Author Topic: Tapered Steering Bearings Thread  (Read 207652 times)

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Offline mystic_1

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #275 on: September 12, 2008, 05:03:48 AM »
The 75 center stand should work fine.

I have had All-Balls steering bearings installed on my bike for a years and they're great.  I just got some of the Pyramid wheel bearings this year but have not put any miles on them yet, but they seem good.

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Offline Kouros

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #276 on: September 12, 2008, 11:02:12 AM »
I know you mentioned both brands, but is that the correct part for the steering bearings and wheel bearings? Newbie...Just making sure.

Thanks.\

Kouros
1974 CB750 K4 (Re-build in-progress)

Offline mystic_1

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #277 on: September 12, 2008, 11:24:00 AM »
I don't have the part numbers handy for the bearings I bought, but the listings you say they are correct for your bike.  Should be fine, the steering and wheel bearings didn't change across the entire SOHC 750 series afaik.

mystic_1
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Offline Kouros

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #278 on: September 12, 2008, 11:30:28 AM »
Thanks! Appreciate the info. I'm buying them.

Kouros
1974 CB750 K4 (Re-build in-progress)

Offline MCRider

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #279 on: September 12, 2008, 11:35:05 AM »
The 75 center stand should work fine.

I have had All-Balls steering bearings installed on my bike for a years and they're great.  I just got some of the Pyramid wheel bearings this year but have not put any miles on them yet, but they seem good.

mystic_1
Were the Pyramid wheel bearings sealed on both sides? This seems to be the main obvious difference between aftermarket and OEM as the OEMs are only sealed on the outside.
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Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline mystic_1

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #280 on: September 12, 2008, 03:14:08 PM »
Yes, the Pyramid bearings were sealed on both sides.

mystic_1
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Offline Kouros

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #281 on: September 12, 2008, 07:42:36 PM »
Mystic,
Please educate me.....sealed both side.....thats a good thing right?
1974 CB750 K4 (Re-build in-progress)

Offline mystic_1

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #282 on: September 13, 2008, 06:00:28 AM »
Shouldn't really make a difference in this application.  Since the hub interior is completely sealed once both bearings are installed, nothing can get into the bearings from the inside anyway.  The double seal will keep the grease from squeezing out of the bearing over time however, so that's a good thing I suppose.

mystic_1
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Offline Kouros

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #283 on: September 13, 2008, 07:40:53 AM »
Thanks for explaining that.

Cheers,

-K
1974 CB750 K4 (Re-build in-progress)

Offline MCRider

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #284 on: September 13, 2008, 01:19:31 PM »
Shouldn't really make a difference in this application.  Since the hub interior is completely sealed once both bearings are installed, nothing can get into the bearings from the inside anyway.  The double seal will keep the grease from squeezing out of the bearing over time however, so that's a good thing I suppose.

mystic_1

I agree that theoretically it shouldn't make a difference. But after seeing the results of both I think practically it does. The varaible being condensation. I took apart a stock hub from a bike I bought for parts just recently and not only were the bearings spitting out their grease (as you mentioned in your post) there was rust. Even though the bearing environment is sealed wherever there is air there is the cycle of condensation that occurs with temperature changes.

I disassembled my own hub from 50K miles and 15 years with double sealed bearings and they felt good (the stockers were notchy) and no grease or rust in the interior.

So with both the rust issue and the spitting out of grease, the double seals are preferable in my mind.
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline mystic_1

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #285 on: September 13, 2008, 01:40:37 PM »
Aah excellent point Ron.  I wasn't expecting the bearings to be double-sealed when I ordered them but I remember being impressed that they were, just SEEMED like they'd be better.

Since we're on the topic, do double-sealed bearings need to be re-lubed at same interval as single seal bearings, and do you lube them any differently?

mystic_1
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Offline MCRider

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #286 on: September 13, 2008, 02:47:16 PM »
Aah excellent point Ron.  I wasn't expecting the bearings to be double-sealed when I ordered them but I remember being impressed that they were, just SEEMED like they'd be better.

Since we're on the topic, do double-sealed bearings need to be re-lubed at same interval as single seal bearings, and do you lube them any differently?

mystic_1

My understanding of the lube question is: you have to destroy the bearing (beat on it) to get it out, so you wouldn't ever relube, but replace it. I'm open to other opinions on this.

But the service life of the double sealed should be twice or better.

