• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Steering stem bearing pics.

Larry D

Larry D

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
I rode over to my friend bwringer's today. He most graciously offered to help me change my fork springs and oil. We also changed the steering stem bearings.

It was a great day and the front of my bike felt mucha more better on the ride home !! Here's some pics, we stayed so busy I didn't take to many.



After teardown.
IMG_0192.jpg



New upper race installed, with a hair or something....
IMG_0195.jpg


bwringer's fingers greasing up a bearing.
IMG_0196.jpg


Back together and ready to depart the best bike shop in Indianapolis.
Thanks Brian !!!!!
IMG_0197.jpg
 
Jeez, did you have to take Brian to the ER? :lol: I usually draw blood when I am wrenching but not that bad. I smell an inagural BC run. :dancing: Wazz and I made some big progress here last night so there might be three "maidens" :eek: at the next Brown County outing.
 
No, we made it through with no need for hospitals. Just a couple knuckle cuts here and there, but, you'll have that.
The front felt solid. It was a nice change from the CLUNCK !!! when hitting a nice bump in the pavement. The front springs diving under hard front braking is virtually gone, much better !!!:)
 
Are the stock bearings just plan ball bearings or a taper type?
 
They were tapered.

By the way, the spot on the garage floor under the right side of the bike in the last pic is remnents of cleaning and lubing the clutch cable.
 
Last set of head bearings I did took 2 hours to drift out. Like you coloured grease.
 
My angled punch "tool" (a cheap pry bar with the plastic handle bashed off) has been through three or four other steering stem bearing changes and couldn't get a grip on the lower race until I dressed the tip with a Dremel tool.

Once we got that sorted, the races clanged off the floor within five minutes. :D


That red grease is the really sticky waterproof kind -- I use it for steering stem bearings, swingarm bearings, kickstand pivots, etc. Good stuff.


The original bearing races were only lightly dimpled, but there were roller marks all the way around and they were very loose for some reason. They would have been horrifically notchy in a few thousand more miles.

I think Suzuki used softer steel for their bearings than the aftermarket bearings. I replaced the steering stem bearings in my GS850 about 75,000 miles ago, and they're still in great shape.
 
Based upon some things I've seen, I think Larry's bike suffered a lot of wheelies during a previous life.
 
According the po, he and his father-in-law was trying to get the bike to start many years ago, by pulling it behind a pickup truck.:eek:
I'm sure that had alot to do with the front end being jacked up. After he told me that his father-in-law fell over, broke his collarbone and the po, who was driving the pickup, dragged the bike down the street..it explained the damaged left side of the bike.
After that episode it passed through a few different owners in it's damaged, barely able to run state and I'm sure saw more abuse.

But she runs like a scalded dog now !!!!:)
 
Hey Brian,

When can I come over? :D

I'm glad you guys had a good day in the garage.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
twr1776 said:
Jeez, did you have to take Brian to the ER? :lol: I usually draw blood when I am wrenching but not that bad. I smell an inagural BC run. :dancing: Wazz and I made some big progress here last night so there might be three "maidens" :eek: at the next Brown County outing.
Click to expand...


There doesn't ALWAYS have to be blood, but some people....... ;)

Tim's fleet is coming together very well and we have made some progress on my project, even got in a short shakedown last week. Still some issues to address, but she lives.

So when is the next BC scouting adventure?

-greg
 
Weather permitting, Aaron (areid) and I are heading down there this coming Saturday. Anyone else is welcome to come on down.

Should be fun, he'll be on his "new" GS1000N and I'll be on my "new" GS1000G.
 
Brett, I spoke with Brian today and he sounds in for a run. Hopefully if the weather cooperates Wazz and I can be there as well. My 850 will not be ready yet :cry: so I will have to "slum it" ;) on one of the others. C'mon Weather :pray:
 
I got a lower race out with a slide hammer fitted with a wide hook attachment. I went in at an angle, straightened it to set the hook, and it came out with two yanks.

I used Park's waterproof bicycle grease for the bearings, it is perfect for this application.
 
duaneage said:
I got a lower race out with a slide hammer fitted with a wide hook attachment. I went in at an angle, straightened it to set the hook, and it came out with two yanks.

I used Park's waterproof bicycle grease for the bearings, it is perfect for this application.
Click to expand...


That's a good idea -- I have a humongous slide hammer that I've used maybe twice. Didn't think of that.

I used to ride (and break) mountain bikes pretty avidly, and I agree that the Park grease is good stuff if you happen to have some around. IIRC, it's not quite as thick and sticky as the goop I used, but any good waterproof grease will do the trick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top