Topic: All Balls Steering Bearing Race spinning in frame

[riffman12]

So I installed my All Balls steering bearings last night in my '76 CB750F

The races were put in the freezer and then tapped into the frame with a piece of PVC pipe. Now they are nicely seated, but the races spin in the frame, quite freely at that. They won't pull out or anything, they just spin. Is this normal? When you tighten up the stem does it put enough force on them to stop them spinning?

Also, should there be a slight gap above the bottom race? It feels like it's seated all the way in, but I can just get my fingernail in above it (evenly all around). I've given it some good wacks with the PVC pipe / hammer, but it seems to be happy where it is. Once I bolted everything together the spacing seems perfect with the small washer.

Thanks in advance

[Dunk]

While I wouldn't say my top race was spinning free it wasn't a tight press fit.  Think they need to make the races a few thousandths larger. I used permatex bearing and sleeve retaining juice and staked it in 4 spots once seated, which just took a light tap.

[70CB750]

Same experience, the top race on noth my bikes goes in and out by fingers.  But it does not rotate there freely.

I would say when all is installed and tightened down, the race will not move anymore.

[riffman12]

awesome, thanks guys.

how about the little gap above the lower race? Is this normal? It really doesn't seem like it has any intention of being pushed up any further

[Henning]

awesome, thanks guys...

...meaning you'll use some sort of bearing retainer as suggested by cadunkle or what?  I wouldn't be comfortable not knowing the race is more or less married to the frame. When it's all assembled there's no way to know or see what's going on in there. Loctite makes a similar product.

With the lower race, I think there was a thread about that recently and the conclusion was that it was OK, so maybe a normal situation?

[flybox1]

i certainly wouldnt want it loose/spinning.  the more it spins, the faster the wear.  eventually there could be slop.
the only moving parts should be the roller bearings.
Locktite it in place to be sure.