I would ask forum members with original bearings to turn them with their fingers and report back their findings and the mileage for the collective knowledge base.  I suspect the stockers will feel notchy after 10-20K.

I don't know for sure how many miles my parts bike had, I would guess 10 to 20K, as that seems to be the magic number for when they get parked and neglected.

In any case, actual bearing failure is pretty rare. They are tough.

My double sided bearings felt smooth and firm after 50K. But they will get replaced on this rebuild.
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline mystic_1

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #287 on: September 13, 2008, 03:24:45 PM »
Yet another (probably silly) question, do you pack double-sealed bearings before use, like you do with "standard" bearings, or are they pre-lubed from the factory?

mystic_1
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Offline MCRider

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #288 on: September 13, 2008, 04:58:00 PM »
Yet another (probably silly) question, do you pack double-sealed bearings before use, like you do with "standard" bearings, or are they pre-lubed from the factory?

mystic_1
They are pre-lubed ready to use.
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline ev0lve

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Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #289 on: October 01, 2008, 04:27:52 PM »
Hey there,

I'm going to be rebuilding my frontend this weekend and I've gotten the tapered steering bearings to do it BUT I didn't buy the kit, just the bearings. Reading up on it I'll need a spacer.

Can someone point me at the size spacer I'll need, how to make one or somewhere I can buy it?

75 CB750

Thanks,
Iggy

Offline ev0lve

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #290 on: October 01, 2008, 05:03:13 PM »
Holy crap  :o Google is on this site like a junkie (or me)

Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
Oct 1, 2008 ... Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?,Honda,CB750,650550400F,350F,550F,750F, motorcycle,owners,club,restoration,history,rebuild,SOHC.
forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=41435.msg427235 - 18 minutes ago - Similar pages

Offline ev0lve

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #291 on: October 01, 2008, 05:26:37 PM »
Hmmm, Hush says in his thread on the subject

"The kit comes with 2 different sized spacers (washers), one about a millimetre thick and the other a stonking great 2 millimetres."

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=36470.0

If I can find a washer with the right inside diameter should be fine?

Offline ev0lve

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #292 on: October 01, 2008, 05:59:11 PM »
OK, who knows the diameter of the bottom of a CB750 steering stem? Mine's way out in Duvall, WA at the moment in a garage.

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #293 on: October 01, 2008, 10:47:08 PM »
Iggy

The lower bearing spacer ID is 30mm.

FJ
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Offline ev0lve

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #294 on: October 01, 2008, 11:07:06 PM »
Ah, thank you very much! Now off to Tacoma Screw to see if they can help me out (well, tomorrow).

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #295 on: October 02, 2008, 12:59:39 AM »
Might have been easier and cheeper just purchasing the kit in the first place.
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

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Offline ev0lve

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #296 on: October 02, 2008, 01:07:56 AM »
I would agree with you and if I have to do it over (ever) I do believe I will. BTW, for any noobs like me who happen upon this, let my pain ease yours. I got mine off of ebay without knowing I'd need a spacer. After shipping it would have been a wash just to get the kit.

So... buy the kit.



Offline FunJimmy

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #297 on: October 02, 2008, 01:11:04 AM »
Iggy

The kit also comes with seals.

You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

CB550 Cafe Interceptor a Gentlemans Roadster
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.0

Offline ev0lve

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Re: Tapered Steering Bearings - Spacer Size?
« Reply #298 on: October 02, 2008, 01:13:52 AM »
I'm hoping to reuse the bottom and KirkN had issues with his before removing the top. We'll see I suppose. I may still end up with a kit.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=28405.msg291588#msg291588
« Last Edit: October 02, 2008, 01:15:41 AM by Iggy »

Offline Kouros

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Re: 1974 Center Stand, Wheel Bearings, and Tapered Steering
« Reply #299 on: October 15, 2008, 12:18:23 AM »
More questions guys:

The Pyramid bearing arrived. I have yet to remove the bottom race. From what I've read here I must chisel it out or cut grooves and break them out.

I took a closer look at the bottom of the tripletree and there seems to be a soft flange plus one or two rubber washer/spacers there. Are those  for keeping the dust out (dust cap)?
Is the soft metal flange one piece with the stem and a keeper?
Would I be dropping the bottom one in there only to find out there is play in the steering without those extra parts?

The new Pyramid ones don't have anything like that. Help. They look like this. Any thoughts?

« Last Edit: October 15, 2008, 02:59:29 PM by Kouros »
1974 CB750 K4 (Re-build in-progress)