Topic: Old topic I'm sure... Which bearings to use on front end swap

[Oldschoolmachinist]

I'm swapping out the stock front end on my 1978 CB750 K8 for a 1975 GL1000.

The question is do I buy the bearing for a Goldwing or for a CB750?

My guess is to buy the bearings for the CB750, but it never hurts to ask. Also I anyone has done that swap please let me know if you used any washers to raise the lower race on the tripple tree. To my thinking comparing stack sizes is not the final word because the triple trees are a bit different. My concern would be the bottom of the head tube rubbing on the bottom triple tree vs having enough thread at the top for the fastener.

Cheers

[Pecantree]

Did the GL1000 on my K6. Used the All-Ballzkit for the 750. It's the same for both bikes, followed the directions enclosed and worked out fine. Your forks are wider on the GL and will hit your tank. I drilled and tapped the turning stop tangs on the triple tree and threaded a couple 6mm allen head bolts in to shorten the turn radius.
I'm using the indicator light panel from the K6 on the handlebars. Don't like it and still have to come up with some custom mount for the lights. Am thinking about fabbing from a piece of 1/2" black plexi and mount between the clocks.
I'll get some pictures up.
I would like to see how other folks handled it.
Good luck
Steve

[LesterPiglet]

When I go for bearings again it will be balls and races. Tapers are sh*te imo.

[Oldschoolmachinist]

Did the GL1000 on my K6. Used the All-Ballzkit for the 750. It's the same for both bikes, followed the directions enclosed and worked out fine. Your forks are wider on the GL and will hit your tank. I drilled and tapped the turning stop tangs on the triple tree and threaded a couple 6mm allen head bolts in to shorten the turn radius.
I'm using the indicator light panel from the K6 on the handlebars. Don't like it and still have to come up with some custom mount for the lights. Am thinking about fabbing from a piece of 1/2" black plexi and mount between the clocks.
I'll get some pictures up.
I would like to see how other folks handled it.
Good luck
Steve

Thank you, that's what I figured it would be. Did you use the thick or thin washer?

I'm going to be fabricating my own tank so not worried as much about the forks hitting. There's not going to be much stock stuff up front when I'm done.

[lucky]

Tapered rollers.

[srbakker]

When I go for bearings again it will be balls and races. Tapers are sh*te imo.

Explain.

[LesterPiglet]

I've had tapers for a while now and I still can't get the front end correct, they are either too tight or too loose. I never had this problem with balls. Maybe it's me but I prefer the easy option.

[Oldschoolmachinist]

I figure its six of one and half a dozen of the other.....

Tapers last longer but getting the preload right is harder. Balls are easier to adjust but go flat sooner. I find it easier to knock out ball bearing races than tapers, so maybe that makes up for the shorter lifespan of the bearings. Then again if you are putting a lot of miles on your bike and riding on rough roads..... Then again..... Etc etc etc