How to remove steering head bearings?

[DirtyDutch]

Here you have a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQHu3t-0QEA (cannot edit post)

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks. I am familiar with wheel bearings so know how to pack them with grease, and have the proper grease. I just wanted to make sure because I remember seeing a thread where some people said not to put grease in them (doesn't make any sense).

So do I hammer (with a rubber hammer) in the "races" first, then slip the lower triple with the lower bearing on, then drop the upper bearing in over the stem like in the video? I don't think I have anything to hammer the races in that will fit them good and not damage them... is there a tool for that?

Then basically the idea with "adjusting" them is to have any slack out of them but not overly tight, right? Sorry so many questions, just my first time with this and don't want to screw it up.

Here's the pics:

Looking down through the steering head (with bearings removed) to see the "slits" in the aluminum that give access to hit the bearings out:

View of the top of the steering head, where the bearing sits. You can again see the slits:

Old bearings:

New allballs bearing:

Seals:

I believe the top bearing will go like this, right:

And the bottom bearing will just be flipped compared to these pics?

 

[snrusnak]

Oh, there are 2 seals.

 

[DirtyDutch]

Yes this is te correct order^. Just like in the video.

To put the races in, use the old bearing, it has the same diameter as the race and you can abuse them because they are ****** up already. So put them in by hand as far as they go 'STRAIGHT' and then hold the old bearing on the race and beat it with a hammer 'gently' so they go straight down.

The steering stem: not to tight but i can't tell you how tight. Because it's a feeling and you need to test it when it's on the ground or when driving and then re-adjust.

i hope you can use some of this information.

Greetings DD

 

[Draxsonimy]

Hey why are they called "all balls" if they're tapered rollers?

 

[snrusnak]

Thanks! Great idea about using the old bearings. I can say though the new ones will not go in at all without being hammered. I thought at first they were slightly too big, but then measured them with a caliper and compared to the old ones and they were identical. It must just be very snug. I'll probably try to get the races in tonight, thanks for all the help.

 

[DirtyDutch]

They have a tapered roller between their balls hahhahaha

Yep they need to be hammered indeed. You must hammer them till you hear a full metal sound and then it sits properly. You can then get the old bearings back out with a flathead screwdriver because they go in by half so they are not so tight(Grease it up a little). Ohyeah i like it dirty hahahaha.

I have ordered the kit from them and expect them next week. So i can then do the same as you.

Also the X1 needs a new front isolator and a motormount so i will be a mechanic next week . It is cold and snowing in The Netherlands so if my garage is to cold i am going to wrench in the kitchen with the BUELLS side by side [up]

**** my wife is going to beat the **** outta me but i like that.

Greetings DD.

 

[snrusnak]

LOL. I noticed the powder coating on my bike is flaking off everywhere under the steering head, around the front motor mount, etc.... pisses me off. I'm going to sand it clean in those areas and brush some grey paint on there to keep it from spreading. It isn't so bad as you can't see it unless you're under the bike, but I want to stop it from spreading. I'm going to do the area around the steering head now while the front end is apart, and then do the areas around the engine later in the year as I'll be rotating the engine to do some work, so hopefully will be able to get up in there. In a few weeks, I'll be riding again!

 

[DirtyDutch]

If you are going to paint in the steering head area then i would recommend to tape the hole so the paint cant get in the Steering head.

DD

 

[snrusnak]

Yeah I am pretty familiar with painting, so I should be all good . I'm also going to brush it on just so I don't have to worry about any over spray or masking anything. I mainly just want to cover the aluminum to keep it from corroding/oxidizing, and to keep the powder coating from chipping any more where the edges are exposed. None of it will be visible as it's all underneath. I've sanded it all down so just need to get some paint, I'm thinking of just spraying some grey primer I have in the garage into a cup and then brushing that on....what do you think? It's not a lot that I need to do, just basically the area under the steering head if you are looking at it from underneath. You know the little model airplane paint bottles, something like that size would probably be enough to do it all. I may have some grey rustoleum as well...

 

[DirtyDutch]

I'm not that familiar with painting so i cannot recommend anything about what to use and how to apply for the best result.[smirk]

I don't know if it's a loose part or a piece of the frame you are talking about. Don't have the bike in the garage currently. I have it at a friend. But if you have a loose part then i would let powdercoat or ceramiccoat it. Small part is not that expensive and looks and stays great.

But you already sanded it and want to do it yourself i guess (mostly i do everything myself too), then i would go with a color wich matches the original color. But i don't know what the results are if you apply it with a brush.

Maybe there are some painters on the forum here and can give good information.

DD

 

[snrusnak]

Yeah I can handle it. It is part of the main frame, not a removable piece. I don't want to take it to get powder coated because I don't want to take the whole bike apart lol. It is actually the underneath of the frame, so it will not be visible, so I am just going to hit it with some grey paint.

 

[DirtyDutch]

Ok i hope it works out.

Today i have received the bearings. I ordered it tuesday night(dutch time) and received it Friday morning(dutch time) hahaha it's faster then national post around here.

I'm going to put them on on monday because it's weekend and i'm going to be drunk hahaha.

DD

 

[snrusnak]

wow that is fast! lol. That sticker looks good on a tool box BTW!

If you don't mind post your results, you'll be getting to it before me and I could use any tips lol.

 

[Guell]

another tip is to freeze your bearings, the races, before you put them in, it will make them easier to slide in.

 

[DirtyDutch]

Thanks for the tip.

Monday or Tuesday it will be done. I have asked a friend to help so it's done in a couple of hours and he has alot of experience. I will take some photo's if i don't forget it

DD

 

[snrusnak]

Great idea! I'll throw the races in the freezer the night before I do it.

 

[snrusnak]

Update:

I didn't throw the races in the freezer, but was out in the garage today and the bearings and grease were sitting right there, so I decided to just give it a go. The races went in pretty easy using the old bearing to hammer on with a rubber mallet. Took me about 15 minutes to do both.

 

[DirtyDutch]

I still haven't got to them. And tonight i need to go to work till next week monday morning so then i'm off again. But the weather is ****** (Snow) up here so i don't care. And i can't drive anyway. Are you ready or you still need to paint? [up]

 

[snrusnak]

I still need to paint. I put the bearing races in just because they were right in front of me and I had 30 minutes to kill. I'm going to paint tomorrow. Also I am taking the triple trees (along with some other parts) to the powdercoater tomorrow so hopefully will have all that stuff back next week sometime. The forks are currently being rebuilt. So in about 1-2 weeks I should have all the parts I need back in my garage ready to reassemble.