SuzukiSavage.com - Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal

youzguyz

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Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal
03/28/22 at 12:51:44

Poor old Thumper..
Steering was binding off and on. Dug into it and pulled the steering stem. Bearing are bone dry and probably shot.
The outer race on the lower bearing has a wear pattern that concerns me. Shallow grooves. Kinda of like wavy.
Clymers says there is a special tool for pulling that race out (09941-54913 or 09941-54911).. or you can pound it out.
Just asking to see if anybody here has experience on getting that thing out of the steering head.
Thanks! Cheesy

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2002 - Silver (Thumper)
2000 - Green (Mad Hamish)
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose.

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TheSneeze Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 1201 Northern Nevada Gender:	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal Reply #1 - 03/28/22 at 13:54:58 Carefully weld about a 3/4" bead across the face of the bearing, being careful to only weld on the bearing. The weld contraction will shrink the diameter and it will fall out.
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youzguyz

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Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal
Reply #2 - 03/28/22 at 14:09:35

TheSneeze wrote on 03/28/22 at 13:54:58:

Carefully weld about a 3/4" bead across the face of the bearing, being careful to only weld on the bearing. The weld contraction will shrink the diameter and it will fall out.

Well.. I don't have a welder.. and it's the bearing race, not the bearing itself. The race is pressed into the steering head (maybe I'm using the wrong term.. the part of the frame that the steering stem slides into. Should have said neck instead of head?)
Found a puller at a not too bad price.. so, we will see if it works.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00BVL80JA?psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&ref_=chk_typ_...

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2002 - Silver (Thumper)
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Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose.

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sandmanred

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Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal
Reply #3 - 03/28/22 at 14:51:23

I used a piece of 3/8 aluminum rod about 10 inches long. It's been awhile since I did it but you might have to bevel/bend the end of it a bit to catch the inner lip of the races. Do the top one from below and the bottom one from above. Work your way around the race so it travels more or less evenly on the way out. It will still come out if it goes wonky but it's more likely to take some of the ID of the head tube if it does.

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justin_o_guy2

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What happened?

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East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.

Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal
Reply #4 - 03/28/22 at 15:38:28

A bench grinder and a good piece of steel, even if it Is a punch, you can cut a flat spot and leave a bit of a finger goin past the flat. Design it to fit on the race and stay out of the bikes frame. If you have a dremel and right accessories, you Can cut the race, but it's gonna take forever.
Cutting the flat, look at the angle your punch needs to be at to get the Foot on the top of that race close. And absolutely work across the diameter, keeping it level. It'll stop moving if it gets cocked crooked.

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youzguyz Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2527 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal - D Reply #5 - 03/29/22 at 10:34:28 Get the right tool.. does the job right. This one was worth the money. I will just grease up the new race and whap it in with a wood block
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youzguyz Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2527 San Antonio, Texas Gender:	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal Reply #6 - 03/29/22 at 10:35:24 Yep.. those grooves would probably have been trouble.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal Reply #7 - 03/29/22 at 12:07:19 Where did you get that tool? What did it cost? Well, SURE! It's NOT that bad of a job if you have the right tools. We were trying to help you rednekk it! Good goin..
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youzguyz

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Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal
Reply #8 - 03/29/22 at 12:23:53

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 03/29/22 at 12:07:19:

Where did you get that tool?
What did it cost?
Well, SURE! It's NOT that bad of a job if you have the right tools.
We were trying to help you rednekk it!
Good goin..

Clickety link is up above. Duplicated here for those that hate to scroll..

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00BVL80JA?psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&ref_=chk_typ_...

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2002 - Silver (Thumper)
2000 - Green (Mad Hamish)
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose.

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TheSneeze

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Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal
Reply #9 - 03/29/22 at 13:15:14

Glad you found the right tool. Much cheaper than buying a MIG welder! Since I have a welder, my suggestion worked for me without having to buy that tool.

[quote]Well.. I don't have a welder.. and it's the bearing race, not the bearing itself. [quote/]

I was referring to the face of the race, where your wear marks are. A weld bead around 3/4" long across that face will shrink the diameter when it cools, releasing the press fit. Moot point, didn't think you might not have a welder.

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Every twenty minute job is a stripped thread away from being a three day ordeal.

'87 LS650h Savage Street Tracker
'86 LS650g Savage (parts bike)
'81 Kawasaki KZ750e ELR tribute

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SpamyToo Full Member Offline Posts: 231	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal Reply #10 - 03/29/22 at 13:26:28 Nice work. I think most of us thought your were talking about the race on the stem. That one is usually a pain. The one in the frame is easy peasy usually.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal Reply #11 - 03/29/22 at 15:44:36 I'm thinking he's wanting the one on the stem off,also.
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TheSneeze Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 1201 Northern Nevada Gender:	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal Reply #12 - 03/29/22 at 21:16:34 Always replace as a set.
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DragBikeMike Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 4214 Honolulu	Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal Reply #13 - 03/29/22 at 22:19:06 That is a sweet tool Youzguyz, thanks for sharing the link. So how many miles did you squeeze outa dat set of bearings? Ever had them opened up before this?
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youzguyz

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Re: Steering Stem - bearing outer race removal
Reply #14 - 03/30/22 at 03:01:30

DragBikeMike wrote on 03/29/22 at 22:19:06:

That is a sweet tool Youzguyz, thanks for sharing the link. So how many miles did you squeeze outa dat set of bearings? Ever had them opened up before this?

222,674 miles now. It started acting up a while ago though.

First time I have had that opened up. (The only "preventative" maintenance I do is the oil.. when I think of it..)

As you can see in the picture.. kinda nasty.

I bought a "gently used" triple from ebay with risers, bearings, everything.

I'll replace the top bearing with the new one I'm getting as part of a set, and probably just grease up the lower bearing if it looks good.
Should be here today or tomorrow.

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oldtriple.jpg

2002 - Silver (Thumper)
2000 - Green (Mad Hamish)
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose.

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