Alright Fellas, I haven't been part of this community long, but I have seen some of the amazing bikes some of you have built, and some of the excellent engineering and innovation that some have implemented. Having said that, I know that some of you will laugh and call me a dummy, and some will sympathize, as I am positive all builds have not gone as planned. There isn't much information I have found on the web about this, as I am sure most people's ego wouldn't let them admit it.
So, here goes. I knew when I got home this evening I was going to be popping out the steering head bearing races, so I grabbed the liquid O2 from the shop and hit the road. I have never done it before but really...how hard could it be. The lip on the upper bearing race was nice and accessible. A squirt of the cold stuff, a few taps, and pop...out it came. Well, the bottom one was a different story. It is pressed into an area that is flared out before the bearing race lip is exposed. I will preface this by saying that I am always the first one to tell people, "step back, relax, and think". Being a machinist, I have a very strong understanding of taking your time, and triple checking everything. Well, of course I didn't have a tool to reach around that radius. Punch won't work, extension with socket was a no go, ground down wrench....yeah right. So I heated up the tip of a screwdriver and bent it about 60 degrees, then ground the tip to a punching edge. Perfect. Froze the bearing race, went to whopping, and nothing. 400,000,000 smacks later, 2 crushed fingers, and a crazy blood blister and the SOB hasn't budged. Oh, I will just stop, go to work tomorrow, and make the right tool for the job...........OR NOT!!!!!! WHERE IS MY DREMMEL!!!!!! I took an 1/8th inch carbide endmill and split the race. I KNEW I was through it, by it would not move. Oh just a little more and I will be good. Just wouldnt take a step back and cool off. 3.5 hrs into the project and...ding...The race fell out. And I had cut a groove into my freaking bearing race seat the length of the race!!! Come on now. I am so so so disappointed in myself. It's not terribly deep, and it definitely is not thru the steering head, and is the deepest in one area that is only about .110 long, so I don't think it will ever harm a thing, but dang, my heart hit the floor. I am so frustrated with myself.
Anyhow, here are a few pictures of the races, and the top bearing. I will be pressing the bottom bearing off the stem at work, where I have the right tools for the job.
My wife came down the steps about half way through the fiasco, took one look at me, covered in sweat, PO'ed, grease up to my elbows, and walked right back up stairs. I heard the garage door open, but didn't think anything of it. When I came up, I was completely beat down. I have to say, I may have the best wife ever. She had gone to the store and bought all the ingredients, and had a big stack of pancakes, with a bowl of tortilla soup ready for me. MY FAVORITE DINNER!!! She also stopped by napa and picked up a brand new jug of gojo. She is amazing!
I ate and took a shower and she hit me again with one of these! I am still irritated with myself, but she knows how to take care of me.
That's it for tonight guys. Hopefully it will be the last post during this build of this nature. Just remember..... walk away, cool off, and think.
