Topic: tappered bearings.. top bearing not rotating..

[73nancy]

hey guys took my front forks off again for fixing the seals. i noticed that of course my top race sticks up off the stem. but that and the iner part of the bearing doesnt want to spin is this normal... it also feels like it could go in a little further. i also cant seem to get the bearing back out of the top.. is that suposed to be a tight fit? thanks ryan

[mystic_1]

Not normal   Sounds like it's jammed in too far.  Did you over-tighten the steering stem retainer perhaps?

What do you mean by "it also feels like it could go in a little further."

Got pics?

mystic_1

[camelman]

I don't think the tapered bearing kits fit all the way in.  Mine definitely stand out of the stem, and I have yet to see a bike that has the tapered bearings seated all the way down the way the ball bearing units do.

The races won't rotate in relation to whatever they are attached to.  The only thing that rotates are the tapered cones.  Please post some pics, because I have a feeling I'm misunderstanding your question.

Camelman

[HavocTurbo]

Not normal   Sounds like it's jammed in too far.  Did you over-tighten the steering stem retainer perhaps?

What do you mean by "it also feels like it could go in a little further."

Got pics?

mystic_1

I'll second this.

[Old Scrambler]

I installed the tappered bearings and loved the feel on the road.........BUT.......I did not like the top bearing spacers required to support the ears and supposedly save the top-tree from breaking.  Soooooooooo.....I removed the top bearing and put the balls back in.............everything fits like it should.

[Johnie]

The All Balls kit will stick out a bit. I have them in my K1 & K4 and they are great. Here is a pic of how much mine stick out. But the fork ear and triple tree fit is perfect. What brand did you buy?

[73nancy]

i bought the ones that come in the green box.. no seals.. cant remember who i bought them from cause i did buy all balls wheel bearings. but the middle of the bearing where the stem rides wouldnt turn by hand i dont know if i pushed it to far in or not. i ended up taking the races out on the bottom and top cause i didnt like the feel of it all. what do you guys do to see if the stack height is good this is my first time doing them.. the spacer is supposed to ride on the tree below the lower bearing on the stem right?


what i meant by it feels like it can go in father is that if i stuck my finger down in the stem i could still feel a space to where the shoulder is.. almost like the race wasnt all the way in. but judging by your pics my looked about the same.. the bottom race goes in great and sits flush with the stem but the top one is the one im worried about.. thanks again guys ryan

[Hush]

You only need the bottom spacer washer to lift the steering head away from the triple tree so they don't catch each other, this is why you need to figure out "which" spacer to use as they all seem a bit different.
The Allballz kit does stick out a wee bit, I discarded the old top bearing weather cover (metal concave thing) and it fitted better.
I wouldn't push the top bearing down any further than the top of the triple tree needs it to go, it will sort out how far by its self.

[73nancy]

k will do thanx for the info..

[mystic_1]

The top race doesn't go in further, what you're feeling is a second step on the inner wall of the steering tube.  See pic below.

mystic_1

[73nancy]

nice pic now i see.. i kept thinking it had a space left to go.. thanks guys for all the help..