Topic: Is my lower steering race seat repairable?

[srbakker]

Hey all,

I got around to trying to knock out my lower steering bearing today.  I had left the frame sitting at someone else's shop for a while and a friend thought he would help me get the bearing races out.  He told me he didn't manage it, using the hammer and screwdriver approach.

I decided to use a round steel rod to drive it out.  I soaked it in penetrating oil and started to beat on it, and found it really stubborn (as compared to the upper one, which basically fell out).  So I turned the frame over and noticed that said friend had succeeded in getting the thing totally cock eyed.  I proceeded anyway (probably stupidly) and managed to smack it out with some more effort, breaking it into three pieces in the process.

Now, I'm concerned about the area where the race seats in the neck.  It is not heavily gouged, but it is certainly ridged.  It will need at least to be cleaned up to get the new bearings in.  I am quite concerned that this will not let the new bearing race seat properly.  Any tips on how to best clean this up?  I'm thinking a Dremel and a veeeery soft grinding bit and then some light sanding.  Or am I basically totally out of luck here?

[LesterPiglet]

I don't see a problem there. Run round it with some coarse paper to remove any high spots and you should be good.

[cmonSTART]

+1  Smooth it out.  Don't worry about it. 

[754]

 I would try to remove high spots with a very sharp scraper, then when you replace the race, you will know by feel how tight it is. If its lose red locktite will hold it. If its really loose , I can set it up in my mill and sleeve it..I have fixed egg shaped ones.

 With Friends like that..who needs Enemas

[srbakker]

Hah, thanks Frank.  I'll take a crack at it and let ya know if I need your mill and skills.