Checking And Adjusting The Steering Head Bearing (50 Sx); How To Change The Handlebar Position - KTM 50 SX Owner's Manual

MAINTENANCE WORK ON CHASSIS AND ENGINE
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Checking and adjusting the steering head bearing (50 SX) *

The steering head bearing should be checked regularly for play. To check,
support the motorcycle frame and lift the front wheel off the ground. Now try
to move the fork back and forth – you should not feel any play. To adjust,
loosen both clamping screws [1] on the upper triple clamp and loosen the
steering head screw [2] by a few turns. Lift the triple clamp slightly and turn
the adjusting nut [3] until hardly any play is left. Never tighten the adjusting
nut since you might damage the bearing. Tighten the steering head screw to
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a torque of 10 Nm and the 2 clamping screws to 25 Nm.
If the steering head bearing is not adjusted to be free of clearance, the motor-
cycle will exhibit unsteady driving characteristics and can get out of control.
– The handlebar must move easily. Otherwise the bearings will be damaged.
– If you drive with play in the steering head bearing for longer periods, the
At least once a year, the steering head bearings should be smeared with water-
proof grease (Motorex Long Term 2000).

How to change the handlebar position

The handlebar position can be readjusted by 22 mm (0.9 in). The upper triple
clamp [4] includes 2 bores arranged at a distance of 15 mm (0.6 in) from
one another. The bores at the handlebar support [5] are offset from the
center by 3.5 mm (0.13 in). Accordingly, you can mount the handlebar in 4
different positions.
For this purpose, remove screws [6] of the handlebar clamps and screws [7]
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of the handlebar support. Position handlebar support, and tighten screws [7]
to 40 Nm. Mount handlebar and handlebar clamps, and tighten screws [6]
to 20 Nm. The gap between the handlebar support and handlebar clamps
should be the same size in the front and in the rear.
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3,5 mm
The screws [7] must be secured with Loctite 243.
bearings and subsequently the bearing seats in the frame will be destroyed.
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