Stem bearings

[XTHNG 1]

Anybody here replaced their stem bearings ? Looking for a little guidance and any special tools.

[magicvtx]

Xthing1,

I replaced my stem bearings when I had the triple trees chromed. Top bearing as you probably know will come off when the stem is removed from the barrel. The bottom bearing I took a cutting touch and cut it off. I melted the grease seal, but new ones came with the All Balls bearings from HDL. I removed a lot of bearings this way over the years. The touch will just cut the bearing and not the stem if you just remove small amounts of metal with each pass. There maybe a better way, but this worked for me. As far as the races, I use a long punch and tapped them out. Hope this helps, good luck

magic

If I remember right, the book said to use a punch and hammer to work the bearing off of the stem, which works but you will destroy the seal or you can use a bearing puller which bolts together under the bearing and pulls the bearing off evenly, (the best way) the lower race is a problem on some bikes and easy to get out on others, Weekly used a pry bar to work his bearings right out within a few minutes, I used a puller/slide hammer with a big brass (1" dia) punch to beat the lower race out, you can use a curved punch if you have one, My bearings were a pain, weekly's were easy. To set the bearing preload, go by the book to torque it down to seat the bearings and back it off and measure how much load it takes to start to turn the handle bars, (use a good fish scale)

You are going to use the 1800's bearings aren't you?

For the 1800

Tools bearing race remover, lower race 07946-3710500
driver 07949-3710001
attachment 07746-0010200
upper race 07949-3710001
stearing stem socket 07916-3710100
driver, upper 07749-0010000
driver, lower (same as upper)

The 1300 bearings are easy to remove due to the bearings are ball bearings and are CHEAP. :roll:

The 1800 are harder because they are taper roller bearings

Torque to 30 ftlbs., turn right and left a few times (lock to lock) loosen and retorque to 12 ftlbs. turn lock to lock five times and retorque the adjusting nut (this step needs to be done several times as per the book)

After you get the the lock washer on and the top triple tree back together with stem nut you need to measure the head bearing preload with a pull scale, the book calls for 1.8 - 2.6 lbs. pull.

[XTHNG 1]

Thanks guys. Yeah going went with the 1800 bearings. Hopefully I'll get to it in a couple of days.

No more hula handle bars for you :lol:

[XTHNG 1]

How did you guys get the steering bearing adjustment nut off ? The manual say to use stearing stem socket 07916-3710100 but not having any luck finding one.

How did you guys get the steering bearing adjustment nut off ? The manual say to use stearing stem socket 07916-3710100 but not having any luck finding one.

My dealer was nice enough to loan me theirs.

You can get a socket and take it to someone with a vertical mill and let him work his magic on it as the next best way.