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Post Info TOPIC: Steering head bearings - inspection, maintenance and/or replacement


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Steering head bearings - inspection, maintenance and/or replacement
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Lots of info here http://www.ttr250.com/Steering_head_bearing_replacement/Steering_head_bearing_replacement.htm

Pulled the bike out today to do a once over for a planned ride on the weekend.. Sigh... The steering was extremely stiff, so my assumption is that the bearings have gone. From a quick look around the place all I need is 2 new seals and 2 new bearings? Are there any special tools I need/ any standard tools that can be adopted



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I recently replaced the steering head bearings on the project TTR.

Following on from publishing I received some helpful advice that would have made the job easier:

Just reading your thread and the trauma of sometimes removing an outer bearing race which will be scrap. Just a blob of weld on the inner bearing surface from an arc welder and probably all other types and it will drop out when it cools and contracts. 

One thing... you mention using old bearings as drifts to drive in the new ones and to do this is well known but you also report difficulty in removing the old part afterwards. Well, if you make a cut across the old bearing first it won't be such a tight fit, can't jam and will easily pop straight out again.



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I presume you are referring to the steering head bearings being stiff as the handlebars are turned. confuse

If you look in the FAQ area (top left hand of page) you will find an article on the matter.

CLICKY THING HERE

However, before wading in and stripping the bike you'd be advised to check basics first. If the steering has tightened all of a sudden then it may not be the bearings at fault. no

Check that all the control cables are not pulling or binding as the bars swing from side to side.
Also, check that the wiring is not binding anywhere around the steering head in a way to cause restriction.
Check from one lock to the other as the bars are turned and see if ANYTHING is binding or pulling where it shouldn't be.  hmm

If it all looks in order then check the tightness of the steering head bearing adjusters - they may be too tight as they can sometimes undo or tighten if they're neglected. wink

If you can resolve the tightness without going to the bother and expense of head bearing renewal then OK, otherwise you have quite a job to remedy. evileye

Martyn

 



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This guide shows how to replacing the steering head bearings with new using an AllBalls kit 
30 November 2011 008.jpg 

Firstly remove the old outer bearing races. I used a special tool made for the job.

An alternative way of removing an outer bearing race which will be scrap is to put a blob of weld on its surface from an arc welder (and probably other types) and the race will drop out when it cools and contracts biggrin

30 November 2011 005.jpg

It is a pretty solid bit of stainless steel with four sprung "tongues" that sit under the races and allows them to be driven out with a hammer. The following pic shows the tool in place ready to drive out the top race.
30 November 2011 002.jpg 

I guess the easy bit was fitting the new inner races to the fork head on the frame. The top race is easy as it fits flush. I used a copper headed hammer to tap it in.
Fitting the fork yokes 5 December 2011 001.jpg

The bottom race is recessed so I used an old inner race to tap it home. A lot easier with a bare frame coz I could just turn it over biggrin Not so easy with a complete bike!
Fitting the fork yokes 5 December 2011 003.jpg 

This is where it got difficult - getting the old bottom bearing off. It was incredibly tight. I started off using a chisel to get in between the bearing and yoke to start to drive it off.
Fitting the fork yokes 5 December 2011 004.jpg

Once it had started to move it was a case of continuing to drive it off wiith the hammer and chisel. Easier with the old roller bearings removed.

Use a Dremel to cut it off if you have one - probably a lot easier!
Fitting the fork yokes 5 December 2011 005.jpg

This is the order of the parts:

Steering head bearing parts numbered.jpg

 

This is the fiche pic:

steering.jpg

 I guess I should have realised that if the old bearing was tight the new one would be as well - this was the case cry   

In retrospect I should have warmed the bearing and chilled the yoke to have made it easier. I eventually ended up whacking it on in the vice using the old inner race to protect the new bearing. Cut across the old bearing first so it won't be such a tight fit, can't jam and will easily come off again.

Slit bearing race.jpg

Fitting the fork yokes 5 December 2011 006.jpg

It would have helped having three hands to do the next bit. Having greased the bearings well, it was a case of putting the yokes back in the frame with all the washers etc all in the correct order - the workshop manual is really good for this sort of job. Needless to say I managed to mess this up and forgot to fit the new bearing seal. It took a couple of goes to get it all together in the right order with no bits left over wink

Fitting the fork yokes 5 December 2011 009.jpg

Assuming that you have the forks and front wheel in, now torque up the top nut.

