Steering Stem Bearing and Race Removal Inquiry

[Guest]

I am trying to replace the bearing and race on my 83 GS1100ESD but can't seem to get the bearing race out of the neck of the frame. Is there a trick to remove them? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! Kich

[derwood]

drive them out from opposite side with a brass drift...if you can catch the lip...if not run a bead of weld on the race and they practically fall out when cool. just a crappy little 110v welder works fine.

[meeks7]

I used a dremel tool with a cut off wheel to cut a line as far as I could through the race without getting into the steering neck. After that it came out very easy. I believe I found that tip on here somewhere while searching for some other information about the bearings. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Steve]

You might have seen that in my post. I had to cut two grooves to actually remove a small section of the race before it came out. I tried to remove the race without cutting into the frame itself, but it's pretty darn hard to avoid. As long as you don't go too deep, I don't think it will hurt much. Also, by cutting out two grooves for the notch, that section of the race is considerably weaker and will chisel out easier than if there is just one groove.

Here is the notch:


Here is why the bearings were changed: :shock:
8-[

.

[posplayr]

Related Link

If you are feelin g adventurous, you coudl try and build one of those fingered extraction tools. Some 1" electrical conduit from Home Depot would do it (I think). If you have a welder that works, I used the bent bolt.

Posplayr

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=120514

[J_C]

I used a dremel with a carbide cutting attachment. I was also VERY careful not to cut through to the stem. I still nicked it barely, but oh well. Then I drove it out using a punch.