How to: Tapered headset bearings

[TravEX]

, which trike was it, I might have a spare triple.

Travis

[Dammit!]

The 250sx. It's not that bad. I could probably still use it. If anybody has another for cheap enough though I might be interested.

[Dammit!]

It's funny you say that.
My Moto is...


A smart person learns from his own mistakes,but a genius learn's from others.

I did learn from his. This screw up is completely different from the one he dealt with.

The real lesson here is, don't grind angry.

[Dirtcrasher]

Well I already screwed up and I haven't even gotten as far as putting the new set on. I couldn't get the stupid lower race off so I took the dremel to it and ended up cutting a nice little groove in the steering stem about 2mm deep and 1 centimeter long. I hate those little bastards.

Hey bud, that race is hard as a rock. You should have been able to slice it just a bit and then smash it with a , it would have cracked. Anyhow, that little slice won't hurt anything. It's not a sealing area and took very little surface area off of where the new race will press on and mount - no sweat.

I've had a couple of inner races seize to a spindle onto truck front ends and I just grind a slice in them and then smash them till they snap. Ya have to have a 3lb on the opposing side of where your smashing or a big steel block works too. Just like an auto body dolly that supports the metal behind the dent your trying to reshape, but in this case your trying to break it, not reshape it.......

[Dammit!]

Well it's not back together yet.

There seems to be too much of a gap between the top nut/cover and the frame. Don't have a pic but I put an arrow on one of yours to show you where I mean. How much of a gap did you end up with right there? I can clearly see the top of the race. There also doesn't seem to be enough of the steering stem sticking up through the top. I can get both of the nuts threaded on but just barely. I'm sure both races are in as far as they can go. The top one looks just like your pic.

[TravEX]

Yeah, like you say, the top race doesn't seat very deep. I can still see the top race if I look close, but the rubber in the nut mostly covered mine up. I tightened mine down pretty tight, maybe too tight, but the steering is still like hot butter, I love it. Been riding today and it makes the trike seem to ride better, but I bet it's all in my head, hehe.

[Dammit!]

That's something else I was wondering about. So you re-used the rubber seal that was already in there? I can't get the nut to thread with that in there. Now that I think about it I better double check to make sure the lower bearing is as far down as it can go.

[TravEX]

The lower race goes up in there quite a ways.

Yeah I used the rubber that was in the nut, it was bigger in diameter than the sealing washer with the kit, and kinda slide down over it and covered the whole upper unit.

[chris200x]

I just thought I'd post this info to make life easier for istallation.

The shop that did mine said they cut the old bottom one off with a die grinder. they then put the bottom triple in the freezer overnight. they then heated up the lower bearing and race with a propane torch before reistalling them on the cold trips. They said they slide right on no problems.

I've never done it this way but will definitly try it next time I have to do it. the ones on my SX are starting to go...

[TravEX]

Yes that would make it easier.

[DeePa]

when i did my 200s, the bottom bearing would sit all the way down on the steering stem. I threw the bike together, tightened it up as much as i could, went for a short ride, and the bearing went into place.

Mike

[trizmoneypit]

Hi, this is a great thread but I have to ask a few questions.

I have all the old bearings and races removed but I'm a bit confused on the top steereing stem bearings.

Can someone clarify if this is the proper order for installation for the top one.

New race
Bearing (tapered end down)
Yellow flat washer with rubber lip
cap
slotted nut to tightenen everything down
top tripple
washer
cap nut

I've provided a pic with ahe all balls bearing kit with a few of the parts in question (just to give you guys a better idea)

thanks!

[TravEX]

yeah, for the top bearing it would be, (starting from the bottom and going to the top))

New race with tapered end down
bearing with tapered end down
sealing washer
triple nut
triple clamp
triple clamp nut

[trizmoneypit]

Wow! Thanks for the quick response. I just wasn't quite sure because the old setup was just loose bearings. It looks as if this kit will workout well

thanks again!

[TravEX]

No problem.

I'm very happy with how mine turned out!

Travis