Steering stem bearing on GS750B

[gssuzukixxx]

I am cleaning and repacking the steering stem bearings on my '77 GS750. I want to share a couple of things I found:

• The balls for the bottom bracket (crank) on a bicycle (except for the sealed bearing type) are the same size as the balls in the steering head of my Suzuki. So you might be able to get some from a bicycle shop if you happen to loose some of them when you take the stem apart and the balls go bouncing across the garage floor.
• The special wrench you use to adjust the bottom bracket of above bicycle is the exact same as is needed for the stem nut on the Suzuki.

Brian

[Steve]

Good to know, but if you find that you need to repair the bearings, you would be better off replacing them with a set of tapered roller bearings from a company with the ironic name of "All-Balls".

Even tapered rollers are not immune from neglect, but it will be a lot longer before they need to be replaced.

.

[gssuzukixxx]

I devoted this weekend to taking the swingarm out cleaning bearings and packing with new grease and the same with the steering head. I had never done that to this bike since I bought it so wanted to see what kind of shape they were in. They were good see at least I now know.

When I took the steering head off some of the balls fell on the floor. But amazingly enough I managed to find every one of them over the course of a couple of hours. They are very hard to see even is you are look right at them.

Brian

[kochic]

Suzuki used 1/4" balls.same for honda.
Marc