Topic: Steering bearings

[Kouros]

I've taken the steering all apart. I'm changing out the old stock bearings to suggested tapered bearings. I got a pair (upper/lower) from Pyramid Parts (ebay).

It seems to me that when I initially disassembled the bike and took off the old steering bearings, I left the upper race for the lower bearings and the lower race for the upper bearing still in place. Are they just stuck there hard? How do I get those off to install the new tapered bearings? Or am I just way off the mark here and totally wrong?

Sorry...newbie here learning.

Thanks in advance.

Kouros

[MCRider]

I've taken the steering all apart. I'm changing out the old stock bearings to suggested tapered bearings. I got a pair (upper/lower) from Pyramid Parts (ebay).

It seems to me that when I initially disassembled the bike and took off the old steering bearings, I left the upper race for the lower bearings and the lower race for the upper bearing still in place. Are they just stuck there hard? How do I get those off to install the new tapered bearings? Or am I just way off the mark here and totally wrong?

Sorry...newbie here learning.

Thanks in advance.

Kouros

You gotta remove them. From the top, put a long punch down to contact the race in the bottom of the steering head portion of the frame. Then tap it out, moving the punch around the race so as not to get it cocked on its way out. Vice versa for the other race.

The race on the steering stem has to come off also. I've found using a tiny 1/4 inch chisel as a wedge and working around the race will lift it off.

Others?

[Kouros]

So without having it done yet....I assume that the new new races have to be tapped in.

Can you explain how that is done?

Thanks for the response.

Kouros

[MCRider]

So without having it done yet....I assume that the new new races have to be tapped in.

Can you explain how that is done?

Thanks for the response.

Kouros

Some people (me too) put the new races in the freezer (couple of hours) to get some shrinkage ala Costanza  .  Use the old races as drifts to drive the new races in, with a gentle tapping being sure to go round the race so as not to cock it.

For the steering stem race, if memory serves, I heated it with a simple torch and it dropped right on. Probably the oven would work as well. Uhh don't touch it.

Again, I would defer to anyone with a better method. Its been a while for me.

[Kouros]

Thanks MC

[scunny]

here's a good article by Hush
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=36470.0

[Kevin D]

Kouros, I used a piece of threaded rod to press/squeeze the races into the frame, and the same piece of rod with a pipe nipple to press the lower race on the steering stem. It worked just fine but it was a one time only deal for me so I can't say what's easier or better, just no pounding required on the new parts.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=20973.msg218322#msg218322

[MCRider]

Thanks MC

You're welcome, read the other two posts from Scunny and Kevin and all bases covered.