Model 7 steering damper

The pre-featherbed Nortons have a clamp arrangement near the top of the steering head. That must be slackened before the head bearings are adjusted. The manuals show it (WD 16H manual is easily found to download and it'll be the same even if forks differ). It also shows the damper if you must remove it.

Hi Bob,

   On the tele forks it's an easy job to adjust the bearings if the play isn't too much. First though, you need the correct large open end spanners. With the bike on it's centre stand and the front wheel off the ground, just slacken the damper, no need to remove any parts. Next losen the large nut under the damper knob just a couple of turns. Then use the flat plate large spanner to adjust the head race nut under the top yoke until you are happy with the feel of it. Hold this spanner in position and tighten the damper nut which clamps the yoke tight against it so it stays set. Tighten the damper knob to a comfortable setting and you're done. If it needs a large adjustment you will have to slacken the clamp nuts on the bottom yoke, but not usually necessary for general adjustment.

   If you have decided to renew all the bearings, this is not so easy and you will have to drift out the bearing races from the frame and off the bottom yoke and then press in the new races. The damper comes out with the large damper nut, if the pear shaped plate is in situ, unscrew the nut and damper knob in unison.

of the steering bearings, you really should slacken the pinch bolts on the lower yoke first. Otherwise there will be large bending stresses on the yokes.