Buell front end swap bearing issues

[joep7]

Trying to get a buell thunderbolt front end on my 79 xs11 frame.

Buell stem OD is 25.4mm or 1 inch.

Xs neck top race mount ID is 47mm, lower is 55mm, widths are 11mm and 16mm respectively.

so my top bearing needs to be
25.4/47/11
bottom
25.4/55/16

problem is that neither allballsracing or McMaster carries anything in that size.

im thinking my option may be to either turn the stem down or machine a bushing that fits in the neck....or both.

Any other thoughts?


Edit...obviously length is an issue still too but that I have figured out.

[bikerphil]

Maybe somehow replace the Buell stem with the XS, the XS is welded in which can be ground off and pressed out, don't know about your Buell stem, JAT

[crazy steve]

I'd remachine the Buell stem, or make another one if it's hollow and you can't. The stem should just press out of the lower tree

Should be a good upgrade, and Buell parts are usually pretty cheap as guys buy them for the Sportster motors then throw away the rest of the bike....

Post some pics, please!

[fredintoon]

Trying to get a buell thunderbolt front end on my 79 xs11 frame.
Buell stem OD is 25.4mm or 1 inch.
Xs neck top race mount ID is 47mm, lower is 55mm, widths are 11mm and 16mm respectively.
so my top bearing needs to be
25.4/47/11
bottom
25.4/55/16

Hi Joe,
wanna recheck those bearing dimensions? I cannot believe the XS11 lower headrace bearing cone has a bigger than 2" hole through it.
Whatever, so long as the XS11 bearings have bigger bores than the Buell's 1" steering stem, you are golden.
All you need is to shove some aluminum barstock in your lathe and turn up two adapter sleeves.
Make them about a 0.002" clearance and stick them into the bearings with red loctite.

[joep7]

Well I think I figured out the front end conversion. Took way longer than it should have but putting a Harley front end on a metric bike is a bitch. Ended up making a 30mm OD sleeve to fit common bearing sizes.




fit perfectly when all was done.

[crazy steve]

So that's all that was needed? Just a sleeve over the stem? Piece o' cake....

It would be nice if you posted the bearing/race numbers....

[joep7]

Top 30/47/12
Bottom 30/55/17

From allballsracing