steering head bearings

[terrylee]

Wish I had a welder but I don't. Plan to try the dremel tool tomorrow. terrylee

[oldrookie]

I picked up some long pry bars at Harbor Frieght that I believe would be perfect for reaching down through the steering head. Bwringer came over and helped get mine out and he had a very similar tool. Worked great.

I'm coming through Bloomington on my way to a cross country meet in Bedford--have a big hammer too. Coming down 37. Leaving early, since my son races at 9:30, but will be heading back 11:30 or noon. Shoot me a PM if you want me to bring the tools with me.

[Thumper88]

Used my MIG welder when I did mine, ran a bead on the lower race and it came out real easy...

[terrylee]

Old Rookie, I just saw your reply. Thanks very much for the great offer, but I managed to use the dremel tool and cut two grooves in it and a few taps with chisel into the grooves and piece popped out and the rest came right out. Didn't even mess the head up, except for one small place that I polished smooth with my dremel and a small grinding stone. Even got the bearing off the bottom of tree. If you could post a picture of the tool from Harbor, that would be great, since I have to do mine this winter. terrylee

[oldrookie]

Not a problem. Figured I was pretty late in posting.

Here's the link. Brian has taken the handle off his and the angle is just about perfect to catch the lip of the bearing trace.

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-heavy-duty-pry-bar-set-1654.html

[terrylee]

Thanks much, will definately will have to make a trip to Indy. and get a set before I start on mine, as well as a "big" hammer. terrylee

[mrbill5491]

While your at it, I would check the wheel bearings and swing arm bearings as well. A combination of old neglected bearings and races can add up to some lousy handling. What do the shock mount rubber bushings and mounts look like? Might check the run out on your wheels as well. Never know.

[oldrookie]

I think that is next for my GR, mrbill5491. Have a mysterious vibration in the bars above 60 or so. Wheel bearing seemed okay when I changed tires, but I did check the swing arm bearings.

[terrylee]

Wheel bearings and swingarm bearings have been replaced. I checked out shocks, and bushings seemed good, but I plan to order new shocks soon. Got new stem bearings (put stem in freezer overnight and bearing in oven and dropped right down) on and have been trying to get them tightened, paranoid that I will get them too loose or too tight, so plan to use deep socket and make a stem nut tool in next few days so I can torque it to specs. This is the wife's bike, so want everything right. terrylee

[terrylee]

Well, made a tool for steering head nut (used 32mm socket-plan to redo with 36mm). Torgued bearing stem to specs. in manual. Loosened and torgued several times to be sure bearings seated properly. I know we have had this discussion before but, front does not drop from side to side on it's own. It does move very smoothly and feels good. I feel that if torgued to spec. that's where it should be? Still redoing some wiring in the frt. so haven't had it out for a drive yet. terrylee