a lumpy feel can also mean you have rusty head bearings.
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I did the adjustments last night and got everything back to spec. I didn't notice any lumpy feeling when turning the bars. Did my test ride and couldn't believe the difference! Thanks for the advise tho. I'm new when it comes to working on bikes so all the advise (good) I can get will help.
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Steve,
Your post is a revelation. I recently replaced my aluminum shaft with the ungraded steel one. Prior to this I upgraded "The Nut" to the mentioned kit, (45736-07). When installing the new stem and lower triple I torqued the flanged nut to the 65lb spec mentioned in the kit.
Are you saying I should be torquing it to 80-90 lbs?
My fall-away is in compliance but I still get an occasional clunk.
I'm saying that the unflanged nut (45718-60) on the steel stem can be torque to 80 to 90 ft•lbs. The steel stem and flanged nut (P/N 8193 that's only available in the 45736-07 kit) can be torqued higher but HD never mentions this combination so I'm not sure what that would be, maybe 110 ft•lbs.
Some bikes had enough clamping torque at 45 to 55 ft•lbs so it's up to you if you want to go higher.
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