Steering head bearings Q

Something I may also be doing in a mo because ... I've also just
pulled the headset off this GPz550 and the bottom race has a couple of
thumbnail feelable notches in it and a few of the rollers look a bit
grim. :-(

The online fiche:

http://tinyurl.com/4vmvoy says:

32005JR.RS for the top (and that's exactly what's in there)

HR320/28XT in the bottom (ditto).

But, the bottom bearing isn't sealed at all, is this right? I cant
tell from the fiche if there is one or not?

The top bearing isn't too bad (as expected) but does have a few very
fine vertical lines on the race. I guess I know the answer but (as
this job is supposed to be on a budget) should I change it at the same
time (ie, how much impact does it have on the steering in comparison
with the lower bearing)?

 

Ok, thanks. I just wanted verification there wasn't supposed to be a
bottom seal.

 

I was expecting similar (going by everything else I've found on this
thing) but in fact it may well have been greased not so long ago
(certainly within the last 22 years) ;-)

Oooerr? I don't know that mine could have been felt or more
importantly if I could have felt it in any case.

Let's hope. I might be going past an industrial type bearing supplier
tomorrow so I'll see if they can supply both at the right price. If
they only have the bottom one I'll do that and see how it goes (top
one looked like it just had some installation scratches on it and once
cleaned looked and felt ok).

 

I wasn't sure if it was one of those things where if water did get in
there you would want to let it out again or summat Mark? Maybe because
this bike come with the little fairing they assume it won't get
blasted in there?

Hmmm and there was one on my CB Two Fifty (done recently) and my
R100RT (from memory). Even out MTB's have them!

;-)

 

Well, I guess as long as you don't blast it with a pressure washer it
will be ok then?

Indeed. I would only consider adding one if it was seen as being a
good idea and was easy to do.

I love it when people say "Well it's lasted this long why do you need
to modify it" but it might have had 10 headsets from new! ;-)

 

Same here Muck (tempting though it is) but I know plenty of people
(including shops) who do.

I'm generally up for a modification when I can see it will help (like
making all 5 of these Uni-Trak bushes in stainless and ftting grease
nipples where suitable), simply because I don't want to have to strip
it down again in the near future.

Often any design shortcomings are down to cost and generally the cost
is little if only having to do said on one bike.

 

Nope, but I believe they are designed for use with pressure washers
Pete?

 

Sorry Muck, the bearing material is a form of Nylon, these are the
other half of the 'bearing' / spacer tubes.

 

Indirectly yes.

Strange I don't fit in here then eh?

Meh, same outcome ... and can you categorically state that being
reasonably pressure washer proof wasn't a design consideration?

 

Don't you join in TOG! If I was the only person doing it here I'd
actually be bothered (so guess what) ;-)

 

Not with the vocal minority. But then that's not something I'm
striving to change. I'm not religious and am a firm believer of "what
goes round comes round" and an early transmission failure or an
unexpected lamppost could be the price someone's pays (and that
pleases me).

It's not what it looks like from this side of the screen Krusty (and
yes, I do use people names in conversation where I feel it's
appropriate), but then that might just be you being you. Why anyone
would feel the need to pick holes in people over what boils down (in
light of the bigger picture of life in general) total trivia baffles
me (not that that is difficult in itself but then I've never tried to
put across otherwise). Like I said before, *I'm* here to talk about
motorbikes and any other topic I find interesting or might be able to
help on. Picking holes in people (especially 'strangers') or pointing
out their habits isn't something I would do in real life so wouldn't
do here either. Is your life so perfect or empty [1] that you feel the
need to pick holes in me and mine?

Well you are a grownup, can't you just deal with it, quietly, or if
you are seriously interested in helping, PM me about it? I know it's
not the way it's done (by some) here, no holds barred etc (and I'm not
easily bothered or offended) but it just all seems so petty. Don't get
me wrong, I'm up for a bit of piss taking or winding up but that only
really works (for me) if it's pretty obvious, or, it's someone I know
and trust, where there is no question of their motives etc.

Ok.

[1] I'm genuinely sorry for saying such if it is. :-(

 

So, the front end is now all in bits and the old ball bearings are being
replaced with lovely taper bearings. Top and bottom ball races were tapped
out easily and the new top race carefully tapped back in. The shell is a lot
deeper than the old race, about 5mm proud, but I'm assuming (fucking
hoping!) that the overall depth of the complete bearing will be the same as
the old one.

The only difficulty so far is the bottom ball race that is still stuck
firmly to the base of the stem, right on top of the plastirubber steering
seal. I had a tentative tap to see if it would move easily and it's not
looking good.

1. Before I give it some with the large whomping stick is it as tight as a
nun's chuff and requiring plenty of heat or will it actually move?

2. If it needs heat it's going to **** the seal under it, isn't it?

3. When it's eventually off will the new taper bearing need whelting back
into place? It seems a bit fragile for that kind of treatment and all Clymer
have to say is how to fit new ball bearings rather than tapers. It
conveniently skips over removal of the lower race too.

 

Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot wrote:

Dremel half way through on two opposite sides and then whack it on the
edge with a cold chisel. Chances are it'll split in two bits.

 

A fine idea. Thanks, Loz.

 

I couldn't see anything whatsoever wrong with either of my bearing sets
other than the grease being a bit clumpy and dry, which it has a right to
after twenty years, I suppose, but the way the steering had of centering
itself *really* positively made me think I'd find square ball bearings in
there. Nope. Closer inspection tomorrow might reveal the cause, hopefully.

 

My Scooter doesn't have a lower seal, lots of them don't. There is a mud
guard, and a little splash plate over the bearing area too. Still not
too happy about that, but haven't had the time or energy to do anything
about it yet.

 

I'd just like to interject my method for 'feeling' head races: take
two coffee tin lids (or tin trays if you're flush) and slip some
grease between them. Wheel the front wheel onto them and sit on the
bike. Then you can easily work the steering from lock to lock and
replicate the feeling you get on the road without scrubbing the tyre
or loading the front end. I don't think you can get a proper feel for
the thing doing it like an MoT tester does, up in the air.

 

I wouldn't blast anything on a bike with a pressure washer, hand
cleaning and low pressure garden hose only for me.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

Do you use Muck-Off?


--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

Har har..