Fork stem (2011)

I have a set of Roadholder forks from a 1973 750 Commando. The stem is fixed into the top yoke, but I need to remove it from the yoke temporarily. Is it pressed or screwed in? Is there a tried and tested way of removing it?

Also, how can I remove the steering lock from the top yoke while I restore it?

I'm using these forks and front wheel in an XS650 project I have, so I need to extend the fork stem. Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Richard

I've done '71 and '72 Roadholders and the top yoke just came off when the stem nuts off and the fork cap nuts removed so the stanchions can be knocked out of top yoke holes. I put the stanchion cap nuts back in a good amount of threads then heat till ripe and use them to pound on with wood-cloth buffer. The stem itself is fixed to the lower yoke. There is some fudge factor on length of stem to expand the yokes on stanchions or to move stem up or dn some in the frame.

Thanks for not calling them Roadhandlers!

What about the steering lock. Does anybody know how to remove it?

hobot said:

I've done '71 and '72 Roadholders and the top yoke just came off when the stem nuts off and the fork cap nuts removed so the stanchions can be knocked out of top yoke holes. I put the stanchion cap nuts back in a good amount of threads then heat till ripe and use them to pound on with wood-cloth buffer.

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I don't believe that is what RBL is asking? As he wants to know how to separate the steering stem from the yoke-which should just be a matter of pressing it out.

hobot said:

The stem itself is fixed to the lower yoke.

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The '71-on stems are part of the upper yoke assembly, not lower.

RBL said:

Also, how can I remove the steering lock from the top yoke while I restore it?

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Knocking the pre-850 MkIII steering lock upwards should free it from the yoke (the MkIII steering lock is secured by a roll pin and must be knocked downwards after the pin has been removed).

Thanks for the advice.

L.A.B, yes, I want to separate the stem from the yoke. I'll make up a puller (I've read somewhere here how to use a threaded bar through the stem and a length of steel tubing). With a bit of heat it sounds like I should be able to push it down and out of the top yoke. The lock sounds simple to tap up and out of the yoke.

Thanks, I'll let you know how I get on.

Hope that your'e not under the mistaken impression that the stock Norton Roadholder is a superior front end? With mods it can be satisfactory, but the later XS forks are better, notably the twin disc. which I have some desire to one day put onto my Commmando!

Mick

I have the same question. That is: Can I simply press out the steering stem from the top yoke? I am concerned that pressing it out and back in may weaken the triple clamps integrity. I am aware that the fork cap nuts and the pinch bolts do a good job of locating the stanchions, but I wouldn't want to be aboard if the stem started working its way out.

The post is just hard jammed into yoke, so heat yoke & cool shaft then with robust back up, press or beat the living daylights out of it - the more shockingly violent the better, so most obsevered or unbosevred distortion spring back, more or less. btw Baxters has warehouse piles of these just in case.

Thanks for your insight, I have several orphan top yokes w/stems, so destroying one won't stop the show. I'm thinking about tapping the top of the stem and adding a bolt to secure it to the yoke; is this overkill?

My major question is, do I need to be concerned that I will be compromising the joint between the stem and the yoke by removing and reinstalling the stem? With the fork cap nuts and the lower pinch Allen's the stem appears to be a simple pivot. On my BMWs the stem pushes in through the bottom yoke, but has a lip on it so that it can't be pulled through, they secure on the top with a specialized jam nut/top yoke/steering stem nut---they are not coming out. This what provoked my question about the Norton stem; it appears to be poorly thought out and, prior to 1971 (I believe) the Norton had a top nut, so is the BMW strategy super overkill, or is the Norton strategy very underwhelming??

My prior experiences with vintage British motorcycles is that if something can go wrong it will, and usually with me on it. These experiences have made me very, very detail oriented.

The stem to top triple is an interference fit. The stem is actually a bit bigger than the hole in the triple.
The right way to assemble or disassemble this kind of fit is with a press, not a hammer.
Properly pressed apart, the fit should be unaltered and should reassemble as new.

BrianG, is it just an interference fit? The stem doesnt have a wire clip in a groove which locates in a matching groove
in the yoke when pressed in, like a lot of other manufacturers do ?

It is solely a press fit, the stem is lightly knurled in the section that sits in the yoke. I have a spare new stem somewhere and will try to find it and take a pic.

in that case it will come out. good to know, I didnt think the stem was available separate.

madass140 said:

BrianG, is it just an interference fit? The stem doesnt have a wire clip in a groove which locates in a matching groove
in the yoke when pressed in, like a lot of other manufacturers do ?

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I believe there should be a circlip.
https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/worn-fork-yoke-stem.18678/#post-278435

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/mk3-triple-clamps.19171/#post-286386

https://www.rgmnorton.co.uk/buy/fork-yoke-stem-commando-fits-in-top-yoke_2214.htm

?
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/17493

Here is the pic, there is a groove for a circlip, can't remember how I got that out on the one I took out.



This was a new stem.