Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
STEERING STEM BEARING Replacement - Any Pointers?
TheGDog:
As soon as I can get past the lump of bills coming up... I need to replace the Steering-Stem bearings on the K5.
I'm imagining it's pretty easy to figure out. I just thought it might be smart to ask you guys if there are any helpful hints or gotchas that can help make doing the job easy and pain-free (...ish, HaHA!).
KXcam22:
It's really easy to do. You will need a 12" long punch to tap out the bearing races from inside the steering head. I use a 3/8" steel shaft I found. As a rule, never hit the new bearing parts with a hammer, always use the old bearing parts to protect the new bearing parts. The bottom bearing on the steering stem will be destroyed to remove it - thats normal. Tap the new one on to the steering stem using the old one (minus the cage and bearings) upside down as a drift and a piece of pipe over the steering stem to hit that one. Be nice with pics but I don't have any. Hope this helps. Cam.
Friar-Tuck:
Piccy's
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech/service_steering_head_bearings/index.html
Freeze the races before you install them and put a worklight up on the neck to get it warm/hot . It seems silly but I need all the help I can get!
I used all-thread rod, nuts, washers and the old bearing to pull in the new races.
The only other thing I can think of is to put the stem in the freezer for a few hrs before you go to drop on the new lower bearings.
I don't know how warm you can get the bearings before the grease will fall out as you drop them on the "frozen" stem.
I used High Temp Disc Bearing grease, you could put the bearing in a ziplock and drop it in hot water for a few minutes right before you pulled out the "Stem-cicle"
I did mine in the summer and put the bearings on top of the grill lid (not lit) to heat up in the sun.
Oh, and be sure to have the seal on the bottom of the stem BEFORE you put it in the freezer... Or you could drop the bearing on and realize the seal/washer is sitting on the bench :-o .
and then panic as the bearing got stuck halfway off the stem.....
and start all over :x :x yep :oops: :oops:
Tuck\o/
TheGDog:
Ok.... and um... what size (Diameter) pipe to I need so that it fits over the old bearing race just right?
I'm only bothering to ask because I'm a first-time home-owner, and as such I don't have a built-up collection of scrap pieces from "over the years" if ya know what'm sayin.
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I like the freezer idea. Thanks! That's the kinda insider tips I figured you guys would be able to give me.
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As for grease... wouldn't I want to be using marine grease!?
TheGDog:
Ooh...Ooh!! Before I forget... since I have not yet purchase the new steering-stem bearings to replace the old ones... is there a particular aftermarket brand... and/or vendor... from whom I should be more inclined to purchase them from?
For example... a quick eBay search and this one vendor advertised MOOSE Steering stem bearing/seal kit.
I've generally thought the other MOOSE products I've used (tubes, field wrenches) were sturdy/well-made... so my thinking was I should prefer that kit. I seem to recall the other main one I found being sold was made by ALL-BALLS.
P.S. Thanks for the love you've been showing me!
P.S.S. Ugh... as soon as my wife can finish with her dang online univ. classes I might actually be able to do some wrenching during the weeknights :S
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