Reinstall bottom steering bearing???

Wookies-S10

New Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2020
Messages
27
Location
Australia
Hey everyone! I've managed to get the bottom steering bearing off using a Dremel and cold chisel but bugger me if I can get the new bearing on.

Do you need to use a hydraulic press? as I couldn't get it to budge using a vice, hammer and the old bearing race.

Regards
Paul
 

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
Hey everyone! I've managed to get the bottom steering bearing off using a Dremel and cold chisel but bugger me if I can get the new bearing on.

Do you need to use a hydraulic press? as I couldn't get it to budge using a vice, hammer and the old bearing race.

Regards
Paul
There's a tool sold by places like Rocky Mountain ATV for that. It's basically a tube that slides over the steering stem and onto the inner races of the bearing. I don't recall if it has a built in slide hammer or you hit it with a hammer, but either way you use the tube to drive the bearing into place.

Alternately, just take the steering head and bearing to a shop and let them install the bearing. For as infrequently as this needs done, it might be cheaper than buying the special tool.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Put the lower triple in the freezer for a few hours and warm the bearing if possible. Sometimes it will slide right on. Sometimes an extra whack to a tube/pipe as mentioned that matches the inner race will pop it home.
Yes that is correct.

Do the opposite, you want to freeze the bearing and warm the triple.

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No sir that is not right. Remember the inside of the race/bearing needs to expand and the triple tube needs to contract. When installing bearings into cases then you freeze the bearing and heat up the cases.
 

Wookies-S10

New Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2020
Messages
27
Location
Australia
There's a tool sold by places like Rocky Mountain ATV for that. It's basically a tube that slides over the steering stem and onto the inner races of the bearing. I don't recall if it has a built in slide hammer or you hit it with a hammer, but either way you use the tube to drive the bearing into place.

Alternately, just take the steering head and bearing to a shop and let them install the bearing. For as infrequently as this needs done, it might be cheaper than buying the special tool.
Well, after a conversation with a Motorbike mechanic, I realised that both bearings are not the same size and subsequently I screwed up one of them so after buying a new kit, have been able to get them all replaced and the bike steers like new!
Lesson learned...never assume you know more than you do ;)
 

SilverBullet

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
1,171
Location
Harmaston, TX
...No sir that is not right. Remember the inside of the race/bearing needs to expand and the triple tube needs to contract. When installing bearings into cases then you freeze the bearing and heat up the cases.
Yes you are correct. I wasnt thinking about the application and gave my case bearing/seal method. Actually I've never heated one side except for using TX heat/sun. Freezing one side has always been enough for easy bearing/seal driving.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Yes you are correct. I wasnt thinking about the application and gave my case bearing/seal method. Actually I've never heated one side except for using TX heat/sun. Freezing one side has always been enough for easy bearing/seal driving.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
I figured that's what you were thinking. It's pretty rare to change out triple tree bearings. I can't remember ever doing it before except on a mountain bike.
 
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