Replaced steering head bearings. But......

[Falcon 269]

I don't have the parts in front of me, obviously, but IIRC the top yoke goes down as far as a shoulder that's machined into the steering stem and no further.  That's what sets the relative positions of the yoke and the steering lock.  The chrome top nut then torques the yoke in place.

Normally the top adjuster nut is a shade below the top yoke.  However, if the stem is too low in the steering head then that nut will be too high.  With me so far?  

By removing the rubber washer, you've created space for the top adjuster to wind down further onto the lower one.  This in turn lets the yoke down onto the shoulder on the stem.  You've overcome your problem but not resolved it correctly. 

Either you have the wrong bearings (unlikely but did you keep the packaging and receipts to check against the part number listed on the Marksman site?) or it's something else.

I leave you now to figure that out. 

[sirgalahad3]

hi,unfortunatley I dont have the paperwork/packaging for the bearings any longer. The fact that the kit fits everywhere else tends to point to the fact the kit is correct as you say.
It will be interesting to see what happens when the next person comes to fit one of these kits,until then who knows!