Nut sizes on steering column (to loosen it a bit)

[gaburley]

Hi everybody;

I was wondering, what size is the nut and smaller nut on top that I loosen to ajust the stiffness of the steering on my 85 Spree?

Once I had the plastic off, it looked very straight forward, and while an ajustable wrench will probably do the job, I might get two wrenches for that purpose. I want to keep my Spree for a long time, and learn to work on it.

Self sufficiantcy is more than growing your own food and catching your own watter, it is also learning to look after your own stuff.

Glenn

Ps. I have decided on a name for my Spree, I will call it Shopping.

[Bear45-70]

Chances are if the steering is stiff that the bearings are bad.

[gaburley]

Hi;

Yeah, I assumed that it is the bearings, but it is so tight that it is almost impossable to turn. The seller told me that it was tight to protect the bearings. Yes I knew that this was crap, but I need something to get arround on.

The way I see it, if I loosen off the steering, maybe it will last through the summer, then I will have the time over the winter to get it back into shape and running Spreeliciously.

For now, I will loosen it just enough that I can use it, yet tight enough that it does not self destruct.

Life on a Wal-Mart cart pushers salary,might not afford me much, but I do love it.

Be happy

Glenn

[gaburley]

Hi again;

So I bought an adjustable wrench, but the retaining nut is very thin and the wrench keeps slipping of. So I will try to buy a 30mm (non adjustable) wrench this eavening.

Unfortunately the (supposedly qualified mechanic) person who sold it to me took it off and on with a pipe wrench and it is quite rounded.

I have very little mechanical skill (at this time), should I put my money into something elce and have my Spree fixed over the winter, or should put more money into it and hope for the best.

Excuse the frustration.

So the nut below the retaining nut, it appears to be 50mm, am I correct?

Glenn

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Nice job getting started. Sometimes if you can get an angle, you can notch one edge of the thin Hex nut with a punch or drift, then begin angling it so as to produce a loosening torque. Tap-tap-tap and pretty soon it starts to release and you can then spin it off with your crescent. Even a box-end wrench of the correct size won't work if the P.O.'s "Mechanic" rounded it off with a pipe wrench.

If that's what happened, it's just possible the bearings will be OK after all. Chances are he didn't pay much attention to the correct torque putting it back on. If the races aren't dented and the balls are round, maybe you can just reset the tension on the steering head. Harley-Davidson uses a "fall-away" test to set the bearing pressure. Honda-san's procedure may appear in the Service Manual. You want it snug but not tight before you whack that locknut back on. Maybe a drop of LocTite for peace o' mind?