Grease zerk

[short-haul]

OK hear my story and I'm sticking to it

 

Back in Dec. there was a discussion about packing the bearings in the steering head.

I stated that I had Installed a ZERK in my 04 RSV (as I have done in about 50 different type of bikes).

Another member tried it and had a problem 05 model I think, he had put 14oz in his and it still was not coming out.

 

I then tried putting a Zerk in the steering head of a 03 and had the same problems.

 

I said I would find out why and this is what I found.

 

there is a small hole about 1/8 inch in diameter and 1' below the the bearing race in the tube on the back side

On my 04 it appeared to be welded from the out side from the factory.

 

My fix was to weld up his from the in side which I did and now his also can be greased Will out pulling the bike apart.

 

what I wanted to know is if this hole is in your bike (it can only be seen when you pack the bearings) and is it open or welded up .this is the first time I have come across something like this.

 

I can not image that this is left open by the factory as water could get in the steering head bearings. I have no ideal why it is there except to poss let the welding gas out when manufactured

 

The pitures are taken standing in frount of bike looking in to the steering head 1 one is of hole 2 is after repaires

Edited February 21, 2010 by short-haul

[Seaking]

OK hear my story and I'm sticking to it

 

put a zerk in the steering head on my 04 and had no problems I have done this to about 50 different bikes over the years.

I tried it on a friends and it was thinking to much grease I stopped at 10 oz.

 

I have pulled his forkes and in the rear about 1" down there was a 1/8 hole I welded it up and put the bike back together then we pulled min down and the was also a hole but it was all ready welded

 

If you pull yous down to pack the bearing please let me know in you dike has a hole and if it does is it plugged or welded up thanks

 

i will post pitures later

 

lol.. what? My dike?

[aspen60]

LOL, I read it three times I'm still cornfused!

[Yammer Dan]

We supposed to plug hole in Dike with our finger??? Last time I tried that.......

[short-haul]

I reworked it maybe now you can under stand

[Bubber]

IF I understood you.

 

The hole could be there so there isn't and pressure in side the frame tubes that builds up from welding the frame. it allows the gases and pressure to escape.

I once had a welding instructor that welded up a object (lets use a square as an example) that was completely enclosed after welding. He welded it all up until he just had a 3/8" left to enclosed it. At that point he cooled it down and actually got the air in side very cool.... then he welded the very last bit shut. Reason was the pressure in side would blow the weld out and away if the air got to hot inside the square. When he got done it was completely welded shut and did not leak. Basically reduced the atmosphere in side so it would not blow away the weld.

So any way, that is my story and I am sticking to it.

Bubber

[short-haul]

Yes that is what I think it is there for the only problem is it could possible let water in the head tube and that is not good for the bearings.

 

I know must riders don't ride in bad weather if they can avoid it but I do.

I ride to work rain, shine ,snow it does not mater.

 

All I do know is it makes putting a grease Zerk in the steering head on a RSV a crap-shoot. If there is a hole you cant build pressure to force the grease out the bearings it just oozes out the hole in the tube all over the frame.

 

It was a little strange to find this I do not know if it was something the welders missed on some or the RSV or most of them.

 

This modification makes it where you do not have to pull the bike down to pack the bearings (5 hr wasted of your life every 16000 miles). now you just hook up a grease gun 2 squeezes of the trigger and in 5 min you are back to riding.

 

I like thing to be simple to maintain so any one with a RVS that I help install a Zerk in we 1 will just pull them down

2 check the bearing

3 weld up the hole if it is not all ready

4 install a Zerk

5 reassemble

and never have to worry about tearing it down again

[Seaking]

I reworked it maybe now you can under stand

 

Luv ya man.. just poking fun at you.. or your dike..

 

As Robin Williams said "What's a protective dike? A woman in comfortable shoes telling you not to go there?"

[Seaking]

Yes that is what I think it is there for the only problem is it could possible let water in the head tube and that is not good for the bearings.

 

I know must riders don't ride in bad weather if they can avoid it but I do.

I ride to work rain, shine ,snow it does not mater.

 

All I do know is it makes putting a grease Zerk in the steering head on a RSV a crap-shoot. If there is a hole you cant build pressure to force the grease out the bearings it just oozes out the hole in the tube all over the frame.

 

It was a little strange to find this I do not know if it was something the welders missed on some or the RSV or most of them.

 

This modification makes it where you do not have to pull the bike down to pack the bearings (5 hr wasted of your life every 16000 miles). now you just hook up a grease gun 2 squeezes of the trigger and in 5 min you are back to riding.

 

I like thing to be simple to maintain so any one with a RVS that I help install a Zerk in we 1 will just pull them down

2 check the bearing

3 weld up the hole if it is not all ready

4 install a Zerk

5 reassemble

and never have to worry about tearing it down again

 

Hmmm and I'm heading down to TX this spring..

 

But this still doesn't negate the need to adjust the heads every so often does it? I had my 2006 'poor man tightened' last year and what a huge difference that alone made. The bike is up on jacks right now and still passes the bounce test with flying colours..

[short-haul]

seaking im here most weakened when not out riding just holler

[hillrider]

Shorthaul - my welder is a Sears 1970's Model AC that starts at 40 amps. Any reason JB Weld wouldn't fill the hole??

[short-haul]

I think JB would be fine with a hand grease gun just make sure the surface is clean.

 

On bike I tore down that had to hole unplugged.There was new grease all the way through the bearings (factory is light brown and I use a black) just could not get enuf pressure built up to come out the seals.

 

I used my MIG,I do not think a 40 amp welder will work

[straycatt]

I brought this thread back because I have a few pics to add. Last year I had added a grease zerk to my steering neck and discovered that I too, had the hole. I recently took down the front end for a fork rebuild and as long as I was that far I took the neck apart. As short-haul has said, even with the hole, grease still gets thru both bearings but doesn't get pushed out as evidenced by the attached pics.

 

So even if you have the hole it still is worthwhile to add the zerk. That being said, after I plugged the hole and reassembled the front end I got grease to push out of the bearings quickly. Certainly it's better to plug the hole, but it's not a waste of a grease zerk if you don't.

[Seaking]

Wow, thanks for the update.. very interesting indeed!! Might be looking into this one later on..

 

Cheers