Job done!

Brian



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I need some new head bearing, where can I buy them, any after market one better?



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Here's the TTR250 offer direct from TotallyTTRs smile

https://totallyttrs.com/epages/699105d9-e4cc-4b32-b236-84e72cd67f84.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/699105d9-e4cc-4b32-b236-84e72cd67f84/Products/TTR-0295

It can be found as Steering Bearing and Seal Kit under AllBall kits offered for all TTR owners.

Martyn

 



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It lists 99-06 mine s a 4gy 94, are they the same?? 

 



-- Edited by wizz on Monday 29th of April 2013 08:52:56 PM



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RE: steering head bearings 'where to buy?'
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wizz wrote:

It lists 99-06 mine s a 4gy 94, are they the same?? 


Yep!

AllBalls kits are manufactured in the US. They only ever imported the blue TTRs so very few US parts list the white TTRs.

Brian



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steering head bearings..
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Dose anyone know the size or number of the steering head bearings ?

both top & bottom look to be the same bearing....

looking at the pics on here..They look like 30x55x17  is a 32006

The other 2 0ptions are 30x47x12 - 32906 or 30x55x20 - 33006

 

pete

 



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Pete, this LINKY takes you to a GB supplier that specifies the requirements.

The dimensions of the taper roller bearings (top and bottom are the same size) as:-

  • Inside Diameter: 25.40mm = 1 inch
  • Outside Diameter: 50.29mm = 1.98 inch
  • Width: 14.22mm = 0.56 inch

Martyn



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Thank you Mr cubber.....

Im trying to find bearings to put 05 YZF250 USD forks in to the TTR...

the YZF steering stem is 30mm... just need to know what the OD

of the outer race on the TTR is... 55mm or maybe 52mm..

52mm I hope as Honda CR250 head bearings are 30x52x16 and

I have a new set here.. "but couldn't be that lucky"

Really don't want to have to machine up a new steering stem

if i can get around it...

 

I have had a YZF complete front end hanging up in the shed for about 3

years... better make use of it..

Have ordered a digital speedo/rev counter with a magnetic wheel sensor

as the YZF has no speedo drive..



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You are in luck - I just measured one up and it's 52mm wink

Pics and details please biggrinbiggrin

Brian



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TTRfan wrote:

You are in luck - I just measured one up and it's 52mm wink

Pics and details please biggrinbiggrin

Brian


 I surpose luck got to fall your way sometimes....

Yep pics & detail will come... But first things first

get the rekluse clutch in and working..



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steering head bearings
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hi folks. I am fitting new bearings and I can't tell if the bottom nearing is down far enough on the shaft. there seems to be a small gap between the seal and the bottom fork bracket. can someone check their bike and let me know? checkout the attached picture for detail.

Thanks from Ireland!!



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Hard to tell when fitted to the bike, but there seems to be the same on all my bikes. So all should be OK, anyone else had a look?

Steve



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thank you Steve

 how about the gap between the cap and the frame...where I have a dab of tipex...its 4.5mm , should that gap exist or should the cap fit down flush?

Thanks again!



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picture attached!



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Can't see your picture, but there is a small gap between the forks and the frame which is the collar part of the forks, which can been seen in your first post picture.

Was there meant to be a second photo?



-- Edited by ttr steve on Sunday 17th of September 2017 07:54:22 AM

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Looks good.

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yer all good to go....




...

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Steering head bearings - inspection, maintenance and/or replacement
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I am in the process of tidying up the FAQ and noticed that advice and guidance on this job were in a few different places.

To make it simpler and clearer, I have extracted the information from the FAQ and this thread and put it in a pictorial guide here 

I usually write up the guides using photos that I have taken whilst actually doing a job so this was a bit different and I had to imagine being in the garage doing the work on my TTR cry

If anyone that has done some maintenance on their steering head bearings or replace them recently then can I ask you to look through the guide and let me know of any errors or omissions or improvements that can be made please?

Many thanks

Brian



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Get them from Rocky Mountain Bearings. Thet sell out quick but are good stuff! https://www.rockymountainbearings.com



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