1985 Honda ATC200S Steering Stem Bearing Replacement Guide
Shop parts for a 1985 Honda ATC200S ATV.
Steering stem bearing replacement is one of the more impactful maintenance jobs on the 1985 Honda ATC200S—one that restores precise, play-free handling and protects the frame’s steering housing from the kind of wear that becomes expensive to address. This guide covers the complete replacement procedure from identifying wear through final reassembly and steering adjustment.
Warning Signs the Steering Stem Pivot Needs Service
The most reliable indicator of a worn steering stem bushing on the ATC200S is a notchy or gritty feeling when turning the handlebars slowly from stop to stop. With the front tires off the ground—front of the ATV lifted and supported safely—slowly sweep the bars through their full range of motion. A good bushing produces even, light resistance through the entire sweep.
Two additional checks confirm the diagnosis. First, with the front end supported and the tires off the ground, grip the handlebars and attempt to rock them from side to side at the base of the steering post—not turning the bars, but pushing them laterally to check for play at the pivot itself. Any detectable movement indicates the bushing has worn beyond its service limit.
Setting Up for the Job: Tools and Supplies
The steering stem bushing job on the ATC200S is doable at home with a modest set of tools. A floor jack or ATV lift stand puts the front end at working height; you’ll need the front wheels clear of the ground for part of the job and the weight off the front end for others.
For the ATC200S, the steering stem pivot uses a bushing rather than a traditional bearing. You’ll need a bushing kit sized for this model—the replacement bushing and any associated seals or thrust washers. A bushing driver or a socket sized to match the bushing outer diameter is needed to drive the new bushing squarely into the housing bore without distorting it.
Why ATV Steering Stem Bearings Need Regular Attention
The steering stem bushing on the ATC200S absorbs a level of load that most riders don’t fully appreciate. Every time the front wheels hit a rut, a rock, or a sharp edge at speed, that impact travels up through the suspension and into the steering stem, which transmits the force into the bushing at the frame pivot point.
Water and grit compound the problem on the ATC200S. ATV riding—especially in muddy, wet, or sandy conditions—exposes the steering stem housing to contaminants that work past aging seals and into contact with the pivot surfaces. Once abrasive grit is mixed into the lubricant, wear accelerates sharply. The back-and-forth steering motion under load acts like a grinding mechanism, eating away at the bushing surfaces far faster than impact loading alone would.
Removing the Steering Post Step by Step
Start with the ATC200S supported safely and the front end lifted clear of the ground. Remove the front tires if it provides better access and working clearance, though this is optional depending on the specific housing location on your model. The handlebars come off the top of the steering stem as an assembly; undo the handlebar clamp bolts and set the bar assembly aside, keeping cables connected where possible to avoid disconnecting throttle, brake, or choke cables unnecessarily.
Locate and remove the cotter pins from both tie rod castle nuts, then break loose and remove the castle nuts. Use a tie rod end puller or a firm tap with a rubber mallet on the side of the steering arm to release each tie rod end from its taper—do not strike the threaded end of the rod. With the tie rods free from the steering arm, the steering post is no longer connected to the front wheels.
What to Look For When Inspecting Old Bearing Components
With the steering post out of the ATC200S, take a moment to inspect the old bushing before removing it from the housing. Examine the inner bore of the bushing for ovality—a bushing that has worn egg-shaped rather than remaining round allows the post to wobble and produces the looseness felt at the handlebars.
Drive the old bushing out of the housing bore using a driver or socket sized to match the bushing’s outer diameter. Work from one end and drive it out evenly. Once removed, clean the housing bore thoroughly with contact cleaner and inspect it for scoring, raised metal, or distortion from a bushing that was running loose.
Installing New Pivot Components in the ATC200S
Drive the new bushing into the ATC200S’s housing bore using a bushing driver or socket sized to match the bushing outer diameter. The driver must contact the full face of the bushing evenly so it enters the bore squarely rather than tilting. Start the bushing by hand to confirm alignment, then drive it progressively to full depth.
Once the new bushing is seated in the ATC200S’s housing, apply grease to the post shaft and guide the steering post back down through the housing. The post should slide through the new bushing with light resistance—smooth but not sloppy. If the fit is too tight and the post binds, confirm the bushing seated squarely and fully; a cocked bushing reduces the effective bore diameter.
Buttoning Up: Tie Rods, Handlebars, and Final Check
With the steering post back in the ATC200S’s frame, reinstall the stem retaining nut and tighten it to the correct specification. The retaining nut tension affects how much play or preload exists at the steering pivot; too loose leaves detectable play, too tight binds the steering. On ATVs with a threaded retaining nut, snug it until steering resistance just barely increases, then back off slightly until the bars sweep lock-to-lock without resistance—with zero detectable play.
Reconnect the tie rods to the steering arm on the ATC200S by threading each castle nut on and torquing to specification, then installing new cotter pins. Confirm the cotter pin is properly bent to prevent the nut from backing off. With everything assembled, lower the ATC200S to the ground and perform a lock-to-lock steering sweep while standing in front of the ATV: grip the bars and turn them slowly from one stop to the other.
Related Shopping Categories
Shop Steering Head Bearing Kits for a 1985 Honda ATC200S ATV.
Shop Tie Rod Ends for a 1985 Honda ATC200S ATV.
Shop Steering Stems for a 1985 Honda ATC200S ATV.
Shop Grease for a 1985 Honda ATC200S ATV.
Shop Wheel Bearings for a 1985 Honda ATC200S ATV.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your ATV's official owner's manual. Always refer to your manufacturer's documentation for model-specific instructions, torque specifications, safety procedures, and maintenance requirements. If you are unsure or inexperienced, consider seeking assistance from a qualified mechanic or technician.