Author Topic: removing bearing races from steering neck (Read 16776 times)

rab1dwolf · « **on:** August 12, 2006, 11:40:20 PM »

I'm close to finising my triple tree replacement but have hit a snag.

I cant get the old ball bearing style races out of the neck so i can install the new ones for the tapered bearings.

I tried my age old tactic of dousing it in wd40 and smacking it with a hammer and bar but it hasnt budged.

Howd you guys get it out?

750goes · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2006, 01:25:34 AM »

I used a simple screwdriver with a hammer, did the bottom one first, the bearing race sits inside the lower neck up against a lip, you may be hitting on that lip instead of the race..

look down inside with a good light, you should see the race clearly (wipe the grease off it first), then with trusty screwdriver and hammer work your way round the race with a few well placed hits, may take a few to get it out.

then do the same for the top one..

If you have sealed bearings, and they are stuck, they must have been done up really tight

Leemata · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2006, 06:30:17 AM »

rab1dwolf,

I spotted a tool in the Chaparral catalog that's supposed to be made to remove steering head bearing races. Made by Parker Tool USA and sells for 29.99. I never used one, but you might consider trying it.

Terry

paulages · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2006, 11:25:23 AM »

they knock out nice and easy from the opposite end of each race. just tap around in a circle with a long screwdriver and a hammer.

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2006, 12:41:36 PM »

i've probably been wailing on the lip knowing my luck. I'll try it again today:)

GoatBaSS · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2006, 02:47:38 PM »

I just did this Friday, and I used a stainless steel pipe about nine and a half inches long, one inch in diamater and used the hammer and rotate method. It does take some time but then progress comes real quick. Just make sure your bike is braced and hammer away. Oh and use a HAMMER, not the rubber mallet that I wasted my time on. Although I may have loosened the jar lid a bit...

750duo · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2006, 03:00:30 PM »

I used the ratchet end of a long extention (3/8 drive) and a hammer.

Go from the opposite side and make sure you are really on the bearing race.

"Double tap" with the hammer and go around the bearing at least three places (120 degrees apart)

They should come right out.

Good Luck - Tom

dpen · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2006, 05:34:52 AM »

Easiest way to get the bottom race out is with an arc welder.

Clean the grease out and simply run an arc along the race. The heat shrinks the race & it just pops out easily.

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2006, 10:46:21 AM »

Well i beat on it alot yesterday and it seems to have moved at least but its still really in there. doesnt look like theres a lip in there from what i could see with my light

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #9 on:** August 20, 2006, 08:25:04 PM »

so I took the ones out of my actualy riding bike and they came out pretty easy.

odd side note though: the bottom race does not fit in the neck, however the neck is the same size AS the race so the bearings fit perfectly without it.

Got it on and massively greased up. WAY smoother then before and now I can buy new handlebars

now to just figure out what bar I want...

puppytrax · « **Reply #10 on:** August 20, 2006, 08:30:35 PM »

Quote from: rab1dwolf on August 20, 2006, 08:25:04 PM

odd side note though: the bottom race does not fit in the neck, however the neck is the same size AS the race so the bearings fit perfectly without it.

...How's that again??...

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #11 on:** August 20, 2006, 10:22:50 PM »

the inside of the new race is exactly the size of the inside of my neck. therefore the race doesnt fit but the bearings fit just fine without it.

the race on the top of the neck fit inside all nice and snug like its supposed to but that bottom one is the oddity...

puppytrax · « **Reply #12 on:** August 21, 2006, 09:05:36 AM »

Is this a tapered bearing conversion??

And you're running the bottom bearing directly on the headstock without a race??

pelicanwheel · « **Reply #13 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:32:52 AM »

Talk about timing..I just removed my races last night. My bike is a '76, but is pretty clean in terms of a 30 year bike, so this may have assisted.

what I did:

Pulled out my Harbor freight 1/2" drive impact socket set..

chose a socket that was small enough to fit through the the bottom race, but big enough in diameter to NOT be able to pass throught the upper race.

Got about a 8 inch or so 1/2" extention and put it on the socket (I just grabbed sockets until I had one that fit criterior above...sorry don't remember with the actual size was...maybe 26MM or something close to that)

Got a small block of wood to hit instead of hitting the end of the extension direct and damaging it

put the socket and extention through from the bottom...put the wood block agaisnt the end of the extention bar...whacked the wood with a sledge hammer..poof..out comes upper race.

select larger socket now that the upper race is out...this new socket is larger in diameter than the hole in the bottom race...repeat tap out precedure as like the upper race...poof!

On a side note...my race are actually in very good shape. No gouges or grooves. I think I could reuse them if I chose, but I'm ordering the new bearing kit instead.

Pelican

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #14 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:49:57 AM »

yeah i had ball bearings in it and now hae tapered bearings. and yes im running the bottom without a race

dusterdude · « **Reply #15 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:36:47 AM »

Quote from: rab1dwolf on August 21, 2006, 10:49:57 AM

yeah i had ball bearings in it and now hae tapered bearings. and yes im running the bottom without a race

wow

RRRToolSolutions · « **Reply #16 on:** August 21, 2006, 12:18:36 PM »

Please say it's a joke. The steering head is made of mild steel and is not tapered to fit the bearing face correctly. If it's not a joke, I strongly suggest you get it pulled down and see if you can still get the race to fit. My guess is that the head is damaged along with the bearings. I think this is a disaster waiting to happen as the needle bearings will work loose and the steering become locked or at the very least, create a loose front end that cannot be controlled at any speed above parking lot numbers.

I am very serious - your life is at risk if this is the case.
Gordon

GoatBaSS · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2006, 08:38:32 PM »

RacEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Yeah, lets be safe as you can! To many other If-then factors that can hurt you. BE SAFE!

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2006, 09:09:51 PM »

the lower race wil not fit no ifs ands or buts. the race and neck are identical sizes.
the tapered bearing kit is BRAND new.
i have two 650 frames both that have necks in apparently fine condition.
It will not fit in either. The kit is for the 82 650s and 750s. Its a 750 tree being installed in a 650 neck.

any ideas on how to make this work would be appreciated.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2006, 09:19:31 PM »

Get the right race/bearing because the one you have ain't right!!!! I never in my life heard of anyone putting a tappered bearing into anything other than the corrosponding race.

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2006, 09:25:17 PM »

just ran out to the garage and grabbed the packaging to reference it on the web.

I think I need to find my original receipt for this thing cause the part # doesnt match up with other sites...

rab1dwolf · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:19:09 PM »

yeah definately sent me the wrong ones.

it took them several weeks to mail it to me and now its the wrong one....an angry email has been sent.

If he wants these returned....how the hell do i get that bottom one off the tree?

ElCheapo · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:23:04 PM »

EEEEEEEKK what a mess!! You could just weld the whole mess together an lean a lot

mrbreeze · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:24:07 PM »

ElCheapo · « **Reply #24 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:26:31 PM »

The truth is a torch is the only way I know to get them off. Heat the race and cool the stem then bango they slip right off. Nonetheless, it will be JUNK once it is off.

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Author Topic: removing bearing races from steering neck (Read 16776 times)

ElCheapo

ElCheapo