So I am in the middle of replacing my steering stem bearings. I got the old ones off, but am not sure how to get the new lower one on since the inner bearing diameter is the same for the upper and lower. Generally, the upper is smaller and the lower slides right on.... but in this case, I had to cut the lower off once I got it free from it's location on the lower stem... upon realizing that it would not go over the upper part of the stem. Freezing the stem and baking the new bearings the best way?
Huh? the lower bearing, once dislodged from the stem should slide right off the top. Best way to remove the lower bearing is press the stem out of the lower triple. As for putting it back on it shold drop on the stem and stop about 1.5 inches shorts of the bottom. then you can tap on the inner race to get it the rest of the way on. If you can find a section of pipe the right ID to just fit over the stem that would be the best approach for tapping it down.
I have not done my '10 yet but on other years I have never seen where it would not come on up the stem. I do normally cut the bearing off the bottom though. Yes the best way I have found to do it is to freeze the stem overnight and get the bearing good and hot.
Yep, I'm telling ya guys... The lower bearing... once dislodged, would not come over the top part of the stem. I can post some pics when I get back in town. I too have never seen such.
BFH (Big F**king Hammer) Try and press it back off the top part and into the middle loose section. Then lube the top part before attempting to press it back off the top of the stem
TOP Bottom I may well be an idiot, but if the lower is 28.96mm and I had to beat the bearing off... it's not going to just "slide over" the top when it also measures 28.96mm. Hopefully freezing/heating will work.
I have never seen a stem that was the same diameter all the way down before. I usually heat the old bearing up to get it to come off the stem fairly easily, then fit the new bearing on by flipping the lower/stem assembly upside down and pressing the stem down through the bearing (and a hole on a plate) on my hydraulic press bed.
Me either DirtDame... I figured it was a husky thing, the Japanese bikes I've had in the past had a smaller diameter upper bearing race "seat". Apparently it's just an "andy thing" as none of the other posters have seen this. It's actually only that diameter at the top and bottom race "seats". The rest of the shaft is tapered to a smaller size. I wrongfully assumed that this was common with these bikes and someone had sage wisdom to be tapped into.
