Steering head bearings

[mralex714]

Any recommendations on manufacturers of new bearings or should I just go with OEM?

 

Duane

[GaryZ]

In used a bearing set from . . . https://www.allballsracing.com/22-1004.html

 

I lifted the front tire off the ground with my floor jack under the engine and placed jack stands on the front of the frame.

Remove the handlebars and lay them on pads away from the steering head.

Remove the front fender and front wheel. Hang the brake calipers from the frame.

Remove the forks from the upper and lower trees. The air collars can be tricky.

Remove the trees (the steering stem is attached to the lower tree.

 

The top bearing is loose and pops right out.

I used an air hammer to drive the lower bearing off the stem. See photo.

 

I used a pipe handle to drive the top race out. See photo.

The race hangs over a little when viewed from below.

Sharpen a pipe to catch this edge and drive the race out.

 

The bottom race I drove out by alternating from side-to-side with a long punch.

There are "slots" in the frame.

 

Assembly is pretty easy.

Use the old bottom bearing on top of the new bearing to carefully drive it on.

Very carefully drive the old bearing off again.

 

Tighten the steering head to spec before tightening the pinch bolts that hold the forks.

 

I had to re-tighten the steering head after a few miles.

The fork pinch bolts must be loose to tighten the head.

Ask me sometime how I know this . . .

 

 

Edited April 29, 2013 by GaryZ

[Snaggletooth]

 

Same here.

 

[Yammer Dan]

In used a bearing set from . . . https://www.allballsracing.com/22-1004.html

 

I lifted the front tire off the ground with my floor jack under the engine and placed jack stands on the front of the frame.

Remove the handlebars and lay them on pads away from the steering head.

Remove the front fender and front wheel. Hang the brake calipers from the frame.

Remove the forks from the upper and lower trees. The air collars can be tricky.

Remove the trees (the steering stem is attached to the lower tree.

 

The top bearing is loose and pops right out.

I used an air hammer to drive the lower bearing off the stem. See photo.

 

I used a pipe handle to drive the top race out. See photo.

The race hangs over a little when viewed from below.

Sharpen a pipe to catch this edge and drive the race out.

 

The bottom race I drove out by alternating from side-to-side with a long punch.

There are "slots" in the frame.

 

Assembly is pretty easy.

Use the old bottom bearing on top of the new bearing to carefully drive it on.

Very carefully drive the old bearing off again.

 

Tighten the steering head to spec before tightening the pinch bolts that hold the forks.

 

I had to re-tighten the steering head after a few miles.

The fork pink bolts must be loose to tighten the head.

Ask me sometime how I know this . . .

 

 

 

 

Hey Don is this one to keep? Or do we already have something on it? Just sounded good??

[KIC]

One thing to keep in mind: As you slide the fork back up and tighten the bearings, reach down and make sure that there are no wires or anything that got pinched between the forks and the frame neck. ... don't ask me how I know this... :whistling:

[mralex714]

In used a bearing set from . . . https://www.allballsracing.com/22-1004.htm

 

 

I just ordered the same ones from ebay. Thanks for the info.