Steering head bearing replacement: Difference between revisions

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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?>>>'''

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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. 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.

Removing the race that's stuck on the lower triple tree can be a bit harder. The steering tube and lower triple are all one piece. 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.

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'''<<<Can you use the old 'correct-sized socket' for this? Lots of people don't have access to different sizes of pipe.>>>'''

'''<<<Can you use the old 'correct-sized socket' method for this? Lots of people don't have access to different sizes of pipe.>>>'''

'''<<<And pvc or metal pipe?>>>'''

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If the part of the pipe you are hitting is wider than the hammer, put a flat piece of metal across the pipe, so the hammer blows are transmitted to all edges of the pipe equally. This diagram shows how the bottom race fits into the frame:

~~V V (hammer thataway)~~

~~| | (pipe cross section)~~

~~|\ /| (race cross section)~~

~~| | Steering stem (on frame)~~

If the pipe is wider than the hammer, put a flat piece of metal across the pipe, so the hammer blows are transmitted to all edges of the pipe equally. ~~A bearing/race driver (pounder) is essentially a fancy version of a hammer and pipe, purchased in various sizes for various sized bearings. The above illustration is for~~ the ~~top~~ race in the ~~steering stem. For the bottom race it would be like this~~:

| | (steering stem)

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| | (pipe)

^ ^ (hammer thataway)

^ ^ (hammer thataway) ^ ^ (up)

Be very careful to hit only the outside of the race. If you so much as lightly tap the punch on the inside of the race, it could ruin it. Install it in the bottom section of the frame.

Install the top race (#99-3504) in the steering head in the same way. This illustration is for the top race in the steering stem:

V V (hammer thataway) V V (down)

| | (pipe cross section)

|\ /| (race cross section)

~~Install the top race~~(~~#99-3504~~) ~~in the steering head in the same way.~~

| | Steering stem (on frame)

Don't install the races upside down. This is impossible with oem parts and should be apparent with the tapered bearings. These diagrams show the taper of the bearing and race. The race fits into the stem (frame), and then the bearing fits into the race.

@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 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?>>>'''
+'''<<<How to get out the race that's at the top of the steering head?>>>'''
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
 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. 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.
+Removing the race that's stuck on the lower triple tree can be a bit harder. The steering tube and lower triple are all one piece. 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 91: / Line 93: @@
-'''<<<Can you use the old 'correct-sized socket' for this? Lots of people don't have access to different sizes of pipe.>>>'''
+'''<<<Can you use the old 'correct-sized socket' method for this? Lots of people don't have access to different sizes of pipe.>>>'''
 '''<<<And pvc or metal pipe?>>>'''
@@ Line 101: / Line 103: @@
+If the part of the pipe you are hitting is wider than the hammer, put a flat piece of metal across the pipe, so the hammer blows are transmitted to all edges of the pipe equally. This diagram shows how the bottom race fits into the frame:
-V V (hammer thataway)
-|    |  (pipe cross section)
-|\  /|  (race cross section)
-|    |  Steering stem (on frame)
-If the pipe is wider than the hammer, put a flat piece of metal across the pipe, so the hammer blows are transmitted to all edges of the pipe equally.   A bearing/race driver (pounder) is essentially a fancy version of a hammer and pipe, purchased in various sizes for various sized bearings.   The above illustration is for the top race in the steering stem.  For the bottom race it would be like this:
 |    |  (steering stem)
@@ Line 118: / Line 111: @@
 |    |  (pipe)
-^  ^ (hammer thataway)
+^  ^ (hammer thataway) ^ ^ (up)
 Be very careful to hit only the outside of the race. If you so much as lightly tap the punch on the inside of the race, it could ruin it. Install it in the bottom section of the frame.
+Install the top race (#99-3504) in the steering head in the same way. This illustration is for the top race in the steering stem:
+V V (hammer thataway) V V (down)
+|    |  (pipe cross section)
+|\  /|  (race cross section)
-Install the top race(#99-3504) in the steering head in the same way.
+|    |  Steering stem (on frame)
 Don't install the races upside down. This is impossible with oem parts and should be apparent with the tapered bearings. These diagrams show the taper of the bearing and race. The race fits into the stem (frame), and then the bearing fits into the race.