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There are no bearings in the head stem, only two clamshell halves with o-ring grooves. At the factory, they simply cut the o-rings to install them, so they don't sit like they should. I removed the bars and stretched new o-rings over the bar mount and rolled them down the steering stem to the clamshells. I used o-rings from the red kit at Princess; awesome value in that kit for around $10.00.
I also removed the steering stem from the pillow block and drilled and tapped it for a zerk. I then stacked stainless washers until the hole in the threads would line up with the castles on the nut. It's much better now, and the steering slop it had is gone. Yours might be tight because one of the o-rings are trapped in the clamshell.
If you remove the tie-rod ends from the steering stem, is the steering still stiff? Also, what amount of toe is in it now?
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Weldangrind
"I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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