Top yoke fitting - correct sequence on a 500?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

The 400 does not have the pinch bolt on the top yoke so when the forks are in place you can just tighten the big top nut after the clamps IIRC.

The 500 has a pinch bolt so do you tighten the top bolt with the fork tubes in place then lastly the pinch bolt ?

[Bryanj]

Yes Ted, early ones had a D washer in the gap to stop overtightening, later ones had smaller bolts

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I have not explained myself very well Bryan I'm referring to the single horizontal bolt at the top not the ones on the fork clamps.

[Oddjob]

Top nut first Ted, if you tighten the pinch bolt up first you can cause undue stress on the threads of the yoke as you try to tighten the top nut after. Fork tubes in place so it stops the yoke from spinning, bottom pinch bolts tight but not top ones, so as the top nut on the yoke is tightened down the yoke can slide down the tubes if it wants to. Then align if needed before tightening the 3 pinch bolts.

I presume that’s the info you were after.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Top nut first Ted, if you tighten the pinch bolt up first you can cause undue stress on the threads of the yoke as you try to tighten the top nut after. Fork tubes in place so it stops the yoke from spinning, bottom pinch bolts tight but not top ones, so as the top nut on the yoke is tightened down the yoke can slide down the tubes if it wants to. Then align if needed before tightening the 3 pinch bolts.

I presume that’s the info you were after.

Thanks Ken.