Steering Bearing Replacement and Races stuck

[Sperdue]

What should I do? I am working on replacing my steering bearings and wandering if I should use oem parts or use the all balls kit. I am still working on getting the bottom race out of the frame, been heating it up and beating it with a punch. It has moved a little but still working on it. Next i need to get the bottom race off of the front end. I seen a post in 2018 about this that recommends dremel tool to cut it off. Anyone got any other pointers for removing these races? I have all oem parts except one (part #5 of the diagram) for my 85 250es and i also have the all balls kit. I know these are different in how they work, one with balls and one with bearings but is one better than the other? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. This is the last step before i put my new plastic and new sewa tank on so i can ride again!

[ATC King]

You've been heating what up? The race or the neck? Shouldn't be need for heat, but if you're applying it to the race you're fighting yourself. That's just heating up and expanding the race, making it tighter.

A steering bearing race remover makes life a whole lot easier.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18574286335...3ABFBM0v3r58ll


You didn't state what trike you're working on, but have you tried just putting a screw driver under the stem race on the fork and walking it off. On the 185/200 trikes that's about all it takes, it's just kind of sitting on there without much force.

And on the type of bearing, ball or roller, it's not really going to matter. If all the stock bearings, races, and seal are wiped out, it's just easier to buy the roller bearing kits. There are some cheap ball bearing kits online, but I really don't think those would last long, because cheap bearings usually don't. On a machine that gets used just a few hours a year, it probably won't make much difference.

[Sperdue]

Got both races out. Just had to keep beating on the frame one and heated front end one and was able to pry it up with a tire tool. Now I’m thinking about putting in the all balls kit and keeping my oem for backup unless ya’ll think oem is better?

[Shep1970]

hmm.
all balls bearings =made in China
Oem = made in Japan

I prefer Japan

shep

[3wheelin Eddy]

The OEM will last longer if installed correctly
But the all balls bearings work.

[ATC King]

The OEM will last longer if installed correctly

IF, they're regularly maintenance. It's not a big job, and technically don't even have to completely remove the fork since they're loose balls, but I don't think I've bought a trike that looked like they have ever been serviced, which is why they're almost always wrecked and in need of replacement.

Also, it's general practice to replace the balls during each service. The races will last much longer that way and it's maybe $5 for high grade balls. I don't remember the size off-hand, but they're a common size, no need to look for a part number or a model specific kit, which sellers greatly inflate the price of just for the convenience.

All Balls has slick marketing, and they do cover a lot of models of motorcycles and power sports machines, but from what I've seen, their parts aren't anything special and tend to be of lower grade. Not OEM quality. I certainly don't use them for wheel bearings, it's all the same cheap Chinese parts, just with fancier packaging and a decal to promote them. Those cheap wheel bearings don't last at all.