How to Remove Bottom Steering Stem Bearing from Triple Clamp?

[MXonaKawi]

Hey guys. I am getting my triple clamps powder coated later this week. I was wondering how to remove the bearing that sits next to the bottom triple clamp. Can anyone shed some light on this?


Also, while we are on the topic...what parts of the triple clamp/steering stem/bearings should be greased and with what kind of grease when putting it back on the bike?

[Kaw391]

When you press the stem out the bearing will come off with it.

[jBernard]

maxima waterproof in the black tub is good stuff. make sure to pack the lower bearing super well. those bearings with matching races arent cheap. i think my AllBalls one was like 60$ A smooth steering stem is nice to have, so keep it lubed up and keep water out of the area when washing the bike.
Also i always replace the bearing/races if i pull the bearing off the stem. usually gets a bit torn up.

[MXonaKawi]

maxima waterproof in the black tub is good stuff. make sure to pack the lower bearing super well. those bearings with matching races arent cheap. i think my AllBalls one was like 60$ A smooth steering stem is nice to have, so keep it lubed up and keep water out of the area when washing the bike.
Also i always replace the bearing/races if i pull the bearing off the stem. usually gets a bit torn up.

Awesome info. I'm trying to get it off to powder coat the clamps. How do you pull it off the stem? Brute force?

[jBernard]

like the guy above posted, when you press out the stem the bearing will get pressed off as well and all be separated.

[Pmcg]

Not sure if we're talking about the same thing but when I did my steering stem bearings I hav to drive the outer race from the frame with a wood chisel the would just catch the edge of the race and not the frame. As for the inner race I had to dremel through it to get it off of the steering stem.

Good luck I hope yours just fall out as mine were a bit of a pain.

[sandblaster]

Heat can be your friend.

[KevinTwoStk]

http://www.pivotworks.com/InstallationVideos.aspx?ItemID=29&page=1

Pivotworks has an excellent how-to video...hopefully the link above will work.

I have also seen the bearing removed via an air chisel that just caught the lower edge of the bearing.

Olympic Powdercoating in Santa Ana is excellent. I took my frame there. The reason they're excellent is that they masked off all the threads before they did the powdercoating. If your powdercoater doesn't mask off critical areas (like the fork leg bores in this case) then you will have to spend time sanding off the excess powdercoat.

[El Snorro]

Destroy the cage+balls/needles, grab your angle grinder and grind a small ridge on the bearing inner.

Heat it up and place a flat screwdriver in the ridge and hit that with a hammer.
The bearing will slide off the steering stem

[MXonaKawi]

http://www.pivotworks.com/InstallationVideos.aspx?ItemID=29&page=1

Pivotworks has an excellent how-to video...hopefully the link above will work.

I have also seen the bearing removed via an air chisel that just caught the lower edge of the bearing.

Olympic Powdercoating in Santa Ana is excellent. I took my frame there. The reason they're excellent is that they masked off all the threads before they did the powdercoating. If your powdercoater doesn't mask off critical areas (like the fork leg bores in this case) then you will have to spend time sanding off the excess powdercoat.

Thanks man that is an awesome video. I will have to watch it at home when I have the triple clamps in my hands.

For powdercoating I am going to use my guy Chris in Torrance. He did my frame and swing arm and did an awesome job for a great price. They mask everything off. But thanks for the referral. If anything goes wrong, I will definitely keep Olympic in mind.

[alward25]

Pressing the stem out is really the best option. Cutting it you end up running the risk of knicking the stem and I would not really want to weaken it in any way, kind of an important part.

[MXonaKawi]

Pressing the stem out is really the best option. Cutting it you end up running the risk of knicking the stem and I would not really want to weaken it in any way, kind of an important part.

Yes. Ideally I would like to remove the stem as well. Is that easier?

[jBernard]

yes, by far.
get a shop to press it out. it will literally take them a couple minutes at most.  versus trying to chop the bearing off and getting grinder wheel marks on your trees and stem. = ghetto.

[MXonaKawi]

What kind of grease goes on the steering stem? It looks like vaseline to me. What is it and does it only go on the stem?

[KevinTwoStk]

Any good general purpose grease will be fine, including automotive wheel bearing grease. I've been using Royal Purple Ultra Performance synthetic grease with good results, but it's not the only option.

http://royalpurpleconsumer.com/product-categories/motorcycle/#!ultra-performance-grease-upg

Swepco 101 and 105 greases are also good for steering stem bearings and linkage bearings.

http://www.swepcousa.com/lubesite/lubesb/j04061_105sb.pdf

http://www.swepcousa.com/lubesite/grease.htm