Bloody steering head bearings.

You want to splash out and buy the hydraulic ram that goes with that part Phil

                                                                                Dave
 
I'd be tempted to drill holes in the bottom yoke like I found on this BMW yoke. The holes allow a pin punch to be poked through from the underside of the yoke to tap the bearing off. Makes it a piss-easy job with no fancy tools required. Bloody good idea I reckon.

Cam
 

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Potential fracture point?
Unless they were put there properly by the factory.
 
laverdakeith said:
It is a good idea, can see by the state of that cap head screw you are not a fancy tools kinda guy Cam.  ;)
    Keith
Click to expand...

Why buy metric allen keys when you have a perfectly good set of vice grips in the drawer.  :D
 
Mole grips, a hammer and a shifter.
Worked for me when I rebuilt my CB 175 (many times) as a poor student...  (clever)
 
mole grips, vice grips, vise grips

and they come in all shapes, sizes, lengths, and gripping strengths. Recently Irwin introduced here a new jaw design claimed to have three times the grip strength..... :D

but I just cannot sanction Cam's apparent approach to large metric allen heads...... :o ;)
 
Hi all, Yes, me again with another probably stupid question. Was just about to put the front end on when something caught my eye, bear with me. when i carefully(read, smacked the shit out of them with my largest hammer) removed the old bearings, i noticed that there was no washer type thing under the top bearing. there, was one for the bottom one. so, consult green bible, yep there should be one for both top and bottom. Smashing, as the new set i had have two large washer type things,put them in after a couple of hours keeping company with some birds eye peas in the freezer, now the top bearing sits ever so slightly proud of the steering head. Is this correct or do i need to employ big hammer again? Chin Chin.

    FFF
 
Padlock, those washer things are shims (as I mentioned in my second post on this topic). AFAIK there's always one above the bottom bearing, but the top bearing may or may not have one below the race. If your new top bearing has exactly the same dimensions as your old one, if it's sitting high that means you didn't get the "precision" shim pounded back properly flat. Get a new one from your favourite supplier (Guzzi/Ducati suppliers may also be able to help). Or put a 2mm thick dust shield above the bearing, helps to keep it dry and keep the dust out. I got some from Norton Villiers a few years ago, maybe someone else has a suggested source for now? The dust shield should give you correct spacing between the triple clamps. Or you could just leave out the top shim completely; adjust the bearing and clamp the top triple clamp in place, and measure the spacing between the triple clamps where the staunchions pass through them. If they're within +/- 2mm of the length of the headlight brackets and the steering head bearing adjustment threads are long enough, you don't need the top shim.

Ken
 
Usually 1 shim above and below the bearings, but I have seen none (still worked) and 2 at the bottom bearing (assume it was as it left the factory).
The top bearing sitting slightly high is better than it sitting slightly too low.
If this results in the chromed tubes for the headlamp brackets too loose then slip a rubber 'o' ring over the stanchion before fitting the top yoke. Keeps things nice and tight when you turn down the top yoke nut properly.
There should also be a cupped metal dust shield under the bottom yoke bearing.
 
laverdakeith said:
It is a good idea, can see by the state of that cap head screw you are not a fancy tools kinda guy Cam.  ;)
Click to expand...

Don't blame me for that. I bought the triple clamps on ebay and that's how all the bolts were was when I got it. There was nothing wrong with the hex sockets, so there was no excuse for that sort of butchery. Maybe the PO didn't have a set of Allen keys and thought mole grips were an acceptable substitute. The bolts are still quite functional so I was intending to re-use them. But you've convinced me to replace them now so I don't get accused of bodgery again!

On secont thoughts, I might just bung them in the lathe and tidy up the heads. It'll remove a bit of weight too  :D
 
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