Same torque value for 03-05 FJRs also, though the size of the stock nut varies on some of them - I think they changed it from the 03 to the 04.
The bottom castellated nut sets the compression load for both the upper and lower bearings. The second castellated nut is a ‘jam nut’ that locks the bottom nut in place, then in a belts & suspenders mode a two prong locking sleeve drops down over both nuts. The top steering head nut gets torqued to 85 lb/ft to hold the top triple tree bracket to the steering stem. The triple tree gets sandwiched between the castellated nuts and the top steering head nut. The 85 lb/ft is only pressing on the top castellated nut.
Thanks a lot , that was really bugging me, I didn't realize the triple tree engaged the top of the castellated nut. Now it makes sense.The bottom castellated nut sets the compression load for both the upper and lower bearings. The second castellated nut is a ‘jam nut’ that locks the bottom nut in place, then in a belts & suspenders mode a two prong locking sleeve drops down over both nuts. The top steering head nut gets torqued to 85 lb/ft to hold the top triple tree bracket to the steering stem. The triple tree gets sandwiched between the castellated nuts and the top steering head nut. The 85 lb/ft is only pressing on the top castellated nut.
glad it helped. always nice to know that it's being used.
John,
I just torqued my head bearings with the spanner (bought from Bike Johnny - it came airmail right away).
On my relatively new 06, it took about 1/3 -1/2 of a revolution for the bottom nut to torque down. So the nut was loose. I think a clunking sound in the front end is related to this being loose.
I torqued the bottom nut to 37 ft lbs. Click - no problem. But then I went to torque the top nut to 13 ft lbs and no click and the plastic washer just kept squeezing out. The plastic washer simply doesn't allow the nut to torque up to 13 ft lbs. So I had a choice, do I eliminate the plastic washer between the two nuts, or just cinch it down before the washer starts to deform. I elected to keep the plastic washer and cinch down by hand rather than torque with no washer.
I figure the lock washer that goes over top, and the 85 ft lbs from the nut above the steering stem will keep things in check and the plastic washer, might eliminate vibration, up through the triple clamp and bars.
Has anybody had this happen?
