SuzukiSavage.com - Removing the steering stem

RocketScienceSmurf Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 268 Sweden Gender:	Removing the steering stem 03/07/20 at 23:51:48 In my efforts to restore my Savage to it's former glory as best I can I need to remove the steering stem. I have removed the top nut but the top part whatever it is called wont move an inch. Should it come of after removing the parts I have or is there something else I need to loosen?
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Dave

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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #1 - 03/08/20 at 03:43:06

Should come off.....likely corroded and stuck.

Try penetrating oil, then hold the bottom clamp steady and wack the top clamp with a rubber mallet to twist the clamp.

If that fails a bit of heat might work. If you use a torch or heat gun it will likely ruin the clear coat - so I would just use a hair dryer first. You may need to let the hair dryer run for a very long time to get the top clamp warm.

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Gary_in_NJ Serious Thumper Offline LS650 Cafe Racer Posts: 2629 Amongst the Twisty Roads	Re: Removing the steering stem Reply #2 - 03/08/20 at 04:46:28 I agree with Dave, except I’d use a dead blow mallet. Another idea, I’d turn the assembly until the lower clamp hits the steering stop, then I’d hit the top to provide a twisting force further into the stop. That should release it.
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srinath

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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #3 - 03/08/20 at 06:38:56

On the savage this trick should work - yes you can knock it out with a mallet, but this may be easier and gentler on it and yourself, and minimizes your chance of knocking yourself in the head with mallet.
Run penetrating oil down the threads etc and make sure it gets in there.
Put the biggest flat head screwdriver that fits in the lock hole and stick it into the milled groove in the stem as deep as it will go. Now that stops the stem from spinning. Now turn the upper triple. Work more penetrating oil in there and work it round and round till it gets out.
BTW how did you remove that steering lock ?
I have removed it before but can not remember how I did.
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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #4 - 03/08/20 at 06:40:58

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 03/08/20 at 04:46:28:

I agree with Dave, except I’d use a dead blow mallet.

Another idea, I’d turn the assembly until the lower clamp hits the steering stop, then I’d hit the top to provide a twisting force further into the stop. That should release it.

Yea this is easier - and your tank is off already, so you wont clobber the tank. My method was if the tank was still on it.
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RocketScienceSmurf

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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #5 - 03/08/20 at 07:29:39

I have tried penetrating oil for almost a year but it still wont move. I have a heat gun and dead blow mallet so I can give that a try.

I need to get these things of the frame so I can sand blast and repaint the frame and also to replace the bearings that are really bad. The steering lock was only attached with a small "wood screw" or something like that so I suspect someone before me has removed/replaced it and then just put it back in with whatever fastening device they could find.

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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #6 - 03/08/20 at 17:50:23

My suggestion would be to use a puller of some kind A gear or bearing puller maybe or make one up to suit
Easy enough job if you have some scrap metal lying around

Two threaded hooks about 10 or 12 mm in diameter that hook into the recess under the aluminium part and pass through a plate that goes over the stem with nuts on top to suit is one way of many
The heat gun on the aluminium would help also

A puller like this is less likely to do damage IMHO
Load it up with the nuts and give it a short sharp shock in the center with a hammer

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srinath

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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #7 - 03/09/20 at 07:51:21

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 03/08/20 at 04:46:28:

I agree with Dave, except I’d use a dead blow mallet.

Another idea, I’d turn the assembly until the lower clamp hits the steering stop, then I’d hit the top to provide a twisting force further into the stop. That should release it.

You tried this - to simply twist it ? For a year ? I've never seen something on that much.
You try to rotate it past the stop. Not lift it. It has to turn before it will come up.
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Hiko Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 250 Tauranga New Zealand Gender:	Re: Removing the steering stem Reply #8 - 03/09/20 at 14:10:59 Clymers words are "remove the upper fork bridge" ! I assume there is some form of spline to prevent twisting and racking of the fork tubes ? If so twisting against the stop wont help much and could damage it. Someone on here must be able to say for sure
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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #9 - 03/09/20 at 15:04:23

Hiko wrote on 03/09/20 at 14:10:59:

Clymers words are "remove the upper fork bridge" !

I assume there is some form of spline to prevent twisting and racking of the fork tubes ? If so twisting against the stop wont help much and could damage it. Someone on here must be able to say for sure

Yea, nope no keyway or spline. It will spin its held in place in the bike by the fork legs other than friction. At the stage it is in on the OP's picture. the top will spin free on the stem.
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Gary_in_NJ Serious Thumper Offline LS650 Cafe Racer Posts: 2629 Amongst the Twisty Roads	Re: Removing the steering stem Reply #10 - 03/09/20 at 17:07:22 It’s a plain shaft. It’s tapered. Hit the top with a 2 pound sledge if you don’t like my last idea. I’m serious, just hit the top of the shaft with a dead blow or 2lb.
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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #11 - 03/10/20 at 16:37:05

Ah OK A taper Makes sense Tapers can really lock on They can drive without keyways in some cases tailstocks on lathes for example
Beating the top of that steering stem will transfer the blows direct to the
taper bearings and do little to loosen the top bracket I believe
Not good I still believe a puller of some kind is required in this case where it seems to be well stuck.

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DragBikeMike

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Re: Removing the steering stem
Reply #12 - 03/10/20 at 17:05:17

Use a spanner wrench to back off the large spanner nut just below the top triple tree. You can use the spanner nut to apply upward pressure on the triple tree. Don't get carried away and strip the threads, just apply a moderate amount of pressure. Then you can use a soft hammer (preferably babbit or lead) to whack the end of the stem.

Back off spanner nut and moderately tighten against the underside of the triple tree, whack, back off spanner nut some more, whack, etc.

This is the nut I am referring to.

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Spanner_Nut.jpg

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DragBikeMike Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 4222 Honolulu	Re: Removing the steering stem Reply #13 - 03/10/20 at 17:05:58 Another view.
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RocketScienceSmurf Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 268 Sweden Gender:	Re: Removing the steering stem Reply #14 - 03/11/20 at 00:02:49 Thanks DBM! I will give that a try. Btw, the top part I am trying to remove... is that steel or aluminium? It seem to be chrome-plated so I'm guessing steel.
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