C Hooks or Spanners

[Mark65]

Hi
Can anyone confirm whether the C spanner for tightning the headset is a purpose fit or will the adjustable type work the same?,
next service item in 2k is the headset service on my bike, i dont know whether to just use the c spanner or get the one that attaches to my torque wrench?.
Thanks
Mark
____________________
07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[timR6]

adjustable type works fine in my experience - think mine's a 19-54mm range.

if you go for one that attaches to a torque wrench though, let me know, i spent ages looking and couldn't find one

[Scotsman37]

[timR6]

No, would look more like the end of this: https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21ClNnctvKL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Scotsman37]

Yeah it's a pity you can't get the head part that matches that style of torque wrench as shown above!

I guess there is no need real for that type of head on a torque wrench otherwise someone would have made one?

[Bezzer]

[yen_powell]

I made this with an angle grinder, works on every bike I've tried so far.

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/socket.jpg
____________________
Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[cb1rocket]

you don't need to go grinding sockets to do the headstock adjustment?! Adjustable C spanner is all you need

I know you do need a speial tool/grinded socket for doing the swingarm nut that you see mostly on some bikes.

[binge]

I use a hammer and punch. And tap it round.

[Mark65]

Thanks, i just need to check the size i will need. i wonder if i bought an adjustable then cut the end off, then drill a hole and use a small file to square of? presto c spanner crows foot for my torque wrench, or is that too much faffing about?.

Mark
____________________
07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[cb1rocket]

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DRAPER-ADJUSTABLE-C-SPANNER-3-4-2-hook-wrench-/390291271632?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item5adf2c2fd0

that will do, just make sure its the right size.

You can get fixed one size c spanners for a bit cheaper if you look on egay.

[cb1rocket]

or this

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raceline-premiun-tools-shock-c-spanner-mx-road-bikes-/320600917226?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4aa54dc4ea

or punch and hammer which I don't recommend and is usally a bodge job. They don't need to be up tight or anthing.

Adjust and then lock them in with the top nut and then bend the locking tabs over. Can be done by hand quite easily if the previous owner or garage hasn't buggered them to bits!

[yen_powell]

The whole point of using a socket is that you can set the tightness of the bearings using a torque wrench, no faffing about trying to get it right by feel.

I don't thnk attaching a hook spanner onto the end of a torque wrench will give you the right setting as it would alter the effective length of the torque wrench.
____________________
Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Mark65]

Okies
Spanner itself then , it is, i have a c spanner in the unoped toolkit i think but its for shock adjustment the manual shows, im watching egay as we speak.
Thanks
Mark
____________________
07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Ichy]

Not hard to work out.

E = Effective length of extension - measured along the centerline of the torque wrench.
L = Lever length of the wrench - center of grip to center of drive.
T(W)=Torque set or read on wrench
T(E) = Actual torque required

T(W) = T(E)* L/(L+E)

So if you want to set the fixing to 12Nm, the normal length of the torque wrench is 100mm from the grip to the drive and your extension is 40mm from the drive to the center of the fixing then

Reading = 12 * 100/(100*40)

So the reading should be 8.57Nm.

Another way around it is to set the crows foot at 90 degrees to the drive. Your not changing the effective length of the lever significantly enough to affect the reading.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Mark65]

Thanks Marki

Ive done may bicycle headsets so i assume its the same just tighten till play is removed then lock it off?Would any one know the size of socket to cut if i was inclined to have a go?.

Mark
____________________
07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Bezzer]

Most manuals give a torque figure to tighten to then back off half a turn or so, it just makes sure the bearings are set right.
Bikes have all different size stems and nuts so you would have to measure the inside and outside diameter then find a socket to fit that particualr one.
____________________
I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite so sure.

[neil.]

Yamaha do sell the specific torque wrench bit but it is around £70 which is a rip off. The torque settings Yamaha quote for adjusting the headset are with that extension at a 90 degree angle to the left. I do have one though . Can post it to you if you want to borrow it for this? Also I've never regreased my head bearings, I was going to but a mechanic that I know well and trust told me not to disturb them unless they needed to be replaced/adjusted. 36'000 miles/5 years so they've missed 2 'regreases' and they are still pretty much okay with a very small notch which is hard to detect but the bike passed MOT fine, no advisory for it. I have had to adjust them a few times as there was some play that developed. The Yamaha C spanner end did make the job really easy with the torque wrench and the steering feels spot on. I do have a set of tapered rollers standing by, just haven't got round to doing them yet.

[Mark65]

neil.
Many thanks for the offer, but if yours has gone that long without needing a service i will take the advice and leave it lol ,ine only has 13265 atm , i thought it was something that needed doing, and £70 for what is basically a crows foot , ouch thats scary, i do like trying to make things so if you know the diameter of the par tor maybe post a piccy of the part with a ruler next to it i may buy a rigid c spanner of the bay and have a go along with the socket, the choice is sit with wife or faff about in the garage if all else fails i will take you up on the offer if it needs adjusting, albiet as you have bought it i would gladly rent it .
Thanks
Mark
____________________
07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[neil.]

Do you feel forwards/backwards play if you lift the front wheel off the ground and push.pull the forks back/forward where the wheel spindle goes through (there shouldn't be any movement)? Or, in my case, I felt a 'clunk' in the handlebars when braking and the suspension compressed. Or you feel notches when you turn the steering slowly from lock to lock - adjusting sometimes lessens the feel of them. Checking/adjusting if needed is something you do every service IIRC. Adjusting is just loosening the nut off, then tightening to the higher torque setting, knocking it back 1/4 turn then tightening to the lower setting. I know the service manual says every 6'000km for a service which is 3'750 miles, but I do it every 4'000 miles which is close enough for me. I haven't needed to adjust mine for quite a long time actually.

[Mark65]

Hi
I check my headset dfor play every 1500k oil change, it has no notch or play at all, and has never needed adjustment yet, i just thought i would be ready ( prolly an urge to tinker lol).

Mark
____________________
07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[sparkywilliam...]

hi
when i have my YBR on it's main stand and turn the handlebar it creaks (more so when weight is applied while riding& Braking) and it does it when i hold the forks and push/pull them.So am i looking at new bearings? or can i tighten something.
strange that it passed it's last MOT and there was no mention of it
thanks!
____________________
Previously CG125,YBR125 Now GSF600 Bandit

[kramdra]

my 125 has the head arings as an advisory. Someone came to look at it yesterday and dmonstrated that they are indeed fucked.

I held the bike up, and he held the forks and movd them vertically - was about an inch of play :O


is this a difficult job to do? or can I just tighten them up.

[Noxious89123]

I did mine myself, it isn't technically difficult, its just that it requires alot of force to get the old races out/off and the new ones in/on.

I took my yoke and stem to a local garage and had them remove the old lower race and refit the new one using their "special tool" (ie. an old fork stanchion).

I knocked the old races out of the frame using a hammer and drift, and pressed the new ones in using a wooden mallet to get them in until they were flush with the frame, then merely tightening them up to draw them the rest of the way in. I did spend about £30 on the "special" Honda socket though. Did make it way quicker than using a hammer and punch to tighten them up.

Tip: Leave the outer races (I think its the outer ones, the ones that go into the frame) in the freezer overnight.
Tip2: Don't touch -18c metal races with moist hands
____________________
'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi