Steering head bearing replacement: Difference between revisions

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The alternative, and definitely not the right tool for the job, is to get a punch with a 90' nose or a cheap-as-possible #3 flat-tip screwdriver and carefully hammer the nut until it's loose. It's much harder to get the adjustment right at the end with this method, and it also provides more opportunities to slip and damage something (like your hand).

====Removing the old bearings====

Once the nut is removed, remove the dust cover, the upper bearing race, and all the ball bearings. Keep it all, in case it can be reused. Watch for balls rolling around your workspace. Slide the triple tree down and remove the lower race and balls. Inspect these and set them aside for now if you decide to replace them.

~~Using a bearing puller, a piece of PVC pipe in the correct size, or a simple punch,~~ knock out the races that are stuck in the frame. ~~Don't worry about damaging~~ the ~~races; they're going to be replaced~~. ~~Clean~~ the ~~places that hold the races on the frame with~~ a ~~rag, getting out all~~ the ~~dirt and grime~~.

You now need to knock out the races that are stuck in the frame. Use a piece of steel rod to push out the lower race. Just set it against the race in a different place for each whack of the hammer.

~~^^^ IanJ - using a piece of steel rod~~ to ~~push out~~ the ~~lower race. Just sit it against~~ the ~~race in~~ a ~~different place for each whack of~~ the ~~hammer. Worked a treat~~.

Don't worry about damaging the races; they're going to be replaced. Clean the places that hold the races on the frame with a rag, getting out all the dirt and grime.

<<<How to get out the race that's at the top of the steering '''head?>>>'''

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~~'''>>>Need~~ a ~~good method for removing the race that's~~ in the ~~triple. Namely~~, ~~how to put it in the vice w/o destroying it~~.~~>>>'''~~

Other ways you might think about for this include using a bearing puller, a piece of PVC pipe in the correct size, or a punch.

Removing the race that's stuck on the triple tree can be a bit harder~~, but~~ the ~~same punch method while holding~~ the ~~tree portion~~ in a vice. ~~Don~~'t ~~worry about damaging~~ the ~~seal or washer, as they will also be replaced~~. ~~Clean everything~~ that will ~~be reused~~.

Removing the race that's stuck on the triple tree can be a bit harder. Clamp the tube that goes between the two triples (henceforth know as the 'steering tube') in a vice. Vice scuffs on that tube will not affect anything, as it doesn't come into contact with anything except at the ends through the bearings. There's a large enough gap between the outside of that tube and the inside of the steering head so burrs on the tube from the vice will not matter. So, turn the part upside down so it looks like a 'T', with the lower triple on top, then clamp the vertical portion of the 'T' in the vice.

~~------------------------------------------------------------~~

Use the same punch method as you did above. Don't worry about damaging the seal or washer, as they will also be replaced. Clean everything that will be reused.

@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 The alternative, and definitely not the right tool for the job, is to get a punch with a 90' nose or a cheap-as-possible #3 flat-tip screwdriver and carefully hammer the nut until it's loose. It's much harder to get the adjustment right at the end with this method, and it also provides more opportunities to slip and damage something (like your hand).
+====Removing the old bearings====
 Once the nut is removed, remove the dust cover, the upper bearing race, and all the ball bearings. Keep it all, in case it can be reused. Watch for balls rolling around your workspace. Slide the triple tree down and remove the lower race and balls. Inspect these and set them aside for now if you decide to replace them.
-Using a bearing puller, a piece of PVC pipe in the correct size, or a simple punch, knock out the races that are stuck in the frame. Don't worry about damaging the races; they're going to be replaced. Clean the places that hold the races on the frame with a rag, getting out all the dirt and grime.
+You now need to knock out the races that are stuck in the frame. Use a piece of steel rod to push out the lower race. Just set it against the race in a different place for each whack of the hammer.
-^^^ IanJ - using a piece of steel rod to push out the lower race. Just sit it against the race in a different place for each whack of the hammer. Worked a treat.
+Don't worry about damaging the races; they're going to be replaced. Clean the places that hold the races on the frame with a rag, getting out all the dirt and grime.
+<<<How to get out the race that's at the top of the steering '''head?>>>'''
+-----------------------------------------------------------------
-'''>>>Need a good method for removing the race that's in the triple. Namely, how to put it in the vice w/o destroying it.>>>'''
+Other ways you might think about for this include using a bearing puller, a piece of PVC pipe in the correct size, or a punch.
-Removing the race that's stuck on the triple tree can be a bit harder, but the same punch method while holding the tree portion in a vice. Don't worry about damaging the seal or washer, as they will also be replaced. Clean everything that will be reused.
+Removing the race that's stuck on the triple tree can be a bit harder. Clamp the tube that goes between the two triples (henceforth know as the 'steering tube') in a vice.  Vice scuffs on that tube will not affect anything, as it doesn't come into contact with anything except at the ends through the bearings.  There's a large enough gap between the outside of that tube and the inside of the steering head so burrs on the tube from the vice will not matter. So, turn the part upside down so it looks like a 'T', with the lower triple on top, then clamp the vertical portion of the 'T' in the vice.
-------------------------------------------------------------
+Use the same punch method as you did above. Don't worry about damaging the seal or washer, as they will also be replaced. Clean everything that will be reused.