Steering head bearing adjustment

Adjusted my steering head bearings because I thought they were a bit loose. Then again, maybe my stand was wobbling a bit. Sigh. At any rate, here's what I do.

1- I loosen all the bolts on the top clamp and give the clamp area around the fork a light tap with a rubber mallet to free things up.

2- I loosen the top nut until things are really free and I can feel a bit of a click in the fork legs when I pull them forward and back.

3- Then I tighten the top nut until it feels tight and then I can feel the steering is a bit restricted. Just enough so with the front wheel in the air the handle bars won't fall to the side when I push them. I check there is no play in the fork legs.

4- Final adjustment: I loosen the top nut *just enough* that the handle bar, when knocked up a bit from full lock will fall back down on it's own. If you knock it a bit harder from full lock it will stop at the center. It's not completely free spinning like it is when loose, but there is only a smooth glide when you move the bars, no restriction. At the bottom of the fork legs there might be the smallest click when you push forward and back, but then again it may be my stand. ;-)

5- Lastly, I tighten the clamp bolts, fork legs first. I tighten both bolts on one leg to 10 ft-lbs, then 12.5 ft-lbs, then 14.5 ft-lbs (20 Nm). I do then go back and forth between the bolts at 14.5 ft-lbs to be sure each bolt is up to torque.

Well, that's my way, FWIW.
Carl