Steering head bearings.

toglhot

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I'm replacing the steering bearings with tapered rollers, but not sure if all models use the same sizes. I measured and found I need a 48mm x 30mm and a 48mm x 25mm. Bearing outlets don't stock this size, so I turned to ebay, numerous adds for them, but some say fits 75-80 models, others say 70 - 80 models, other say 73 models only and yet others say 75 and 76 models, so I assume there must be a difference, And of course being ebay sellers, the sellers either don't know the size or can't be bothered answering questions. I'm aware some later models take 47mm OD bearings and the 74 TX has some imperial sizes on some parts, ie, the master cylinder. Can someone comment.
 
If it helps, the same part numbers are shown for each OE race (4 per set, each with different part number) from the XS1 to end of production. Refer to the factory parts books at https://www.biker.net (thank you, Jean Akers!) I don't know where some of these vendors come up with their nonsense. I wouldn't trust any but a source that knows the XS650, like 650 Central, Hoos Racing, or, down your way, Geoff's. Cruzinimage might have a kit; if so I'd trust them as well.
 
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per partzilla
256-23414-00-00 BALL RACE fits the following models and components:
Yamaha Motorcycle 1978 XS500E Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1978 XS650SE Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1986 SRX600S Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1987 FZ600TC Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XV920K Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XZ550RK Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1981 XV920RH Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XJ750RJ Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 VIRAGO 750 - XV750J Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XV920J Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XV920RJ Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XJ750K Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XJ650LK Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 MIDNIGHT VIRAGO 750 - XV750MK Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1972 XS2 Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1986 FZ600S Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1981 XJ650LH Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XJ750J Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 VIRAGO 750 - XV750K Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XJ750MK Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XJ750RK Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1986 SRX600SC (CA ED.) Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1981 XJ750RH Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1981 XS650SH Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1980 XS650G Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1981 VIRAGO 750 - XV750H Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XJ650RJ Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XJ650J Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XZ550RJ Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XJ650K Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XS650SK Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1979 XS650_2F Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1978 XS650SE-11 Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1973 TX650 Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1977 XS500D Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1986 FZ600SC Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1974 TX750A Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1974 TX500A Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1973 TX500 Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1973 TX750 Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1980 XJ650 - XJ650G Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1980 XS650SG Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1976 XS500C Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1970 XS1 Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1971 XS1B Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1983 XV920MK Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XS650SJ Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1981 XS650H Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1981 XJ650 - XJ650H Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1982 XJ650LJ Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1975 XS500B Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1987 FZ600T Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1979 XS650SF Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1988 FZ600UC Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1988 FZ600U Steering
Yamaha Motorcycle 1974 TX650A STEERING TX650A - XS650B - C
Yamaha Motorcycle 1975 XS650B STEERING TX650A - XS650B - C
Yamaha Motorcycle 1977 XS650D STEERING XS650D E E006501- F

This Yamaha 256-23412-00-00 BALL RACE fits the following models and components:
"Ditto"

So yeah from 70 to the end all the same.
I needed to check on this for my 70 anyways.
 
23411 is the bottom race, 23412 is above it to complete the lower pair, 23413 is the lower member of the top pair, and 23414 is the top race. All 4 are needed and fit XS1 to end of production. The difference in OD will be due to taper. A tapered roller bearing for one year should, like an OE race set, fit all.
 
If it helps, the same part numbers are shown for each OE race (4 per set, each with different part number) from the XS1 to end of production. Refer to the factory parts books at https://www.biker.net (thank you, Jean Akers!) I don't know where some of these vendors come up with their nonsense. I wouldn't trust any but a source that knows the XS650, like 650 Central, Hoos Racing, or, down your way, Geoff's. Cruzinimage might have a kit; if so I'd trust them as well.
I wouldn't trust Geoffs, he's the one that supplied my front spokes. Postage from the US is exorbitant, that's why I'm looking on ebay. From a low of $36 from the Uk, plus $15 postage, to a high of $76 from the US plus $91 postage, or $127 in Oz with free postage from Oz. that's an incredible $110 price difference for the same thing, and you can bet they're all Chinese sourced bearings.

Looks like the UK is a winner.

Just as a matter of interest, are postage prices within the US high?
 
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Well from China to the US, practically free.
For larger items in the US Pirate Ship is saving me serious money.
 
Well from China to the US, practically free.
For larger items in the US Pirate Ship is saving me serious money.
A US vendor in California has to pay much more to ship me a package than one in China. One of the vendors making parts in Florida hung it up because of that. At least, that’s what he told me and my own experience seems to support that.
 
These Showe bearing sets from Britain seem to be the best deal going.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/132534139340?hash=item1edba679cc:g:WBwAAOSwACRapPP-
ordered three sets cuz they ship 3 for same amount as 1 set. so 3 sets here for $87 or $29 a set.
Hope I have a set already in the bins, weathervane needs the forks apart for three maint projects, might as well put in the tapered while I'm there.
 
It wasn't this way a few years back, but now shipping costs in the US are sky high for individuals and small businesses and dirt cheap for the big players, both at private sector shippers like UPS and Fedex and the US Postal Service. It's one more example of the game of Reverse Robin Hood: rob the poor to pay the rich. The last kit I installed was from All Balls Racing. No complaints.
 
Pirate ship; the first to use a "blob field" Yeah! Toss an address in it and the site parses it out into the shipping fields. Not having this function has been a pet peeve of mine for a LONG time! It's like they actually asked their users what would help them ship efficiently, what a concept.
Shipped marty a side cover and tach in my box, priority mail for $8.45 that's less than a padded envelope!
 
Pirate ship; the first to use a "blob field" Yeah! Toss an address in it and the site parses it out into the shipping fields. Not having this function has been a pet peeve of mine for a LONG time! It's like they actually asked their users what would help them ship efficiently, what a concept.
Shipped marty a side cover and tach in my box, priority mail for $8.45 that's less than a padded envelope!

It's here already!

image.jpg
 
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