Marzocchi Fork Steering Stem Removal

N

Normski

Senior member
Location
Devon, England
Hi, can anyone tell me how to remove the steering stem from the bottom yoke on Marzocchi please? Is it a simple press out or is there anything holding it in?
 
If its a taper bearing, remove the cage and rollers, with a small hand-held grinder, grind the inner race until it's nearly ground through and then, using a cold chisel and hammer, tap the ground out part. It should crack, then its only a matter of sliding the race off.
 
Thank you for your answers.
I’ve pressed it out a small amount from the bottom but something doesn’t look right so I’ve stopped. There seems to be what may be a keyway to one side. I can’t get to it to take a picture at the moment. The yokes are unlikely to be from a Laverda, more likely Ducati, I thought I’d ask on here and sleep on it - my next step is to press it back in and see what’s what with the bottom of the stem in view again.
 
The Ducati and Laverda Marzocchi yokes are very similar. The keyway you mention is most probably where the steering lock engages, the edges may be a bit burred and could require dressing with a file.
 
Make sure you remove the oil cooler bracket - the stem is going nowhere with that on - use a rubber mallet to tap the stem downwards - as per legs use a dremel on the taper race and it will free as it expands - you need a long box spanner to tap the new bearing on
 

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a14rgs said:
:ROFLMAO:

However, workshop attire aside, this is a RTFQ job (Read The F'ing Question) - I refer you to Norman's initial post - how to remove the stem from the bottom yoke, not the bearing....
Click to expand...
It’s what I call forum itis- I think we’ve all done it. For getting the bearing off I pass a tube over the stem and weld it to the inner race. The top of the tube has a nut welded in it and by winding a bolt into the nut the tube is drawn up c/w bearing.
 
Normski said:
It’s what I call forum itis- I think we’ve all done it. For getting the bearing off I pass a tube over the stem and weld it to the inner race. The top of the tube has a nut welded in it and by winding a bolt into the nut the tube is drawn up c/w bearing.
Click to expand...
Got it Norm - apols for the diversion of my trousers and bearing removal , i am young and impetuous - is the stem or the bottom yoke goosed out of interest as i dont know the answer to your question :)
 
Sir Sidney Ruffdiamond said:
Got it Norm - apols for the diversion of my trousers and bearing removal , i am young and impetuous - is the stem or the bottom yoke goosed out of interest as i dont know the answer to your question :)
Click to expand...
I don’t really know at the moment, the spacer I used in the press hid what was happening until I stopped to take a look part way and I found the bottom of the stem was causing some damage on its way out. I’ll not get back to it for a week or so now but as I said earlier I think I need to press it back in and hope I can see what has happened. Where the stem has left the yoke all looks right.
 
Just to be clear, there is a larger diameter step at the BOTTOM of the spindle, so it needs to exit the yoke DOWNwards, but otherwise is just a nice interference fit. Given that they have usually been in there for several decades I always warm up the yoke good and hot to give it a bit easier time. The spindle can gall in the bore and take some aluminium out with it. Clean everything before reassembly, freeze the spindle and warm the yoke and it should go in easily.
 
What s horrendous thought! Trying to press it from the bottom up! I'm sure that wasn't the case, and yes, heat is always your friend with press and interference fits.
 
Wanting to polish the yokes, I'm trying to get the bottom yoke off the steering stem of an early 3C with 38mm Cerianis. I'd presumed it too should have the stem driven out downwards through the lower triple clamp but it's not budging even after several times left cooking in the gas BBQ very hot for a while.
In this case should it go out through the bottom? Stem looks like it may be about 1.5mm larger diameter on the underside than on top.
I don't have easy access to a press, is there a technique other than larger BFHs?
I got the lower bearing off with a pair of screwdrivers but otherwise this is what it looks like.
3c lower yoke - Copy.jpg
 
You'll wish you never got it out when it starts to come loose later and your steering head bearings need adjusting every five minutes.
I'm sure I'm wrong about that though ;)
 
  • Haha
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