Print Page - What does a RIFT TOOL look like?

Title: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: Mr. BIGGZ on February 23, 2009, 03:11:28 AM

Hello I was reading my Haynes manual on how to adjust a wobble I'm experiencing with the front end of my GS, and the manual says to use a RIFT to adjust the steering head bearings that might not be aligned right. Can someone tell me what this tool looks like or where to get it from, a picture would be a ton of help. Thanks everyone I'm a newbie on this board and to the GS. :dunno_black:

Title: Re: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: sledge on February 23, 2009, 03:49:43 AM

It has to be a typo......for Rift read Drift.

Title: Re: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: ohgood on February 23, 2009, 04:59:59 AM

ya, that's a drift the manual is advising to use. if you lay a towel on your fuel tank, you won't risk damaging the paint while smacking the drift with a hammer.

here is what a brass (the kind i like) is made of:

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d93/ohgooditsme/brassdrift/t252400.jpg)

don't use brass while installing bearings though- it will usually splinter off small pieces of brass. small pieces of brass are not what you want inside new bearings :)

Title: Re: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: The Buddha on February 23, 2009, 12:29:42 PM

Take a trip to your favorite scrap yard. Metal scrap. Buy stainless rods in all available sizes. Also buy flat bits of steel or stainless.
Take these to your favorite welder and weld the end of the rod to the center of the plate.
Grind the free ends of the rods to match the item you're drifting - popular tips are angled ~60 degrees, a light bend in it, a stepped shape etc sit against the race or other item that needs punching out and hammer away.
The plate will keep your hand from getting crunched if you miss.
Cool.
Buddha.

Title: Re: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: Mr. BIGGZ on February 28, 2009, 07:06:28 PM

Thanks for clearing that up for me guys! And thanks for the tips!

Title: Re: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: bill14224 on February 28, 2009, 07:34:30 PM

Wait a minute! Before you start smacking your steering head, check your wheel bearings and get the tire balance checked! Why does everyone here seem to look at the difficult solutions first before the easy ones?? :technical:

Title: Re: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: bobthebiker on February 28, 2009, 08:28:18 PM

tire PRESSURE too. oh and alignment for the wheels. its real easy to get them out of alignment.

Title: Re: What does a RIFT TOOL look like?
Post by: sledge on February 28, 2009, 11:59:10 PM

Quote from: bill14224 on February 28, 2009, 07:34:30 PMWhy does everyone here seem to look at the difficult solutions first before the easy ones?? :technical:

Not `everyone does`, its called knowledge and experience and some people have more than others.

GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Mr. BIGGZ on February 23, 2009, 03:11:28 AM