Has anybody installed the lower steering bearing after removal. I finished the hard part in getting it off but now I have to put the new one on. I need to find a metal pipe that will fit on the bearing and over the steering stem. I'm keeping the steering stem on the freezer and will probably warm up the bearing with a heat lamp before I try to press it on. If anybody has experience with this please let me know.
Thanks
Be very careful with the installation. I had the local bike shop do the bearings in my old Virago and it was never right after that. There was a slight oscillation I couldn't get rid of. I wish I had at least tried it myself. Good luck. :cheers:
What... the usual Put the right size socket on it and bash with the mallet bit wont work???
Cool.
Srinath.
I took the bearing to Home depot and found a galvanized pipe with threaded ends about 8 inches long that fit perfectly. It was standard size, like 1 3/4 or 1 1/2. Carefully line up the pipe with the inside part of the bearing and then hammer away. You seem bright enough to figure this out on your own, but just in case, make sure the pipe isn't resting on the outside race. It has to be on the inside race so you aren't damaging the bearings. Also, after the fact, I learned...DON'T use a propane torch on the bearing. First, it doesn't help...second, it can ruin the bearing. Somebody sugessted putting it in the oven at 200F. The heat lamp may work too...if not...hammering does. Lots of hammering...
Srinath a socket won't fit over the shaft that the lower bearing slides over.
Oh I thought he was talking about the outer race that is in the steering neck... The inner race, On the F2 one I removed the thing it seemed to be easy to get out with a short pry bar... thought I can hand press it in... maybe not. But anyway... now I know. The top inner is loose... sorta so it can be hand fit right...
Cool.
Srinath.