Hole in steering stem?

bennecc · Full Member Joined: May 31, 2009 Posts: 57

I want to put a grease fitting on the steering head, but there's this hole in the middle of my steering stem. Anybody know what it's for? Any reason I shouldn't just plug it up with something?

yamaman · Posted: December 16, 2009, 4:45 pm Post subject: Re: Hole in steering stem?

Yeah, you could plug it up (I wouldn't), most people plug it up when they're parked & unplug it again when they're riding next!

Srinath · Posted: December 16, 2009, 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Hole in steering stem?

Steering lock on old XS ?
Cool.
Srinath.

bennecc · Full Member Joined: May 31, 2009 Posts: 57

Steering lock on an old XS? My bike is an '81, not really an old XS. Maybe the stem has been replaced with one from an older model? The inside of the steering head is smooth; I don't see anything that could lock into the stem.

nj1639 · Posted: December 17, 2009, 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Hole in steering stem?

Newer models lock a bit differently.

pumps · Posted: December 17, 2009, 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Hole in steering stem?

You can see the keyhole cover and where the fork lock is on mine. I seem to recall that slot on my steering stem too. On the newer ones doesn't the steering lock work through the ignition somehow???

I also put a grease fitting on mine but be sure to look inside the steering head and check to see that the frame tubes are blocked off as you will be pumping a lot of grease into it. Maybe they just continued using the same parts or tooling that were on hand.

xsleo · Posted: December 27, 2009, 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Hole in steering stem?

On the first couple years they used a steering damper. It went thru the hole in the stem. A friction disc on the bottom of the trees, A long bolt up thru the stem, with the adjuster knob on top.
They just kept using the same stem.
Plugging the bottom of the stem will keep the excess grease from your grease fitting falling out on the fender.

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