Help getting steering head bearings out, and front wheel bearings question

[Droneh8tr]

83 venture

Hey all,

My steering head bearings need lubing.. but I'm having dificulty getting the fork assemblys out. I can't figure out how to get the 2 air joints to slide off the forks. Once their off the forks will slide out. The forks move, but I can't get the air joints off.. Does the allen wrench bolt on top of the fork have to be loosened? I don't understand why it would but maybe..

 

Front wheel bearings.. I think I've read that a puller is needed to get the bearings out of the front wheel.. Is this right? If so, I guess I'll take it to the stealer and let them do it...

[dingy]

83 venture

Hey all,

My steering head bearings need lubing.. but I'm having dificulty getting the fork assemblys out. I can't figure out how to get the 2 air joints to slide off the forks. Once their off the forks will slide out. The forks move, but I can't get the air joints off.. Does the allen wrench bolt on top of the fork have to be loosened? I don't understand why it would but maybe..

 

Front wheel bearings.. I think I've read that a puller is needed to get the bearings out of the front wheel.. Is this right? If so, I guess I'll take it to the stealer and let them do it...

 

There is a formed wire clip under each air ring, remove it. Then spray some WD40 or similar on air ring.

 

GENTLY tap all around on the bottom of each ring to break O-rings inside loose. They will then slide off easily.

 

Gary

[Droneh8tr]

There is a formed wire clip under each air ring, remove it. Then spray some WD40 or similar on air ring.

 

GENTLY tap all around on the bottom of each ring to break O-rings inside loose. They will then slide off easily.

 

Gary

 

Let me make sure I understand... Their is 1 clip under each ring.. remove that clip then tap the ring UP.. Their is NOT a clip on top of the ring? So, IF their isn't a ring on top, I should be able to tap the ring up without removing the ring underneath first. I could then remove the underneath ring.. I'm just making sure I understand the mechanics of what I'm doing.

Thanks.

[dingy]

Let me make sure I understand... Their is 1 clip under each ring.. remove that clip then tap the ring UP.. Their is NOT a clip on top of the ring? So, IF their isn't a ring on top, I should be able to tap the ring up without removing the ring underneath first. I could then remove the underneath ring.. I'm just making sure I understand the mechanics of what I'm doing.

Thanks.

 

Yes, you can remove ring after tapping air joint up. Wire keeps air joint up to top of forks.

 

And this assumes that the forks are loose in the triple trees and slid down a little.

 

Gary

[Droneh8tr]

Yes, you can remove ring after tapping air joint up. Wire keeps air joint up to top of forks.

 

And this assumes that the forks are loose in the triple trees and slid down a little.

 

Gary

 

Thanks... very helpfull.. I really didn't want to break anything getting the bearings done.. Any input on the front wheel bearings?

[Pegasus1300]

pop the seals loose from the front wheel. LIGHTLY heat the wheel with a propane torch and tap the bearings out with a small punch. Right side from the left, left from the right. Take the bearings to a bearing supply house and they will match them for you for a lot less then the OEM bearings.

[Droneh8tr]

pop the seals loose from the front wheel. LIGHTLY heat the wheel with a propane torch and tap the bearings out with a small punch. Right side from the left, left from the right. Take the bearings to a bearing supply house and they will match them for you for a lot less then the OEM bearings.

 

Clear and direct to the point.. Thanks Pegasus, I can do all that.. I prefer it this way because I'm a DIYer..

[Pegasus1300]

the bearing house can also match the seals for you by number. The OEM seals are not very expensive tho.

[ricksbike]

:301:Everything I read on here is correct,I just wanted to add that I don`t take the steering head all the way out just to lube the bearings,I just drop it down far enough to hand pack the bearing after cleaning the old grease off and then slide it back up,I was a service manager for a motorcycle shop for 3 years and all of the mechanics did it this way unless the bearings were bad or rusty,used to do the same thing on my Goldwings too,if it`s just service it seems to work fine.

[Droneh8tr]

Thanks everyone.. Got the steering head off, bearing looked like and acted like they were coated in tar... It was somewhat difficult to clean. The "goop" was resisting regular cleaning methods.. Its all back together and feels great.

I got the bearings out of the front wheel by using some heat and tapping them out from the opposite side..

Things were looking up until..... See where I started a new post asking for help..