Steering Head Bearings (again)

After Bonwick's help in tightening the steering head bearings they were
all lovely and great. Some miles later they're back to the loose,
knock-knocking again, so it looks like they need replacing. As I see
it, there's two options:

1) get all the tools, some bearings and beer (for enlisting help) and
try myself or
2) throw the bike and money at a dealer.

As I suspect 2) will involve a fair chunk of money (and I don't get on
with the nearest dealer) I'd like to do 1. One way or another I can
get the tools, so that's ok, but how do you go about getting the
bearingsfrom your local bearing manufacturer?

Secondly, if they're knocking, what damage will I do to the bike if I
carry on riding it[2]? None, some or lots?

Finally, are there any of those well-written technical articles
explaining what they do so I can understand what I'm wibble-flipping
about?

TIA for the hand-holding.

[2] Presuming I don't bin it.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Christofire burped loudly and ejected the
following:

Firstly let me say my mechanical expertise stretches to oil changes,
lubing cables and stuff and way, way back I fitted a big bore kit and
assorted bolt-on go faster goodies to a TS50X.

I would go for the first option. Buy the tools because you'll always
have them and get SWK to supervise, that way you'll be good to go in the
future.

I had knocking steering bearings on my last bandit for 20,000 miles and
it was ok, I only noticed it when braking when there was a notchy feel
as the forks compressed.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/bearing.htm

HTH

 

Hmmmmm.. So *your* head bearings were knackerd and mine were fine. Then
*you* take my Daytona out and now *mine* are rocking like a pony with Gene
Autry on it....

I seem to detect a connection...

So I'll send the bill to you, yeah?

Maybe not.

But in the same vein, do modern bikes still use just normal ball bearings in
the heads?

Is it worth doing the standard 80s style nod and getting a taaper roller set
in instead, if they are still BBs?

If so, what do I order and how much more will it cost me?

TIA

Dave

 

IIRC between £200 & £300 quid.

getting the bearings are a doddle, just phone your dealer and ask for
them (there are two of them, one that goes underneath the top bit
(yolk?) and one that sits at the bottom of the stem)

its fairly self explanatory but *YOU WILL* have problems getting the
bottom set of bearings off. I know two people who have replaced them
and both have had to grind them off the stem as the several sets of
bearing pullers have either not had long enough legs to reach from the
top of the stem or had too thick legs so they dont get under the
bearings to pull them. <note from^h^h^to Tim> dont grind too much off
the bearing, just enough to make it crack.

I'm happy to lend you the too for removing the top bolt and the 36mm
socket again.

someone who knows will be along shortly to say I'm talking bollocks.

--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Triumph 955iSS / GSF600 bandit
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22

 

they are taper.

IIRC something like £20 each.

--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Triumph 955iSS / GSF600 bandit
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22

 

Thieving bastards

Find the sizes and order from BSL. You'll get the same things for less
than 1/2 the money.

Dremel grind a small notch into the ring. Use a hammer and sharp cold
chisel to split the ring. Easy.

I charge £120 for changing head bearings on a Pan Euro.
+ parts.

--
ColonelTupperware
spouting bollocks on Usenet since 1997
Usenet FAQ at
http://www.its.caltech.edu/its/services/internetapps/news/news2.shtml
UPCE FAQ at http://upce.org.uk/
UKRM FAQ at http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

 

No, actually, you aren't... a Dremel with a mini cutoff wheel is exactly
what is needed to deal with steering head bearings. As you say, just be
damned careful not to grind too far. Put a good sized nick in the bearing
and whack it with a chisel, it *will* break where you've ground it.

Sometimes it can also be a bit of a bugger to get the outer races out of
the steering head, when tapping them out with a drift, make sure you don't
get them cocked at an angle, or you'll have to resort to Mr. Dremel there
too.

 

^^^^
They're having one.

Righto - I'll see if I can find the manchester triumph dealer. I
detest the one in Orrel as he's having a laugh with the prices. I
wouldn't be surprised to hear that they're charging for just talking to
them next.
<snip horror>

This is why I was considering the dealer option, but at 300 notes I
think I'll give that a miss.

Thanks muchly. I'll be down south the first weekend in July so will
probably be able to pick it up then.

 

I'm going into Flitwick tonight [1], do you want me to see if they
have some bearings or can get some for you?

[1] funnily enough to have my steering head bearings looked at. expect
a rant about OYT later.

--
Adie
(replace spam with nickname to reply)

UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/

Triumph 955iSS / GSF600 bandit
MRO#11 BOTAFOF#7 BOTAFOT#130 DIAABTCOD#17 MIB#24 YTC#16 BOB#15 ex-UKRMMA#22

 

Unless you slip with an angle grinder
--
Tim two#21, YGL#3 & BOTAFOT#84

Due to the limitations of current email, the lip movements may be
out of synchronisation as you move your finger under the text while reading.

tim dot ukrm2 at dsl dot pipex dot com

 

I must say, these Triumphs sound jolly good. Where can I get one?

I've got some cheese in the fridge, so I'm already well sorted for
steering head bearings.

--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..66073../..15556.../..3157./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17
'^' RBR-Visited:35 Pts: 705 Miles:2429

 

Well I know yr taking the piss, but I have to say that my bike is 4 years
old and, although it only had 10k on the clock when I got it, it may have
been 10-ham-fisted-k-miles-before-I-had-it, as could Christofires...

I've never had such a bad wobbly head bearing feeling ever like I started
getting last week, not even on the CRM. Which is worrying, but the bearing
quality is more than made up for by the engine character. And the pipe rack
& slippers[1]

Dave

[1] Although they were optional, unlike the as-standard Beemer and Goldwing
equivalents...

 

Not TEN thousand miles? Goodness gracious, that's lots of miles for a
modern motorcycle to have to cover without dismantling.

I wish I'd bought a Triumph, then I could have changed the bearings,
erm, a dozen or so times, compared to the not at all that I've been
subjected to on the CBR1000, Blackbird and Wing.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..66073../..15556.../..3157./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17
'^' RBR-Visited:35 Pts: 705 Miles:2429

 

Oooh, don't forget front wheel bearings (although mine lasted all of
9000 miles, IIRC) and that there chain adjustment C-spanner...

 

Are you sure they don't just need adjusting? These clever modern taper
bearings can take up the play.

 

Is this where I mention clutch master cylinders?

 

On my quasi-regular walk from Liverpool Street station to my place of
"work", I pass a bike bay which has a Silver Daytona 600 parked in it.

What a fucking *dreadful* looking bike. Looks like some 1995-era
art-school wanker's idea of "futuristic". Simply horrible.

 

It's getting a bit more use now... Its now on 14k and I'll be adding
another 2 or 3 thousand in July. So I'll expect new bearings all round and
a load of other things to drop off by August.

Which ain't so bad when you consider I normally use a car for work and I do
have the use of the wife's R6[1] too....

Dave

[1] Which has had absolutely nothing go wrong with it at all. Yet.

 

Nick Knowles says...

It could be worse, it could be one of those ultra reliable BMW bikes.

 

well yes - there is one parked close to our office at St James Park. I
keep looking at it and concluding along the lines of your above
statement. Most odd looking thing.