Steering Bearing

whitey · Sep 26, 2016

I could do with a bit of advice on replacing the steering head cups,The bottom on is very tight,would it be ok to heat the race before to get it to go in a little easier , or just tap away until it goes in? Also is it ok to put the races in before powdercoating,.

weekendrider · Sep 26, 2016

You want to freeze the race and warm the neck.
If you can trust your powder coater to not paint the insides you'll be OK installing them first.
Also make sure they don't powder coat your frame grounds or the interfaces for the swingarm.
While it isn't much some have had problems getting their swingarms back in after powdercoating.

whitey · Sep 27, 2016

Thanks for the tip ,I'll give it a go.I hope I have returned this message correctly, First time so I hope I'm doing it right="whitey, posI'll 474948, member: 24572"]I could do with a bit of advice on replacing the steering head cups,The bottom on is very tight,would it be ok to heat the race before to get it to go in a little easier , or just tap away until it goes in? Also is it ok to put the races in before powdercoating,.[/QUOTE]

weekendrider said:
You want to freeze the race and warm the neck.
If you can trust your powder coater to not paint the insides you'll be OK installing them first.
Also make sure they don't powder coat your frame grounds or the interfaces for the swingarm.
While it isn't much some have had problems getting their swingarms back in after powdercoating.

T

weekendrider said:
You want to freeze the race and warm the neck.
If you can trust your powder coater to not paint the insides you'll be OK installing them first.
Also make sure they don't powder coat your frame grounds or the interfaces for the swingarm.
While it isn't much some have had problems getting their swingarms back

whitey said:

I could do with a bit of advice on replacing the steering head cups,The bottom on is very tight,would it be ok to heat the race before to get it to go in a little easier , or just tap away until it goes in? Also is it ok to put the races in before powdercoating,.

Click to expand...

Th

weekendrider · Sep 27, 2016

You will get the hang of it whitey, welcome to the site.

lakeview · Sep 27, 2016

Welcome to the forum.
To install the tapered bearings, use a section of all thread with large washers, even the old races, to force in the bearings after they have been in the freezer, it's a nice controlled way of doing it.
Use the search feature here to get the whole low down.

Oddjob · Sep 27, 2016

I found with the threaded rod old/race/large washer method, that it was too easy for the threaded rod to wander off center, and to start and even drive the bearing in crooked. Ended up driving it in using the old race and a brass spacer and gently tapping the spacer evenly all the way around...

angus67 · Sep 27, 2016

I used a wooden dowel. Like the one you hang your shirts on in your closet

fredintoon · Sep 28, 2016

Hi whitey and welcome,
like the WER sez, freeze the ring, heat the neck.
Cold (couple of hours in the deepfreeze) shrinks the ring.
Heat (Hot air gun but don't burn the paint off) expands the bearing pocket in the steering neck.
But first! Make a hardwood centering plug so that the insertion drawbar you made from threaded rod, flat washers and hex. nuts can pull the ring in nicely square.
Note that although bearing rings are really strong once they are in place, a good whack with a hammer can crack them real easy which is why you should always squeeze them in with a press rather than bash them in with a hammer.
And yes, many have gotten away with the ol' "hammer the bastards in" trick. What are the odds that you may not be one of them?

angus67 · Sep 28, 2016

Thats why i use wood

whitey · Sep 28, 2016

fredintoon said:
Hi whitey and welcome,
like the WER sez, freeze the ring, heat the neck.
Cold (couple of hours in the deepfreeze) shrinks the ring.
Heat (Hot air gun but don't burn the paint off) expands the bearing pocket in the steering neck.
But first! Make a hardwood centering plug so that the insertion drawbar you made from threaded rod, flat washers and hex. nuts can pull the ring in nicely square.
Note that although bearing rings are really strong once they are in place, a good whack with a hammer can crack them real easy which is why you should always squeeze them in with a press rather than bash them in with a hammer.
And yes, many have gotten away with the ol' "hammer the bastards in" trick. What are the odds that you may not be one of them?

Thanks mate

Steering Bearing

whitey

XS650 Member

weekendrider

Iron Horse cowboy

whitey

XS650 Member

weekendrider

Iron Horse cowboy

lakeview

XS650 Guru

Oddjob

adsgads

angus67

Welder's penetrate deeper!!

fredintoon

Fred Hill, S'toon.

angus67

Welder's penetrate deeper!!

whitey

XS650 Member

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