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removing bottom steering head bearing...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Johnny K
  • Start date Start date
J

Johnny K

Guest
For some reason I can't slide out or tap with a screwdriver and hammer the bottom bearing on the triple tree stem. I haven't begun to remove the bearing races on the stem as I have heard it takes some patience. But every time I tap the bearing and then on the opposite side, it won't slide off the triple tree stem. Searched and couldn't come up with a solid answer. Thanks.
 
Cut a slot in the old bearing race with a Dremel tool, and then pound a cold chisel into the slot until the race cracks along the cut. It'll slide off pretty easily then.

Sounds brutal, but it's pretty much the only way.

Installing the new bearing requires the right size hunka pipe and a big hammer. (Take care to only pound on the inner race so you don't damage the new bearings.) Or take it to a shop with a big hydraulic press.
 
almarconi said:
Did you try looking in the service manual?
Click to expand...

The manuals I've seen weren't very helpful on this topic -- IIRC, all they had was "take it to your dealer" or "use special service tool #766589-9876654QZXR to flibbert the grimfizz then use SST #87765542-09876757489 to vrillet the twizzle."
 
When installing the new race, instead of possibly damaging it pounding it on with a BFH and large pipe, put the new race in a deep fat fryer turned up to max (doesn't even have to be full of oil, just enough to give the race a bath), let it sit until very hot, remove with a pair of pliers, slip it on the tree, it should only take a couple of taps with the hammer and pipe to seat it.....
 
DanTheMan said:
When installing the new race, instead of possibly damaging it pounding it on with a BFH and large pipe, put the new race in a deep fat fryer turned up to max (doesn't even have to be full of oil, just enough to give the race a bath), let it sit until very hot, remove with a pair of pliers, slip it on the tree, it should only take a couple of taps with the hammer and pipe to seat it.....
Click to expand...

Good tip!

I tried heating the bearing with boiling water, but it wasn't hot enough to make much difference.
 
almarconi said:
Did you try looking in the service manual?
Click to expand...

lol! - nice one m8 :D

did YOU look in the service manual to do this and then go and buy tool xyz? - i think the bloke was asking for practical tips on removing the bottom race as it's more than a little pia.... dremel is good or run a bead of weld around it to let the drift get purchase on it... a combination of the heat and newly created "lip" should help

hth
 
You can weld a rod across the bearing and that will give you something to bash it out with. As for placing the bearing on the stem..... the old oven at 180 degrees should do the trick but still might be a pain. Still need a tube to ram it home over that stem but when all else fails the old bearing turned upside down will give you some thing to hit with to seat the new bearing
 
Yeah the oven is OK, but the oil bath really expands it at 500 deg F.
 
sparki said:
lol! - nice one m8 :D

did YOU look in the service manual to do this and then go and buy tool xyz? - i think the bloke was asking for practical tips on removing the bottom race as it's more than a little pia.... dremel is good or run a bead of weld around it to let the drift get purchase on it... a combination of the heat and newly created "lip" should help

hth
Click to expand...

If you're talking about the bottom race on the bike, then I have a special high-tech angled bearing race basher (a repurposed pry bar with the plastic handle bashed off) that works perfectly. I do have to dress the tip with a Dremel or file every so often so it'll bite instead of slipping off.

If you're talking about the bearing race on the steering stem, then see above -- cut a slot with a Dremel (make sure you don't nick the steering stem), bash the slot with a cold chisel to crack the race, and discard.
 
I was talking about the bottom bearing when the triple tree slides out. For some reason that bearing wont slide up the stem. Been trying to hit each side, but just wants to stay put and can't really grab it with anything to slide it up.
 
Johnny K said:
I was talking about the bottom bearing when the triple tree slides out. For some reason that bearing wont slide up the stem. Been trying to hit each side, but just wants to stay put and can't really grab it with anything to slide it up.
Click to expand...
Try this. since heat expands an object, heat the race only with a torch, propane will do, but use the pencil-ist tip flame you can. Then give it some taps around it's perimeter to break the seal then a shot or two of P.B Blaster, or WD40. then a few more taps. If you don't have a decent prybar, or one you don't want to hammer on, use a cold chisel to persuade it off
 
If there is any machine shops local, swing over there and they will throw it in their press and pull it off if you don't have any tools that seem to be working. Should only take a min or two and they would have the race right off for you.

If you do have tools:
Run some heavy welds around the race and let cool. Will probably slide right off after that. or
Heat it up with a torch. I dont mean use a little propane hand held one for a couple seconds either, I mean HEAT IT UP GOOD and bang it off with a hammer. or
carefully grind down on one side of it until you either go all the way through it or leave a paper thin piece and hit it with a hammer a couple times and it should come off
 
I had to throw in the towel on mine too. I figured for the time, effort and special tools it would be a lot less painless to have someone take it off. I paid the Yamerdog fourwheeler shop $20 and dont regret that decision. By the looks of the old one it didnt just pop off for him.


SteeringStem2.jpg
 
with the race stuck in the hub on my car, I ran two really heavy beads of welds around the inside. It wouldn't come out in my press with a 7 ton jack pressing down on it before, but I dropped a socket down on it after and it knocked it most the way out without any other pressure! Heat is a wonderful thing.
 
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