Bottom steering bearing, help!

[Snow]

I have my front end completely apart and the forks/triple tree off. I got the top bearing off no problem, but I cannot budge the bottom one! Any secrets that I need to know about or do I have to take it to some shop?

[beechfront]

can't help you here.

i left mine on.

[Snow]

Well, I asked my dad's opinion when he got back and he immediately told me to take it to the local auto shop here and have them press it off and the new one on. So, tommorow I get to finish replacing my front end.

Btw, after I tore apart the front but before I took the triple tree off, I push the fork side to side...felt like the tree was full of gravel...eewwww

[xssiveone]

Originally posted by Snow
I have my front end completely apart and the forks/triple tree off. I got the top bearing off no problem, but I cannot budge the bottom one! Any secrets that I need to know about or do I have to take it to some shop?

I used my dremel and a cutting wheel to get mine off. Cut almost thru and then finished the job with a chisel inserted into the cut. CAREFUL NOT TO CUT INTO THE TREE ITSELF!! Then you can invert the old bearing and use it to drive the new one in place. Outer races are a PIA to get out as well... I used a long home made drift with a sharp angle on the end to drive the outers out, then used the old ones to drive the new ones in place. Some people have used a heat gun to heat the neck up and expand it slightly.

[hyaall]

As I recall when I did the same job on my 79f, this was not a pleasant job. However with a little persistance, sweat, hopefully no blood, and a vice and an assortment of chizels and punches you can do it, particularly if you're not too worried about the seal that sits under the bearing. Once it starts moving you're pretty much there. The race can be tapped out easily enough with a long punch. You may have to clean up the grease to find the grooves in the column that let you at the race.

[Snow]

Thanks guys, remebering how much a PITA just replacing my front wheel bearings was, I am just going to take the triple tree to the shop today. Not to mention I just payed wayyyyyyyy too much for this front end and am afraid to screw it up.

Btw, does the new bearing need to be pressed on or can it just be slid on? I'm going to be up at the shop anyway, shouldn't cost too much more to put the new one on.

[tweaver]

I appreciate the thread. I'm doing the same job on my wife's triple and having the same issues. I'm going the cbmma way, let you know how it turns out.

[Snow]

tweaver, you will also need a special tool to remove the races from the steering head of the frame, unless you are going to use long punches.. I forget the name of the tool though, impact driver perhaps? A punch should work just fine though.

[schpiff]

Another trick for getting stubborn outer bearing races out is to weld a bead directly on the race. The heat makes the race expand and where you welded will shrink on itself. Usually the race will fall right out, tho sometimes a little persuasion is needed.

[tweaver]

I appreciate all the advice. I ended up taking the thing to the mechanic and having them remove them.