Paid a visit to the stealership today...

[Billy Ricks]

I don't trust dealers as I believe them to be bottom feeders who will shamelessly take advantage of any they can.OR,go to the local bloke.Goodluck.Cheers,Simon.

Just last week I was out of town working when the fuel pump went out on my '99 GMC p/u. Normally I carry a toolbox with me but for some reason I had taken it out for this trip. Luckily my brother wasn't far behind in his p/u so we towed it to a nearby dealer. I went into the service dept. and told them my fuel pump had gone out. While I was standing there a guy comes in who had a brake job done by them the day before. He brought his truck back because one of the rear wheels had locked up. This should have set off signals but I was stuck.

Later that day they call me with the estimate. He informed me it was going to be over $1100. Over $400 for the pump itself and another $250 for the fuel gauge sender unit. I informed him that I knew for a fact the sender came as part of the fuel pump. He swore up and down it didn't and I basically called him a liar. I told him I would pick up the truck and have it done elsewhere. My brother had a friend who is a diesel mechanic give me a call and he said he would be glad to take care of it for me. I had the truck towed to him that afternoon. The dealer BTW charged me $95 for diagnostics. Something you can have done at most auto parts stores for free, and I had already told them it was the fuel pump beyond any shadow of a doubt.

So, the next day I pick my truck up. The bill came to $475, $380 for the pump and 1 hour of labor for $95. The mechanic confirmed that the sender did indeed come as part of the pump. Do not trust car dealer service departments.

[jpaul]

I do believe, but could be wrong, that by 1980, they came with tapereds standard, at least the 80s parts bike i had, which i believed to be completely stock, had tapered bearings in it.

If you're talking about my old bike, those were replacement bearings, but the stock ones were tapered rollers too.

[bonanzadave]

Lets review your choices..........

The All Balls are a good bearing kit but it will require the stem mod. (bummer)

Put the OEM bearings in it. This may require the stealership or at least someone to help that has done this work before.

Try to tighten the stem nut. The bearings may need to be greased which will require the front end to come off. If you just want to try and tighten the nut you must loosen the upper fork clamp bolts first.

Find a different stem that wont require the mod. You could use the All Balls then and have all your parts ready before you take the front end off. The trick is going to be finding a stem that will work. This guy says he will cross reference for you. Might be worth a call.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-GS500-GS-500-TRIPLE-TREE-STEERING-STEM_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem200268858246QQitemZ200268858246

[ShirleySerious]

Lets review your choices..........

The All Balls are a good bearing kit but it will require the stem mod. (bummer)

Put the OEM bearings in it. This may require the stealership or at least someone to help that has done this work before.

Try to tighten the stem nut. The bearings may need to be greased which will require the front end to come off. If you just want to try and tighten the nut you must loosen the upper fork clamp bolts first.

Find a different stem that wont require the mod. You could use the All Balls then and have all your parts ready before you take the front end off. The trick is going to be finding a stem that will work. This guy says he will cross reference for you. Might be wort a call.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-...mZ200268858246

Dammit! I was hoping for the All Balls kit but I don't want to have to start shipping parts of my bike all over the country. This is all assuming the problem is the steering bearings. I want a second opinion before I drop this kind of money and effort, but bike shops are few and far between around here and most of them are Harley shops. I guess I can just let it go for now. A lot of trouble for one little part.

[first timer]

if you don't want to do it yourself take the bike over to 1901 s western ave. - motoworks, they should be able to work on your bike and be resonable about it. If you call them and tell them you just needs some steering stems replaced they should work on it for you.

Tell Steve, Ryan who's in Tucson now says HI!

I thought your bike was a 80's 550?
It had VM carbs?


post a add on here for used 80-82 550, 650 steering triple tree. then you can just drop in tapered bearings if you need too. those should be a dime a dozen.

[bonanzadave]

I guess I can just let it go for now. A lot of trouble for one little part.

That one (or two) little part can be very important. I dont know if its ever happened but I wouldnt want the steering to lock up. What about all these GSRers in Chicago. Someone must know a loose steering stem when they see one............

[ShirleySerious]

Whodathunk this was gonna be this much of a hassle? Now I don't know what to do. Anyone wanna donate to the save my bike from the scrap heap fund?

[rustybronco]

Whodathunk this was gonna be this much of a hassle? Now I don't know what to do.

How in the world do you think it's been a hassle? the only work that I see you have done is to work yourself up! calm down, it ain't that hard to do...

In this economy, I'm trying to save here and there...

then do it yourself!

tapered bearings are a good up-grade, but the original ball and races worked for a lot of years and will work just fine as replacements AGAIN.

what will be needed to replace them are basic hand tools, a cold chisel, a long drift (punch) to drive the races out of the steering stem, some different pieces of pipe to drive the race(s) back on the steering stem and back into the steering neck.

do you have basic hand tools or do you have access to them?

are you mechanically inclined, or are you willing to do the work yourself?

do you have a jack and a board (or can you borrow them) so the front end of the motorcycle can be lifted to remove the front wheel, brakes, fender and fork tubes?

do you have torches, or is there a shop around that can heat the bearing race on the steering stem to a dull red (keep the torch directed at steep angle so you don't heat the stem!) and whack it with the cold chisel across the race (like you are cutting it) to "stretch" the diameter of the race it so it can be tapped off the stem with a punch in lieu of the proper tool, then drive (tap) the race back on the stem with a proper size pipe and a hammer?

or just take the stem to the dealer and have them R&R the race.

all you need to hold the balls in place on the race, when re-inserting the stem, is wheel bearing grease.

questions?

[ShirleySerious]

I was capable of doing it myself, until the part about the torches. I do not have one, nor can I use it. Taking the bike to a place that could do it would mean I'd have to take it apart, and I can't ride there with half a bike. Can this be done cold (without a torch?)

[rustybronco]

Your bike is your only means of transportation?

do you have a bench grinder or a air operated die grinder with a cut-off wheel to grind down the race for removal.

[bonanzadave]

Thats where I got stuck. See that previous picture (post #6) of my stem with the lower race stuck on it. I ended up taking it to a local yamadog 4 wheeler shop and he went caveman on it. He got it off and charged me $20. This is the old lower race off the stem and the new All Balls going on. Looks like he chipped up the old race busting it off.

[rustybronco]

yours has an edge they could get a chisel or punch to catch on so it could be driven off.

Ms. serious, how about a 4" hand held grinder?

[ShirleySerious]

That's Mr. Serious to you!

I have a car, but are you talking about taking the bike into a shop without its front end? I don't have any of that fancy equipment, but I have a dremel tool.

I still have to find another dealership or mechanic to get a second opinion from so I know that the problem is the steering for sure.

[rustybronco]

That's Mr. Serious to you!

I have a car, but are you talking about taking the bike into a shop without its front end? I don't have any of that fancy equipment, but I have a dremel tool.

Shirley... I'm talking about just taking the steering stem "alone" for the removal and re-installation of the race.

[hp1000s]

Your dremel tool w/abrasive cut-off wheel on it will do the job nicely on both the inners and outers...I know this 'cause I did it. It's really not a tough job, just a little messy. You'll probably use 6 or 8 of those tiny abrasive wheels as they shatter frequently(eye protection please)but just buy the little cylindrical container of them; I think it holds like 30 of 'em. Do it yourself and "Feel the satisfaction!".