Boxerworks.com

How should the top bearing fit on the steering head?
I'm replacing my bearings at the moment and think the top bearing should be a firm slide fit?
At present the top bearing requires a little pressure to slide on. This made setting preload difficult last time.
I'm thinking a bit of fine emery tape may be in order?

They have always been very tight in my experience. I'd go with a bit of grease on the mating surfaces before I'd remove any metal.

Hmmmm, perhaps my preload technique is wanting.
I find the only way to remove excess torque is to knock the top of the stem with a firm mallet to loosen the preload. .
Loosen the preload nut and the steering head stays put.

Thought it would be ideal to have the steering head slip down relatively easily as the torque nut was undone?
Memories coming back now, last time I had to wobble and pull on the fork legs to get the steering head to drop.

It took firm mallet application to get mine to come apart. Actually, a sledgehammer and a wood drift.

I'd think a firm fit there is best.

Sounds like tight is right then.

I've pulled the forks out of the bike for straight stanchion check, component wear, add 15mm preload spacer, oils, seals, paint sliders etc.
And to re-do fork alignment.
It's amazing how much less complicated an 81 front fork damping is, compared to earlier?

Then I'll do a caliper rebuild when it's mostly back together.